"Bridging the Gender Gap in Investments" Conference Held Yesterday in Brussels – Key Takeaways from the Participants

Yesterday, the "Bridging the Gender Gap in Investments" conference marked the launch of the European Parliament's Pilot Project, implemented by the European Commission. The initiative aims to tackle the substantial investment disparities faced by women-led businesses and women-managed funds.

Here are some participants’ takeways:  

• Talents are equally spread, but opportunities are not, which underscores the need for launching such initiatives.
• While many VCs are gender agnostic, investing in women's entrepreneurship proves beneficial, both socially and economically. 
• There is a strong belief in the venture ecosystem that greater diversity leads to better investment decisions and financial returns. 
• The rise of small, women-led and co-led funds is a positive sign for diversity in the VC ecosystem, it still highlights how the biggest funds with high investment power are still mostly managed by men-only teams.
• A 10% increase in the representation of women in senior management teams, is associated with a +1.3% points increase in IRR (Internal Rate of Return). 

The Pilot Project on Gender Gap in Investments aims to develop a comprehensive study that will establish a harmonized methodology for robust and systematic data collection on the gender investment gap across Europe.

Its goal is to lay the groundwork for a future where investments are guided not by gender bias but by the quality and potential of the ideas presented. It aims to provide us with the tools and data necessary to understand the full extent of the gender gap in investments, from women-led companies to women-led funds, and to develop effective strategies to bridge this gap.

To learn more bout the topic: 

👉 European Women in VC report 2024
https://lnkd.in/dA36SXSB
👉 Support for female entrepreneurs: Survey evidence for why it makes sense
https://lnkd.in/djCEZ3rb