In this roundtable discussion, experts from European venture capital and innovation ecosystems share insights on empowering women in these fields.
Our guests:
Ralitsa Zhekova, Executive Director at RAPIV
Deepali Nangia, Partner at Speedinvest
Iwona Cymerman, General Partner at FundingBox Deep Tech Fund
Jone Vaituleviciute, General Partner at FIRSTPICK
The conversation addressed the importance of female representation in venture capital, investment in women-led startups, women's challenges in these industries, and initiatives to support female entrepreneurs.
The dialogue also included topics like inclusive innovation policies, the impact of parental leave on careers, and strategies for long-term solutions to encourage more women to pursue careers in science, technology, and engineering.
The roundtable took place as part of the CO-INVESTIN project, an EU-funded project to connect our beautiful European investment ecosystems while strengthening transparency and inclusion across the ecosystem ✊.
Watch it here or add it to your episodes on Apple or Spotify 🎧
Chapters:
07:04 Inclusive Innovation Policies
09:52 Challenges in Female Representation
11:53 Breaking Barriers in Venture Capital
21:47 High Churn Rates Among Women in Venture
27:36 Strategies for Retaining Women in Venture
30:57 Empowering Women in the Workplace
31:58 Challenges Faced by Women and Ethnic Minorities
32:06 Balancing Parenthood and Career in Venture Capital
33:19 Parental Policies in Small vs. Large Funds
34:07 Personal Experiences with Parental Leave
36:35 The Reality of Parenthood in High-Level Careers
40:02 Gender Roles and Societal Expectations
43:56 The Importance of Open and Transparent Relationships
51:15 Encouraging Women in STEM
📺 Virtual events coming up
GP/CVC Roundtable on AI in The Physical World | 📆 Wed, August 14, 2024, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM (CET) | Register here
AI is flipping industries on their heads, from health to farming. Get the scoop on what’s real and what’s just sci-fi. With a vertically specialized micro VC, a Robotics CVC with major acquisitions behind him and a generalist who just can’t stay away from the space, you’ll be in the know after listening to this conversation 💸
Mastering the sell-side of secondaries | VC Masterclass | 📆 Tue, Sep 3, 2024, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM (CET) | Register here
This session will delve into the fundamentals of the secondaries market, distinguishing between direct and fund secondaries, and identifying key stakeholders such as employees, founders, LPs, GPs, and intermediaries. Alberto will share his sophisticated buyer process, including his quantitative scorecard approach and detailed due diligence. Learn how to prepare assets for sale, understand valuation techniques, navigate legal and regulatory considerations, and stay ahead of market trends.
Investing and scaling in Portugal and beyond | 📆 Wed, Sep 4, 2024, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM (CET) | Register here
Delve into key topics such as navigating the Portuguese investment landscape, empowering women-led startups, and scaling businesses beyond borders with global best practices. Learn about pioneering innovation in tech companies and be inspired by real-life success stories of Portuguese scale-ups. Engage directly with industry leaders, gain cutting-edge strategies, and understand how global trends intersect with local opportunities.
GP Roundtable: Leveraging AI in Portfolio Monitoring & Management | 📆 Mon, Sep 9, 2024, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM (CET) | Register here
This roundtable is a must for GPs looking to get an edge using AI. By tapping into AI-driven analytics and predictive modeling, VCs can unlock hidden trends and streamline their operations. Plus, tackling early risk assessment can save portfolios from tanking 💥. It's about staying ahead in a cutthroat world.
🗓️ The VC Conferences You Can’t Miss
There are some events that just have to be on the calendar. Here’s our list, hit us up if you’re going, we’d love to meet!
Nordic LP Forum & TechBBQ | 📆 11 - 12 September | 🌍 Copenhagen, Denmark
How to Web | | 📆 2-3 October | 🌍 Bucharest, Romania
WVC:E Summit 2024 | | 📆 7-8 October | 🌍 Paris, France
North Star & GITEX Global | 📆 14 - 18 October | 🌍 Dubai, UAE
Invest in Bravery | 📆 21th of October | 🌍 Kyiv, Ukraine
0100 Conference Mediterranean | 📆 28 - 30 October | Milano, Italy
GoWest | 📆 28 - 30 January 2025 | 🌍 Gothenburg, Sweden
GITEX Europe 2025 | 📆 23 - 25 May 2025 | 🌍 Berlin, Germany
Empowering women in innovation and venture - CO-INVESTIN roundtable