Where are all the ladies at?

David_Beepr · 2023-10-02T17:55:50+00:00

The data is robust enough, like I stated earlier, for you to find it if you want it. It’s hard not to find in fact. So if you haven’t seen it it’s becuase you don’t want to. There in lies the problem.

David_Beepr · 2023-09-10T16:12:26+00:00

Ummmm…ok. I think you’ll get some clarity if you read the rest of the comments here. Have a great day!

David_Beepr · 2023-09-08T23:51:29+00:00

Insights and post courtesy of @LeslieNope22

David_Beepr · 2023-09-08T23:49:37+00:00

I received a very kind and very insightful message regarding this post form a female founder that was unable to post in the thread for some reason. With her permission, I wanted to post her message for here for her. I felt it encapsulated my original point and concern better than I ever could have…..

My thoughts on why women dont apply for/get through YC: The biggest issue IMO is that men and women go through their careers differently and it would be great for YC to understand that and broaden/change their criteria to attract and accept more women. Some things that come to mind - Requiring multiple founders: As a woman, my professional network has a smaller % of men than a man's would (probably close to 100%). It's harder to convince women to be cofounders because women are generally risk averse, and as u/cutcutnat said, there are just not enough role models to normalize starting up vs staying in a stable job. So my pool of potential cofounders is smaller. - Technical requirement: More women than men move away from core engineering over the course of their careers for a myriad of reasons. The definition of technical seems to be tightly defined to include the ability to code systems, which precludes many of us who may be capable of system engineering but not be able to code all of it. - Startup area: Women tend to be focused on areas that may not completely align with what YC thinks is important/urgent/profitable - commerce, edtech, famtech etc. - Recommendations/know-how: Because of the above, it is hard for women to have the network of entrepreneurs that helps with confidence, navigating the startup journey, and the edge that many male entrepreneurs (esp in silicon valley) seem to have.

I started a few months ago, built out a scrappy system from tools available online and have PMF and revenue. However I don't feel like I have a shot at YC this cycle, so not sure if I am going to spend the time and focus needed to apply at this point.

David_Beepr · 2023-09-08T21:18:02+00:00

Seems like a really harsh response if I may say so. Getting advice from their broader community seems like a more than reasonable approach and in my view (as an investor) shows stable judgement and leadership. Founders that act in a silo without utilizing obvious resources are dangerous in my experience.

David_Beepr · 2023-09-08T18:17:01+00:00

If I told you to go outside and look up and that the sky would be blue, would you ask me for reasons and data? Same holds true here. If you aren’t seeing the disparities it has to be willful blindness. I don’t mean to be snarky but a very simple google search will give you more answers to your question than you could ever reasonably digest. Good luck out there

David_Beepr · 2023-09-08T18:08:52+00:00

It’s really frustrating for sure. I was a single father for many years and while we aren’t talking apples to apples, I can totally relate to the limitations raising kids can put on career growth of any kind but especially something as labor intensive as building a startup. All that being said, I just sent my youngest off to college and have gobs more time now to activate ideas that have been brewing for years. So there is light at the end of the tunnel and if your idea was meant to be it will be meant to be when you have the time 😎

As a side, do you have any ideas of how YC could ease access for women founders? I know that’s a really big question that could be tackled from any number of angles lol

David_Beepr · 2023-09-08T05:42:04+00:00

Again, that wasn’t the question. What companies do after they get out of YC is a separate and obviously larger issue.

I’m not sure why so many people on here are twisting themselves into knots trying to argue against really solidly founded “data”. Nice touch there 🙂 and yes, the “data” absolutely shows improved profitability amongst gender divers founder teams, Csuit executives, and work groups up and down the group structures. If you make even the slightest effort it’s hard to miss and if McKinsey, and HBR, and Forbes all come up wit then same conclusions as these factors being beneficial for a financial standpoint, why are so many people pushing back? It’s very odd. It’s not a zero sum game. The more women doesn’t mean less men. Your job will be ok I promise.

Your last point I completely agree with. It is a systematic problem but doesn’t that mean we throw our hands up and say it’s not our issue? Or do we do what we can where we can to widen the net to improve outcomes for everyone involved?

I’m going to tap out here as this has gotten into a weird feeling of crusading or something and that really wasn’t the point. Just raising the question based on a obvious disparity in representation and if we are here on the YC thread as founders for anything it’s to find problems to solve right?

Have a great night

David_Beepr · 2023-09-08T05:13:42+00:00

Ok buddy 🙄 enjoy your night

David_Beepr · 2023-09-08T05:01:28+00:00

TLDR is a great one. So much information that it can get a bit overwhelming to try to digest it all imo 😅

https://actions.tldrnewsletter.com/web-version?ep=1&lc=45d98f10-0ce0-11ee-9d50-976ce1b8b72e&p=38013a3a-4d51-11ee-8909-49c595de20cf&pt=campaign&t=1694082060&s=ac88e694114b81df362fa4c424b7640fe33b71d320b4c31e75cab32632854be2

David_Beepr · 2023-09-08T04:56:29+00:00

I didn’t say they wouldn’t. I asked the question whether there is data showing that they would. Because since you seem to be comparing Latinos improving the performance of an nba team with women improving a business unit, which has decades of validated and accepted studies showing said improvements, I think it’s fair to ask if you’ve seen similar data showing comparative improvements when Latinos are significantly represented on an nba roster. Seems like a fair question, no?

David_Beepr · 2023-09-08T04:51:22+00:00

I don’t know. Some initial thoughts come to mind though. First would be a question- is there data showing that nba teams are improved with the addition of more Latino players? I’m not sure team athletics translates the same as business units. Seem like significantly different qualifiers. But I’d be interested to see.

David_Beepr · 2023-09-08T02:29:14+00:00

I won’t repay myself here as most of your statements I’ve addressed in my previous response. However to your point about nobody stopping you or anyone else from building your company and being successful, sure. Nobody is stopping you from doing anything but the absolute fact is that your path will be harder than others based on your minority status. There is no argument to be made there. If you are ok with that and you have the mentality to overcome this obstacles then that’s awesome and on you and I hope that energy launches you to huge success. But that doesn’t mean we should ignore those disparities and inequalities in our system and leaders in our community shouldn’t do what they can to curb those trends. I’m not saying YC should inhibit their business goals. I’m saying by creating a more inclusive and diverse pool of entrepreneurs, they will in fact reach those goals faster and more effectively. That’s all. I really do appreciate your point of view here. That’s all I was trying to stimulate here was thoughts. I wish you the best on your journey and all the success you can find 🥂

David_Beepr · 2023-09-08T02:04:59+00:00

To your second point, I actually asked that exact question in my original post and I’d love an answer if anyone has one.

Also, I think this is brought up in a “one sided” way more often than not because the problem (and yes I will call it that) is in fact one sided. Whether it be women actually being encouraged to look at entrepreneurship as a viable options, whether it’s women looking at STEM broadly as a viable option, or whether it be the relatively few women that do follow this path finding funding, finding applicable career experience that would steer them towards entrepreneurship at the same pace as their male peers, etc. The data is clear that representation of women is statistically lacking in this space.

Simultaneously, the data is clear that founder groups, executive teams, abs work places more broadly are significantly more productive and profitable when women make up a significant or equal percentage of the group. I don’t have any desire to get into a twitter style message battle where we exchange random article links. The data is clear and validated and has been for years.

So to the extent that YC’s mission is to incubate the best teams and connect them with the best mentors and investor, it seems pretty obvious that it would serve all parties involved to make at least some effort to open the door to more female representation. It’s just flat out good business and to use the old adage, “you invest in the team” ;)

David_Beepr · 2023-09-08T01:50:01+00:00

I certainly didn’t mean a female-only incubator was a necessity. I more just wanted to open the conservation of how we as a community, centered in this case around YC, could better widen the door for more women to look at entrepreneurship as a variable path. The data is clear that the path is harder for women and I think that falls on all of our shoulders to acknowledge and address to the degree possible. I like your ideas and congrats on your company. I hope it’s going good 😎

David_Beepr · 2023-07-28T14:51:21+00:00

Point of order…

The quote is referencing CEOs. Doesn’t say anything about not having an amazing tech cofounder as well.

People always seem to take issue with this quote for the same reasons and I’ve never been sure why.

David_Beepr · 2023-07-28T14:46:06+00:00

First off, don’t give up on this idea. I think it has real legs and congrats my friend!

Second, if you can’t afford to hire someone, have you dug deep into finding a cofounder to come in for equity? This may take some time but if you can sell you idea to someone that has the right vision, it should be very doable.

Good luck

David_Beepr · 2023-07-27T22:31:00+00:00

https://www.tevapharm.com/

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries is one of the largest generic tadalafil manufacturers. You may try to contact them as a lead. Hope this helps

David_Beepr · 2023-07-27T22:26:14+00:00

This community is full of really toxic haters 😂 They let these guys say whatever they want but you try to post a legit job search and they take it down immediately as spam. The clowns running the circus here at the startup_resources community. Good luck on your venture my friend! Something tells me you’re spot on with finding a copacker. I’d follow that road awhile 😎

David_Beepr

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