Boys Club | Forget Research Results: Women Get A Pittance Of Venture Fundings | Girls For Spuds 2015

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Crowdfunding To Narrow The Gender Gap in Venture Capital Forbes

Of the 6,793 companies funded by VCs between 2011 and 2013, women CEOS led only 2.7% of those companies – according to the recent Babson College study titled “Women Entrepreneurs and Bridging the Gap in Venture Capital” (PDF).

Over the same period, 85% of all businesses funded by VCs had not a single woman on the management team. This reality reflects the gender gap among VC investors themselves, with women making up only 11% of the group, based on a 2011 survey by the National Venture Capital Association.

The problem, concludes Forbes, is tha men invest in men and women invest in women.

Rebecca Kaden at Maveron, a consumer-focused VC fund, said:

“I am extremely fortunate to work with a team of consumer-centric men who have deep appreciation for the value that comes from diversity in opinion. 80% of household spending is dictated by women—so any VC investing in consumer that doesn’t have this is severely mistaken. I try to focus on what it takes to be a world class investor—not a world class female investor—while remembering that’s a relatively unique perspective, even if I wish it wasn’t so unique in my industry, allows me to differentiate and bring something unique to the table.”

Is Crowdfunding the Answer?

Forbes contributor Chance Barnett, CEO of crowdfunder.com explains crowdfunding on an investor level, including the bundling of smaller investors in special funds. He also ranks known fundraising sites like Kickstarter, GoFundMe and Indie GoGo.

California Cops Snoop For Nudies

California Cops Steal Naked Photos of Women in Custody, Send Them to Other Cops, Call It A ‘Game’ Slate

California cops have admitted to searching the cell phones of arrested women in hopes of finding nude photos. When they do, images from the women’s confiscated cell phones are shared along with ‘disgusting’ commentary and details of their arrest for drunk driving and other violations. Apparently officers often include civilians in their circle of prying eyes.

Writer Matthais Gafni has detailed similar incidents in other US police stations from Houston to New York.

Calendar Girls Love Potatoes

Bavarian Farmers are determined to raise awareness around the unique properties of their potatos. If you are unaware that sex and spuds go together in a man’s mind, consider yourself informed. The Bavarian Farmers Association has buried their 2015 calendar girls in a pool of potato chips and a bed of the biggest bad boys they can find.

Kudos to Stylelite for finding this potato feast.