Gerry Poirier is CEO and Founder of AngeLink, an AI-driven social crowdfunding platform powered by women.
As the founder and CEO of AngeLink, a crowdfunding platform dedicated to supporting the needs of women around the world, I’ve experienced the complex (and often draining) landscape of entrepreneurship and investment. Amid the challenges of being in this space, one glaring truth emerges: Women remain profoundly underrepresented across the tech sector, particularly in fintech.
Diverse teams perform better than their peers. When you overlook women leaders, you overlook potential. Despite this, only 2% of venture capital money went to startups led by women in 2023. What many fail to recognize is that investing in women-led tech companies isn’t just a matter of equality—it’s a strategic move that promises higher returns and lower risks, especially when women make up 43% of entrepreneurs worldwide. But we all love an underdog story, and for a number of women entrepreneurs, they’ve shown us what it means to win.
Take Melanie Perkins, the visionary force behind Canva, the graphic design platform that revolutionized the industry, for instance. She focused on solving a problem that many overlooked—the need for intuitive design tools accessible to all. Hailing from Australia, Perkins challenged the dominance of industry titan Adobe. Despite facing numerous rejections from venture capitalists, she remained steadfast in her commitment to superior design. Canva’s rise to unicorn status is a testament to Perkins’ drive and determination. Canva’s $200 million raise in 2021 at an astounding $40 billion valuation made Canva one of the most successful women-led companies in the world.
As the co-founder and former CEO of Bumble, based in Austin, Texas, Whitney Wolfe Herd reshaped the online dating landscape by putting women in control of the “first move.” Burned by male executives after co-founding Tinder, Herd was dedicated to creating a safer and more respectful online dating environment that has since empowered countless women. When Bumble went public in 2021, it was valued at $14 billion.
In fintech, Suneera Madhani’s Stax, based in Orlando, Florida, and Shivani Siroya’s Tala, based in Santa Monica, California, have redefined financial innovation. Madhani recognized the need for streamlined payment solutions for businesses and persisted through rejections until finding the right investor who believed in her vision. As of 2023, Stax has raised $500 million and became a unicorn startup in 2022 with a valuation of more than $1 billion. “Your intuition is the most powerful tool you have, [so] use it and don’t discount it and listen to it,” Madhani has said.
With operations in Kenya, Mexico, Philippines, and India, Siroya’s commitment to offering microloans to individuals overlooked by traditional banking systems demonstrates a keen understanding of overlooked market needs. When deciding to take more risks, Siroya considered the future she wanted to create. “OK, we’re doing this. And sure, it’s working, but are we really moving the needle?” Siroya said. “It was deciding to take the first risk.” To date, Tala has raised $350 million.
Rachel Romer Carlson’s Guild, based in Denver, focuses on providing accessible education in the name of upskilling front-line employees. Trusted by leading employers like Target, Chipotle and Lowe’s, Guild is prioritizing those that are often overlooked. Despite facing repeated setbacks in securing funding, Guild is now valued at over $4.4 billion.
What sets these women-led ventures apart isn’t just their gender, but their commitment. Each of them operates with a clear focus on the “why,” by prioritizing solving problems that others in the industry have overlooked. According to Rogue Women’s Fund, “Women led start-ups are 500% more likely to be a billion dollar company compared to businesses that are male led.”
What’s even more remarkable about these women-led ventures is that they didn’t emerge from the standard Silicon Valley venture capital ecosystem. Instead, they were home-grown in nontraditional locations, decentralizing their entrepreneurial paths.
Their dedication to serving other women and underserved communities has fueled their success but has also positioned them as unicorn companies—proof that investing in mission-driven initiatives yields substantial returns. Not to mention, these women took a technology-first, user-friendly approach to their products, making their brands more relatable and their products more accessible to women around the world.
Based on the inspiring stories of these women and my own experience as a female entrepreneur, I want to provide three insights fellow leaders in the tech industry can apply to their own businesses:
1. Focus On Solving Overlooked Problems With A Clear “Why”: Each of these women-led ventures prioritized solving problems that were often overlooked by mainstream industry players. They had a clear understanding of the needs of their target audience and remained committed to addressing them. When maintaining a clear focus on the “why” behind their ventures, leaders can align their efforts with meaningful goals and create products or services that resonate with users.
2. Persistence And Resilience In The Face Of Rejection: Despite facing numerous challenges and rejections, these women were committed to their vision. Leaders in the tech industry must embrace rejection as a natural part of the entrepreneurial journey. Always stay true to your vision and persevere through the inevitable challenges!
3. Mission-Driven Approach And User-Centric Design: These companies adopted a mission-driven approach and focused on underserved communities and addressing societal challenges. They also prioritized user-friendly design and technology-first solutions. This is also hugely important in our efforts at AngeLink. By prioritizing impact, leaders can create products that not only drive financial success but make the world a better, more equitable place.
Women around the globe can celebrate the same ethos as these trailblazing women. When we focus on ventures that prioritize inclusivity, innovation and community, like Canva, Bumble, Stax, Tala and Guild, we stand with female entrepreneurs. As more conscious leaders embrace a shared commitment to addressing overlooked market needs, we can drive positive societal impact. Clearly, women are leading the charge and changing the trajectory for people everywhere.
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Source: bing.com
