Key Takeaways
- • Women hold just 15.2% of partner roles at Canadian VC firms, 11.8% of managing partner roles, and 10.3% of venture partner roles, according to a 2019 Female Funders and Highline Beta report covering 55 Canadian funds.
- • The Diversity Institute at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) is running "The Allyship: Women in Venture Capital," a research study funded by Mitacs and conducted with Ethical Digital.
- • The initiative targets a 30% representation of women in North American VC by 2035.
- • The study will combine a literature review, in-depth interviews with up to 30 VC board members and partners and 20 women and non-binary professionals, and an action plan for partner organizations.
- • The project is supervised by Dr. Wendy Cukier, Director of the Diversity Institute, and was reviewed by the Toronto Met Research Ethics Board (REB protocol 2021-564).
Summary
Women are significantly underrepresented in venture capital firms across North America. A 2019 report from Female Funders and Highline Beta, which examined 55 funds in Canada, found that women make up 15.2% of partners at Canadian VC firms, 11.8% of managing partners and 10.3% of venture partners. The same source indicates the situation in the United States is worse.
The Diversity Institute at Toronto Metropolitan University is leading "The Allyship: Women in Venture Capital," a study funded by Mitacs and conducted in partnership with Ethical Digital. The research aims to measure current levels of women's representation in the North American VC industry, identify barriers to greater representation, and determine how the industry can improve it. According to the project description, the work includes a literature review, in-depth interviews with industry participants, and the development of an action plan for partner organizations to drive change within VC firms. The action plan will draw on the literature review, interview findings and researcher recommendations.
The study is recruiting up to 30 board members and partners from North American VC firms, as well as 20 self-identified women and non-binary people who have worked as analysts, associates or principals in the industry. Participants will take part in one-on-one semi-structured virtual interviews of approximately one hour. Board members and partners may also be asked to share, with consent, organizational policies on diversity and inclusion, HR and recruitment, leadership and governance, and data collection and measurement.
Per the publisher's context, the Allyship initiative seeks to raise women's representation in North American VC to 30%, with a stated goal of reaching at least 30% by 2035. The project is supervised by Dr. Wendy Cukier, professor of entrepreneurship and strategy at the Ted Rogers School of Management and director of the Diversity Institute. Sanaa Ali-Mohammed, research assistant, is the contact for participation. The study has been reviewed by the Toronto Met Research Ethics Board under REB protocol number 2021-564 and is co-funded by Mitacs and Ethical Digital.
The Diversity Institute at Toronto Metropolitan University is leading "The Allyship: Women in Venture Capital," a study funded by Mitacs and conducted in partnership with Ethical Digital. The research aims to measure current levels of women's representation in the North American VC industry, identify barriers to greater representation, and determine how the industry can improve it. According to the project description, the work includes a literature review, in-depth interviews with industry participants, and the development of an action plan for partner organizations to drive change within VC firms. The action plan will draw on the literature review, interview findings and researcher recommendations.
The study is recruiting up to 30 board members and partners from North American VC firms, as well as 20 self-identified women and non-binary people who have worked as analysts, associates or principals in the industry. Participants will take part in one-on-one semi-structured virtual interviews of approximately one hour. Board members and partners may also be asked to share, with consent, organizational policies on diversity and inclusion, HR and recruitment, leadership and governance, and data collection and measurement.
Per the publisher's context, the Allyship initiative seeks to raise women's representation in North American VC to 30%, with a stated goal of reaching at least 30% by 2035. The project is supervised by Dr. Wendy Cukier, professor of entrepreneurship and strategy at the Ted Rogers School of Management and director of the Diversity Institute. Sanaa Ali-Mohammed, research assistant, is the contact for participation. The study has been reviewed by the Toronto Met Research Ethics Board under REB protocol number 2021-564 and is co-funded by Mitacs and Ethical Digital.
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