The Men Who Support Women in VC

If you’ve been reading my newsletters, you know that I’m a passionate advocate for gender equity in business, especially in venture capital, where only 15% of women are General Partners with check-writing authority. While women can often be counted on to support other women, if we are to close the gender gap, we need everyone on board.

Men, that means YOU!

When I speak highly of others, it ALWAYS comes from experience. It’s never about clout, gaining popularity or name-dropping. In my time in the industry, I have learned that actions always speak louder than words!

This week, I want to highlight 5 men in venture capital who are doing the work to make VC a more diverse, equitable community. They have helped me personally, and have actively demonstrated their commitment to doing what’s right. When pro athletes endorse brands, they get attention. Well, these 5 men are the pro athletes of venture, and we need more of them to make change in this industry!

John Gannon

John Gannon is the co-founder of GoingVC , a global venture capital education and career accelerator program, and GoingVC Partners , the early-stage funding arm of GoingVC. (I completed GoingVC’s program in 2020.) John is an active angel investor and advisor, and runs johngannonblog.com , a popular VC job board/blog and newsletter, which reaches 20,000+ readers weekly, including VCs at top firms like a16z, Greylock, Sequoia, Bessemer, and NEA. He’s invested in 20+ early stage companies, with 2 profitable exits and 1 Unicorn (companies valued at over $1B) so far.?

Here’s something you should know about John: when I email him, he emails me back. If you’ve ever broken into an industry, you know just how valuable that is!? He also has made connections for me and knows the challenges I have faced. Now we are on VC speaking panels together and hopefully will syndicate future deal flow together, supporting early-stage top performing female founded startups. Showing empathy and offering opportunity are great gifts that men can offer to support women in VC, and John has given these gifts freely. Thank you, John, for what you do.

Brad Feld

Brad has been an early stage investor and entrepreneur since 1987, and is the co-founder of Foundry Group. Previously, he co-founded Mobius Venture Capital and Techstars , and founded Intensity Ventures.? I first interacted with Brad in 2020 after sending him a cold email. I had been reading Brad’s blog for a while, and was happy to read how much we had in common. I decided to email him in 2020 when I was beginning to invest and transition into venture capital.? I asked for his advice about breaking into VC and if I could network with VC’s within his network. He not only responded, but also mentioned I should connect with one of his partners, Jaclyn Freeman Hester (I love that he brought on an experienced female investment partner to join his team!).???

Brad, Jaclyn and Foundry Group, endeared themselves to me even more when they registered Foundry Group as a certified mission-driven B Corporation! I registered my own female founder community, Blazin' Babes ’, back in 2015 as a certified B Corporation, even after a major PE and VC law firm told me not to because they said it would negatively impact my ability to raise VC money ??.? I did this not only because I wanted to give back and make a difference, but also because I knew the Millennial and Gen Z consumer groups care about impact, and as VCs, we need to know market trends and be well versed in consumer segment growth and purchasing power. Brad, Jacklyn, and Foundry taught me the importance of aligning with companies and people who share your vision and mission and see the forest before the trees

Alexis Ohanian Sr.

Alexis Ohanian makes the world a better place. He is a technology entrepreneur and investor, and has invested in over 40 Unicorns. He is one of the original co-founders of Reddit and the founder of a new venture capital firm focused on “software and empathy,” called Seven Seven Six 7??7??6?? . Seven Seven Six is striving to create an investor community that reflects our country with a focus on supporting founders and building high-performing teams. Like me, he is the child of immigrants. He’s also a father, fighting for Paid Family Leave for all American families and challenging a generation of dads to take paternity leave should they get the opportunity. He also happens to be Mr. Serena Williams, so we know that this is a man who supports strong women.?

I met Alexis in 2020 when I introduced his team to an LP within my network to help him raise his first fund. We hopped on a call and introduced him to Wibe Wagemans , founder and CEO of Paradigm , an AI health startup I’m on the board of. (Congrats to Wibe for making Inc’s top 100 innovators in health!)? Alexis then invited me to become an LP in his fund of Seven Seven Six, and after scrounging around for money after an expensive divorce, I was able to participate and be part of his first fund. I also spoke with his co-GP, Katelin Holloway , and hope we can share deal flow and continue to fund and support female founders and fund managers.?

Troy Henikoff

A seasoned entrepreneur who has built multiple successful technology-based businesses from the ground-up over a 30+ year period, Troy Henikoff is Managing Director of MATH Venture Partners and an active mentor with Techstars . He is also a Lecturer of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at 美国西北大学 . Troy was a Co-founder of Excelerate Labs, which became Techstars Chicago in 2013. He also helps manage the FireStarter Fund and is on the board of the Chicago-land Entrepreneurial Center.?

I met Troy in 2017, when I was part of 1871 ’s Chicago Latinx Cohort 2, representing my startup and female founder community, Blazin’ Babes. Troy spoke to our cohort about how to build a robust and meaningful financial model as an early stage startup, and “drilled” us (yes, I said drilled ??) on what VCs look for in a financial model. Troy made sure to let us know that drawing a hockey stick on your financial model slide with no assumptions, no thought process, and no way of answering the question, “how are you going to make money and what is your LTV/CAC?” was not going to fly in raising capital. When I transitioned in 2019 to VC, Troy was kind enough to sit with me to discuss the process, who to network with, and how I should think about my investment thesis and model. He walked me through the mechanics and has spent the most time with me by far as a male VC. Troy is a pay-it-forward guy supporting the startup and venture space, and although his style may come across as very direct, I love it because I share in his tough love and direct demeanor.? Grateful to know Troy.

Mark Achler

Mark Achler works closely with Troy as Managing Director of MATH Venture Partners. He is also an Adjunct Lecturer of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Business at Northwestern University. Prior to MATH, Mark was the Senior Vice President of New Business, Strategy and Innovation for Redbox and was an early employee at Apple. He is a serial entrepreneur who has co-founded four companies, as well as being a partner in an earlier venture fund called Kettle Partners. Mark is a frequent speaker, resource and ardent champion for the entrepreneurial community. He is also the co-author of Exit Right: How to Sell Your Startup, Maximize Your Return and Build Your Legacy. ?

I met and spoke with Mark in 2019 when I asked for advice on transitioning from founder to VC.? I remember he specifically talked about having a focus within your investment thesis and tying your passion and experience to that focus.? His advice and counsel led me to leverage my knowledge of the health industry; my parents were medical entrepreneurs, and I have worked in tech and new product innovation at Reebok and Life Fitness / Hammer Strength .? Since 2019, I have focused my investments on proactive and preventative health and have leveraged what I have built over the past 8 years with Blazin’ Babes, with a pivot to focus solely on supporting, scaling and funding female founders.? Hats off to Mark for providing such stellar advice.?

Venture capital needs men who not only give advice, but also open doors for female venture capital investors seeking to launch their own funds, join a fund, or fund female founders. Allies like these men are what we need to amplify in order to make positive change in the industry and capitalize on the money that is being left on the table.? By expanding networks and bringing more women and diverse VCs into the industry, this will enhance expected returns, cast a wider net of startups, bring more leadership, collaboration, and empathy into venture, and change the industry overall.

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