IWD 2024: ‘Investing in Women Tech Founders’ panel debate
To commemorate International Women’s Day (IWD) 2024, Diversity UK, with the backing of Baroness Verma, convened a panel debate titled 'Investing in Women Tech Founders’ on Tuesday 19th March 2024 at the House of Lords. The discussion centred on the challenges confronting female tech entrepreneurs and strategies to foster inclusivity within the sector.
This event marked the fourth instalment in the Investing in Women Founders’ series organised by the equality charity, aimed at shining a light on the persistently low levels of venture capital funding received by women founders worldwide. It also aimed to spotlight the hurdles encountered by tech innovators, from misconceptions about women’s tech and business acumen to biases in grant funding programmes and a lack of awareness regarding market access and growth opportunities.
The theme for IWD 2024 was #InspireInclusion, underscoring the collective endeavour to build a more inclusive world for women. Inspiring others to recognise and value women’s inclusion fosters a better world. When women themselves are encouraged to participate, a sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment flourishes.
HOST
★ Baroness Verma, Chair - UN Women UK + Member of the House of Lords
KEYNOTE
★ Angela Saini - Award-winning science journalist, broadcaster, and author
PANEL SPEAKERS
★ Abhilasha Dafria, CEO - Angels Den Funding
★ Lopa Patel MBE, Chair - Diversity UK (moderator)
★ Rubina Singh, DeepTech/Climate Principal - Octopus Ventures
★ Jaysri Thangam, Investor - Fund F by Female Founders
SHOWCASE FOUNDERS
★ Ahana Banerjee, Founder & CEO - Clear
★ Murvah Iqbal, Co-Founder & CEO - Hived
Award-winning science journalist, broadcaster, and author Angela Saini drew insights from her fourth book, 'The Patriarchs: How Men Came To Rule', exploring the historical roots of gendered oppression. She illuminated the complex history of its entrenchment in societies, spanning from prehistory to the contemporary era. Saini highlighted how past attempts to achieve equality often faced setbacks and backlash. She concluded by prompting reflection on the roles played by all individuals, including women, in perpetuating patriarchal structures, particularly evident within the tech sector.
Baroness Verma stressed the urgency of accelerating the campaign for equality and emphasised the need for tangible outcomes, especially for women worldwide, before fielding questions from the audience.
The panel delved into the depths of gender inequality within the tech industry, addressing questions such as: Why do women entrepreneurs struggle to secure funding? Do women perceive the tech sector as more challenging than other fields? Where can women founders seek assistance, and what form of support is necessary? How do women founders navigate the work-life balance? Can women entrepreneurs bridge the gender funding gap? How can women tech founders foster inclusivity in the face of algorithmic biases in AI and machine learning?
The showcases by Ahana Banerjee, Founder & CEO of Clear, and Murvah Iqbal, Co-Founder & CEO of Hived, exemplified the feasibility of securing substantial funding to scale ventures across various industries with robust ecosystem support. Initiatives like the Asians in Tech platform were highlighted as valuable resources for showcasing success stories and facilitating connections among founders and potential investors.
