Soundtrack (press play before continuing)
Team 500 lives and breathes diversity. It isn’t just something we say in press to make ourselves look good, or a poster we put up in our office. It is in our DNA. When it comes to women, leveling the playing field is something we’re insanely passionate about – supporting both women founders AND women investors. In the last 4 years, we’ve backed over 100 women-led companies like Wildfire, TaskRabbit, SlideShare, Viki,Moonfruit, TheRealReal, and ipsy. We even have a significant number of women on the 500 investment team (myself included).
But we’re not satisfied. We want to do MORE.
So today, as we roll out our own AngelList syndicates, one of the first syndicates we’re launching is 500 Women. Female founders have proven that they know how to build great businesses that make money, especially in markets that male founders (and male investors) tend to ignore.
Over the next year, 500 Startups will invest $1M total in 10 women-backed companies (or about $100K each), plus the 500 Women syndicate backers will invest additional capital as well.
We also want to challenge more women to take a seat at the other side of the table – as investors. So far, 500 Women syndicate backers include Rashmi Sinha (CEO of SlideShare), Prerna Gupta (CEO of Khu.sh), and Wei Hopeman (Asia head of Citi Ventures). Interested in backing the 500 Women syndicate? Visit angel.co/500-womento apply.
VC has always been a boys’ club. Let’s change that, ladies. Remember – we woke up like this.
