Wow, you're a unicorn!

My first encounter with the startup world was in 2010 when I participated in a Hackathon. During the event, one of the mentors pointed out that as a female engineer and entrepreneur, I was a rare find, and even said, “Wow, you’re a unicorn!” Although I knew that women are underrepresented in the engineering field, I had not realised how much rarer it was for women to venture into entrepreneurship.

The Gender Gap in Entrepreneurship

Although there have been some improvements in recent years, the gender gap in both of these cases remains significant. For instance, just yesterday someone told me that in the USA, women only raise 2% of capital. In Spain, only 14% of startup founders are women, and only 10% of business angel investors are women. These figures are better than they were five years ago, but it is evident that there is still a lot of work to be done in the innovative entrepreneurship sector for women entrepreneurs.

I have a deep passion for our industry. Anyone who knows me knows that I love creating new solutions, changing the world, and doing so alongside ambitious, nonconformist individuals who want to leave it better than they found it. Startups often undergo rapid growth and evolution, but one aspect that remains stagnant is the underrepresentation of women in leadership positions, be it entrepreneurs or investors, which I believe comes down to deeply ingrained cultural factors.

Gender Disparities in Startup Funding

Externally, research has shown that there is a clear investor bias, with men tending to invest more in male-led ventures. Paradoxically, despite women founders building more profitable companies, this gender-based bias often leads to less investment in their ventures, which makes no sense. While many venture capitalists have recognized this problem and have initiated measures to promote gender diversity, progress remains slow.

Education plays a crucial role in shaping culture, both within the family and in the classroom. It is at this early age that we develop our beliefs, therefore it is essential to promote equality and counter gender stereotypes and roles through education.

Internally, women often set high standards for themselves. I see this over and over again among the women entrepreneurs with whom I have had the privilege of working. Despite being brilliant and capable, many women are held back by self-doubt, impostor syndrome, and societal expectations to prioritise family over career.

Empowering Women Entrepreneurs

We must empower girls by showing them that they can become whoever they want, achieve whatever they want, and give them female role models in all fields. Women in leadership positions must serve as visible examples to other women, and the media must give them prominence and greater visibility. By creating networks to support one another, we can evolve and serve as role models for the next generation.

For this reason, I love being a member of the Startup Valencia board and of Techstars Dublin; I have a privileged position to help women and connect them in the ecosystem.

Lastly, believing in ourselves is crucial, especially for women entrepreneurs who often face additional challenges such as family responsibilities, difficulty in raising investment, and cultural biases. There are numerous examples of successful female entrepreneurs who have overcome these obstacles and built successful companies. These women are amazing, but they were not born that way. So, if you are a woman with entrepreneurial aspirations, remember that you can do it too. Do not be discouraged by initial setbacks, keep persisting, and you will eventually reach your goals.

The Importance of Female Role Models and Networks

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, my wish is that if you are a man who knows a woman with entrepreneurial aspirations, I urge you to encourage and support her in any way you can. If you are an investor, I urge you to be aware of gender bias. And if you are a woman, I urge you to believe in yourself, invest in your growth, be ambitious even if you feel undervalued, support other women, surround yourself with like-minded individuals, seek out role models, become a role model yourself… empower yourself!