When AI picks who we fund
A 2022 study by Lyonnet and Stern found that a machine learning algorithm can outperform traditional VC decision-making.
Is diversity a byproduct of merit?
Diversity isn’t what happens after we find excellence; it’s how we get there.
Widening the aperture
DEI is not about filtering out people – it’s about widening the aperture.
Beyond the rainbow
2SLGBTQIA+ leaders are already building businesses, jobs, and innovation. The only question is whether capital and funding systems will catch up or continue to overlook this vibrant, growing force in Canada’s economy.
How is capital flowing to Indigenous leaders?
Indigenous-owned businesses contributed $48.9 billion to the Canadian economy annually.
The model minority
Pointing to the success of Asian-Canadians as proof that equity is earned through hard work and assimilation is misleading—and harmful.
Too passionate?
Signs of passion in women are merely meeting expectations, or even viewed as overly emotional or “inappropriate.”
When funding reverses attraction
When female-founded ventures are backed solely by female investors, they are two times less likely to secure additional funding.
Designing for exclusion
Solutions built for overlooked communities provide value for everyone.
The Overton window
The Overton window represents the range of policy ideas the public considers acceptable. This window is constantly shifting, expanding, or shrinking as societal attitudes evolve.
Data and stories
A study by Silberzahn et al. (2018) found that analysts arrived at different conclusions even with the same dataset.
Pitch like a girl?
Feminine behaviours decreased the likelihood of being a finalist in a pitch competition by 13%, regardless of the entrepreneur’s gender.
The industry fit illusion
Investors reward male founders for being bold. They penalize female founders for being outsiders.
Faith & finance
Faith and finance have long been intertwined across religious traditions, shaping ethical investment strategies and financial systems.
Debugging Gender Bias in VC
Women entrepreneurs are held to higher standards compared to their male counterparts.
Broken promises?
In 2020, the gap in capital for Black leaders and communities was undeniable. Promises were made. Commitments to increase capital to Black leaders were publicized.
The momentum hasn’t been sustained over the last few years.