Bye-bye “Bros Only.”
February 24, 2022
“It would feel a bit hypocritical if we went out and recruited a senior investment executive… with an all male team, and said that one of our core values is gender equality within our firm as well as for our investments.”
—Sid Jawahar, Managing Partner, Swiftarc Ventures
The gist:
This year, Swiftarc Ventures, a New York-based VC firm, has up to six positions to offer on its investment team…and they are only going to women. Sid Jawahar, the managing partner, was aware of “the hiring issues that we have in venture capital and private equity.” So he and his co-founders agreed that parity would be an “initial anchor” when they opened their firm. Today they are “extremely ethnically diverse,” says Leslie Wolfson, engagement director. Nearly 62%—or eight of its 13 staff members—are female.
But in leadership positions? There are no women on the investment side. But Wolson continued saying, “it’s about more than supporting women…it’s about results.” Citing from Boston Consulting Group research, she notes that “businesses with female decision-makers, make a much higher return.” To this end, the firm is also selecting portfolio companies run by women, and it has a limited partner base that is nearly 50% female.
—Sid Jawahar, managing partner, Swiftarc Vwntures
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