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Gormy Cuss

(30,884 posts)
Tue Aug 12, 2014, 09:21 PM Aug 2014

News and views from the digital frontier: YC to investors: Don’t hit on female founders

Sad reflection of the male-dominated and male-centric culture of Silicon Valley.


The Technology Chronicles
News and views from the digital frontier.
YC to investors: Don’t hit on female founders
Posted on Tuesday, August 12 at 2:59pm | By Kristen V. Brown



A common refrain in Silicon Valley is that the industry’s gender imbalance is largely a pipeline problem. Simply put, there just aren’t enough women interested in technology to close the gender gap.

There is, however, plenty of evidence to the contrary — sexual harassment lawsuits and first-hand stories from female founders detailing a pervasive bro-culture that often makes tech unfriendly to women.

Y Combinator co-founder Jessica Livingston, however, wants potential investors in YC companies to know there will be no funny business.

“I’ve found that important and seemingly obvious things often bear repeating,” she wrote in a blog post titled “Reminder to Investors.”

“Y Combinator has a zero tolerance policy for inappropriate sexual or romantic behavior from investors toward founders,” she wrote (emphasis hers). “Don’t even think about doing it. I will find out. Y Combinator will not continue to work with you.”






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News and views from the digital frontier: YC to investors: Don’t hit on female founders (Original Post) Gormy Cuss Aug 2014 OP
k and r niyad Aug 2014 #1
It's tragic this had to be spelled out. Starry Messenger Aug 2014 #2

Starry Messenger

(32,342 posts)
2. It's tragic this had to be spelled out.
Sat Aug 16, 2014, 06:47 PM
Aug 2014

There was a huge article in Forbes recently, by a woman who wouldn't reveal her name, about the ugly and abusive behavior from investors.

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