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The real reason female entrepreneurs get less funding

2,112,264 views | Dana Kanze • TEDxPeachtree

Women own 39 percent of all businesses in the US, but female entrepreneurs get only two percent of venture funding. What's causing this gap? Dana Kanze shares research suggesting that it might be the types of questions start-up founders get asked when they're invited to pitch. Whether you're starting a new business or just having a conversation, learn how to spot the kinds of questions you're being asked -- and how to respond more effectively.

Women own 39 percent of all businesses in the US, but female entrepreneurs get only two percent of venture funding. What's causing this gap? Dana Kanze shares research suggesting that it might be the types of questions start-up founders get asked when they're invited to pitch. Whether you're starting a new business or just having a conversation, learn how to spot the kinds of questions you're being asked -- and how to respond more effectively.

This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxPeachtree, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

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About the speaker

Dana Kanze

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Dr. Dana Kanze is an assistant professor of organizational behavior at London Business School, where she applies behavioral insights to understand sources of labor market inequality.

Dana Kanze, Laura Huang, Mark A. Conley, & E. Tory Higgins | Academy of Management Journal 61, no. 2 (April 2018): 586–614. | Article

"We Ask Men to Win & Women Not to Lose: Closing the Gender Gap in Startup Funding"

Dana Kanze, Laura Huang, Mark A. Conley, & E. Tory Higgins | Harvard Business Review (June 27, 2017) (2017) | Article

"Male and Female Entrepreneurs Get Asked Different Questions by VCs—and It Affects How Much Funding They Get"

Kimberly Weisul | Inc. | Article

"There Are 2 Types of Investor Questions. Here's How to Nail Both"

Anthony Mirhaydari and Kate Clark | Pitchbook, 2018 | Article

"When it comes to closing the gender funding gap, there's no silver bullet"

Troy Wolverton | Business Insider, 2018 | Article

"Silicon Valley's MeToo moment is changing the venture capital industry — but many wonder if it will last"

Natalie Pompilo | Wharton Magazine | Article

"Equity Investment: Improving Opportunities For Women and Minorities in Business"

| Explore

The Higgins Lab at Columbia University

Dana Kanze, Mark A. Conley. E. Tory Higgins | Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 2019 | Article

"The motivation of mission statements: How regulatory mode influences workplace discrimination"

Dana Kanze, Mark A. Conley. Tyler G. Okimoto, Damon J. Phillips and Jennifer Merluzzi | Science Advances, 2020 | Article

"Evidence that investors penalize female founders for lack of industry fit"

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This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxPeachtree, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TEDx.