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​🗓️ Looking to learn about fintech inclusion? RSVP for our 3/7 Ganas Ventures Expert Series chat here.

​​​Austin C (Slauson), Calanthia M (Masa), Kim P (OmSom), Arjay R (Homeroom)

​Happy Women's History Month! This is a time to reflect on feminism, the state of women, and how we can take action to empower them (us!). I invite you to join me in this exercise. I share my reflections on these topics from the perspective of a Latina VC, to stimulate your thinking.

​What is feminism to you?

​Feminism is a belief in and commitment to gender equality. It is not about man-hating, but rather about inclusivity. The focus of feminism is not on women's superiority, but on the idea that all genders should be treated equally. Feminism is also about taking into account women's intersectionalities (and not about "white feminism”).

​What stats on the state of women would you like to see improved?

• ​Women make up 50% of the global population, earn over $20 trillion annually globally, and control over 33% of total household wealth (Goldman Sachs)

• ​Less than 2% of LP-VC funding goes to women fund managers, and less than 2% of VC investments go to women founders (Techcrunch)

• ​Without investment, it will take 300 years to achieve gender equality (United Nations)

​How can I and others help empower women and improve the state of women?

• ​Invest in top female founders and fund managers

• ​Hire women and promote them to positions of power

• ​Speak up for women. If we remain silent, we become bystanders who condone sexism

​As you reflect on these topics, remember that it is normal to have a unique perspective on feminism, the state of women, and women's empowerment. After all, our perspectives are shaped by our personal lived experiences, worlds, and intersectionalities.

​And with that, I send lots of love to all the women in our community and invite you to consider reading Angela Davis’s Women, Race and Class and Mikki Kendall’s Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot.

​​​​​​✨ Lolita Taub, GP at Ganas Ventures | twitter | luma 
Recently in Forbes, Nasdaq, LinkedIn News, and Techcrunch

​​​​​Congrats

​Calanthia Mei and Brendan Playford of Masa Finance (port co) for deploying on the Celo blockchain with its new "Prosperity Passport." Arjay Ruggles of HomeRoom (port co) for joining the Techstars Music Accelerator. Kim Pham of OmSom for launching at Target. Anna Barber, Austin Clements, and Minnie Ingersoll for making Business Insiders' Most Important VCs in Los Angeles list.

​​​​​Sponsored | Applications open March 6 for the AWS Impact Accelerator Latino Founders cohort, part of AWS' $30 million fund to support underrepresented founders. Fast-track your startup with training, mentorship, and $225,000 in cash and credits —all at zero cost and for zero equity.

​​​​​Funders

​Crunchbase | Learn why this downturn will show us which LPs actually believe in diversity

​​TheFundCFO | Access to different VC fund models and resources

​​Ganas | Benefits of becoming an LP in funds during downturns

​​​​​Startup-Investor Matching Tool | VCs: meet thesis-aligned underrepresented founders

​​​​​Sponsored | Tired of hunting for engineering talent for your startup? Try Lemon. They offer pre-vetted, verified devs at affordable rates. Stop wasting time on unqualified candidates and go to Lemon today!

​​​​​Founders

​Asking for a founder | Find out why valuations are going down

​​​​​​​Asking for a founder | Get tips on how to get Tier-1 VCs to invest in your co

​Ganas | Learn how to create a community-driven company, fundraise, and build a unicorn

​​​​​LaaS | Underrepresented founders: get resources made for you

​​​​​Sponsored | Underestimated founders, funders & friends: welcome to the Ganas Ventures Expert Series show where we aim to help you on your startup-investor journey to success! RSVP and join talks with industry experts whose backgrounds include Gitlab, Republic, Didi, Nubank, Spin by Oxxo, and more!

​​​​​Money

​​​​Ganas | Community-driven founders: apply for $100K

​Workers Lab​ | BIPOC women: apply for $200K

​Amber | Women founders: apply for <$10K grants

​​MEDA | SF women founders: apply for <$5K grants

​​Olgas | Michigan women founders: apply for $10K grants

​​Movemeant | BIPOC women fitness founders: apply for a $1-5K grant

​​​​​Fearless Fund | Black women founders: apply for $10K grants

​​​​​​SoGal Foundation | Black women founders: apply for $5-$10K in grants

​​​​​​1863 Ventures | Black founders: apply to get a 3Rs $5K grants

​​​​​​Non-dilutive capital | Create a profile to find non-dilutive capital

​​​​​​Equity Crowdfunding | Raise up to $5 million

​​​​​​Startup-Investor Matching Tool | Founders: get intros to investors

​​​​​Want more? Follow me @lolitataub and let me know how I can help. Want to support our newsletter and get featured? Become a sponsor.