“Women entrepreneurs are perceived by venture investors as different and having a much more significant barrier to success compared to their male counterparts,” Padnos said. “I don’t think most people are aware that they are thinking this way.”
While Padnos, who has met with Cohen and her team at Goldman Sachs, commends the firm for its efforts, her one grouse is over guidelines the bank has put in place for its venture: Investing is focused on institutional fundraising rounds rather than on the seed capital founders need to get their ventures off the ground.
“By not addressing that first round,” Padnos said, “we are still reducing the opportunity set of women-founded companies.”
This article was provided by Bloomberg News.