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A thread on what it means to be an ally in the world of startups. GULP.
1/ Your words are not your actions or your record. Your record is your record.
In other words: you are an ally to female founders ONLY IF you invest in female founders.
You are an ally to founders of color ONLY IF you invest in founders of color.
In other words: you are an ally to female founders ONLY IF you invest in female founders.
You are an ally to founders of color ONLY IF you invest in founders of color.
2/ The most profound question I believe a gatekeeper in startups (investors, accelerators, mentors) can ask themselves is:
Does my personal life and my personal experience shape my view of business and how I discern value?
If the answer is YES (which it probably is)...
Does my personal life and my personal experience shape my view of business and how I discern value?
If the answer is YES (which it probably is)...
3/ Then you must document how your world view and experience creates a lens.
Are you white? That’s a lens.
Are you a man? That’s a lens.
Are you college educated? That’s a lens.
Are you straight? That’s a lens.
Your prescription for success is likely reflective of this lens!
Are you white? That’s a lens.
Are you a man? That’s a lens.
Are you college educated? That’s a lens.
Are you straight? That’s a lens.
Your prescription for success is likely reflective of this lens!
4/ Now that you know this... please interrogate how this prescription impacts the way in which you assess:
risk
founding team
the market
Honestly ask yourself: what opportunities have I passed on because I couldn’t try on another world view?
risk founding team the market Honestly ask yourself: what opportunities have I passed on because I couldn’t try on another world view?
5/ Allyship starts when your lived experience does not become your default prescription for success.
In believing there is more than one RX, you gain the power of allyship!
BECAUSE YOU BEGIN TO SEE OTHER PEOPLE AS BEING INHERANTLY VALUABLE BEYOND YOUR PERSONAL DEFINITIONS.
In believing there is more than one RX, you gain the power of allyship!
BECAUSE YOU BEGIN TO SEE OTHER PEOPLE AS BEING INHERANTLY VALUABLE BEYOND YOUR PERSONAL DEFINITIONS.
6/ But there’s more! Allyship is not charity!
I am a fucking killer founder.
I build incredible businesses.
I am not your token lady founder.
I AM A FUCKING QUEEN.
When you allow me to bring the fullness of my bitch magic to our shared goal of building a big ass business —
I am a fucking killer founder.
I build incredible businesses.
I am not your token lady founder.
I AM A FUCKING QUEEN.
When you allow me to bring the fullness of my bitch magic to our shared goal of building a big ass business —
7/ YOU WIN TOO.
There is an enlightenment phase to allyship that allows everyone to win simply because oppressed people work twice as hard for half as much.
Shouldn’t have to. But the game is rigged.
If I survived this game - what else can I dominate?
There is an enlightenment phase to allyship that allows everyone to win simply because oppressed people work twice as hard for half as much.
Shouldn’t have to. But the game is rigged.If I survived this game - what else can I dominate?
8/ Allyship is deciding to change and challenge. Every decision. Every experience. Every introduction.
It is rejecting the status quo YOU CREATED in favor of embracing a new way of seeing the world.
It is rejecting the status quo YOU CREATED in favor of embracing a new way of seeing the world.
9/ The kicker is the startup community will be better if we do this work. There is literally no downside.
And if you think the downside is your white bro friends won’t be able to try 7 times instead of 6 - I have news for you - that’s not a downside.
THAT’S A MARKET CORRECTION.
And if you think the downside is your white bro friends won’t be able to try 7 times instead of 6 - I have news for you - that’s not a downside.
THAT’S A MARKET CORRECTION.
