This document discusses increasing gender diversity in venture capital funding. It notes that only 1.4% of Danish funding goes to female-led founder teams. Several myths about what investors want are debunked. The author's firm has taken initiatives to track and report on diversity metrics, educate themselves on unconscious biases, and always include female candidates in hiring and board nominations. They signed a diversity commitment with other investors to set goals around gender diversity in their internal operations, investments, and portfolio companies. The document also discusses what types of startups venture capital firms aim to fund, focusing on factors like purpose, team, scalability, market opportunities, and having a sustainable competitive edge.

1. 1

2. Background
o MSc, Strategy & Leadership
o Corporate (8 years)
o Startup (3 years)
o VC Investor (7 years)
Who am I?
2
Helle Uth
General Partner, PreSeed Ventures Tech01

3. o We are missing out on some talent !
o We want to do something about it!
o Why is this the status quo?
o What can we do about it?
Only 1.4% of Danish
funding goes to
female-led founder
teams
3

4. o Lack of role models?
o Investor Bias?
o Male dominated Network?
o Willingness?
o Pipeline?
o Myths and expectations?
Why is this the status quo?
4

5. Myth #1:
Investors want to
decide everything
5

6. Myth #2:
You need to know everything
when you meet an investor
6

7. Myth #3:
Investors want you to dedicate
all your time awake to the startup
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8. Myth #4:
Investors don’t allow
mistakes
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9. o Implement tracking in CRM
o Report quarterly internally and yearly externally
o Educate ourselves on unconscious biases in the
investment process
o Always include female candidates when proposing
board members for portfolio companies
o Encourage portfolio companies always to interview
female candidates before hiring
o Always interview female candidates before hiring
internally (1 female out of 21 shortlisted by our head
hunter for our current open position as Investment
Manager)
o Focus, events and dialogue
2021 initiatives
9

10. We have co-created and signed a common
Diversity Commitment with 7 other investors
The Diversity Commitment:
• Common gender homogeneity GOALS across
INTERNAL OPERATIONS,
INVESTMENTS and
PORTFOLIO COMPANIES
• Measure, track and report
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11. PreSeed Ventures
Know what type of
founder you are
11

12. There are many ways to be a founder.
Which one are you?
12

13. PreSeed Ventures
Understand what type of
startups VCs aim for and
why 13

14. To understand what VCs look for, you
need to understand the business model
14
1/3 winners
1/3 money back
1/3 loosers
3x in size

15. 15
Product &
Value Prop.
Team
Scalability
Market
Sustainable
Edge
So, what do we look for?

16. 16
Purpose and big vision
S
Team
Complementary skills
(Strategic Visionary, Product Tech Builder and
Commercial Domain Understanding)
Grit and execution

17. 17
Mega trends
and timing
- why now?
Market size
and growth
Competition
Market

18. 18
User love
Superior
product
Traction
Product & value prop

19. 19
Repeatable sales model
Virality / organic growth
CAC vs. LTV
Scalability

20. - Proprietary
Technology
- High switching cost
- Economics of Scale
- Branding
The more
classic
Network
effects
Sustainable edge

21. PreSeed Ventures
Thank you !
Comments and/or Questions?
21

22. PreSeed
Ventures
preseedventures
.
dk
Towkrds a
brdghter futqre