Fixing the funding gap for female founders – Janneke Niessen
You know the saying, ’empowered women empower women’? Well, investor, serial entrepreneur, technologist and innovator Janneke Niessen is the personification of that motto. I sat down with the Dutch feminist powerhouse to discuss the gender funding gap and how to fix it.
Marlies: In 2019, you and your partner, scientist and investor Eva de Mol, published the shocking results of the research you did on the investment in female entrepreneurs and diversity by venture capitalists: only 1,6% of the money went to female founders! How is this still possible?
Janneke: Gender bias plays a very big role. Women are still judged differently; a young woman is seen as inexperienced, a young man as showing potential. A man with a flashy car is considered successful, a woman conspicuous: ‘What is she going to do with our money?’. Often, it simply has to do with a tendency to go for the familiar: people invest in people like themselves. Gender bias is rarely a conscious decision. I haven’t met a lot of men who flat out say: ‘I refuse to invest in a woman!’. It is a deeply embedded mindset, in both men and women.
Marlies: It really is! I’ve had my own company for 27 years now, and for a long time about 90% of my personnel was female. Again and again, my head of HR would tell me: ‘I’m sorry, I simply cannot find a man for this position.’ And I could tell she was genuinely trying! In the same way that men may really be trying to hire or invest in women, but failing. How can we break through that?
Janneke: We have to create a level playing field, especially in the area of investing. Just think about it: of the 10 most valuable companies in the world, 7 once started out with funding from venture capitalists! So, as a female founder, you have to go out and network. Literally get out of the office and make yourself seen. Go to events, make connections. It may feel awkward at first; I remember being terrified to go out there at 23 with my new company, not knowing anybody. But believe me, it gets easier.
Marlies: For me, networking didn’t come naturally. I had to force myself to do it. Eventually, it became second nature. I still make a shortlist of 5 people I want to meet every year. And it can be a lot of fun! I really looked forward to meeting you, for example. What achievement are you particularly proud of?
Janneke: As a result of our research you mentioned earlier, 25 key players in the Dutch world of venture capitalism agreed to only invest in companies that have at least 35% women among their executives; a quota they also set as a target for their own companies. On top of it being a great step forward, I see it as a sign that more men are starting to speak up for gender equality as well. And that gives me hope.
Marlies: Me too. Every man who comes forward to say: ‘I am a feminist’, is a milestone. Because in the end, we have to do this together. Thank you, Janneke!
Marlies Says
fall|winter 20 preview
In January, I presented my newest FW20 collection during a show full of dance and entertainment in Rotterdam. All my work as a feminist designer is inspired by muses, powerful female icons from past and present. And for FW20, my muse will be crime writer Agatha Christie. A few months from now, you will get to discover the collections, and see how they tell stories like Agatha’s thrilling books do..
MD Friends
Running for your life
Dr. Bram Bakker is a psychiatrist, a writer, a runner and a provocateur. With his many bestselling books and columns – and yes, even his own theatre show – he urges us to think outside the box when it comes to our mental health. Not crazy about popping pills? Bram shared some interesting alternatives with me, from throwing out our phones to running ‘till we puke’.
MD Friends
Peas & peppers instead of pills
General practitioner Tamara de Weijer believes that we would feel a lot better if we hit the produce stand before we visited the pharmacy. “On a massive scale, we have been putting the wrong kind of fuel in our bodies.”
Marlies Says
Singles Day – You’ve Got this!
All the single ladies, listen up! With single women rapidly becoming the majority, it is high time to stop feeling singled out. This Singles Day, let’s celebrate our freedom and independence by sharing all those solo milestones that make us go: ‚You’ve got this!‘.
dessous
Die marlies|dekkers Marke bietet eine große Auswahl an Unterwäsche, welche von jeder - und speziell den individuellen Bedürfnissen angepassten - Dessous getragen werden kann.
Maison Marlies
In unserem Maison Marlies Blog kannst du alles über das Leben hinter und um die Kulissen erfahren. Sei es ob du herausfinden möchtest, woher sie ihre Inspirationen für das Designen der neuen Kollektionen findet, oder sei es Infos über ihren Lifestyle, Infos über gesunde Ernährung, oder ihren Geschmack für besondere Kunst.Diese Business Frau schafft es Zeit zu finden um über ihre Business Trips zu schreiben oder auch über ihre Shopping Ideen und ihren Urlaub. Und auch wenn sie im Urlaub ist, wird sie euch nicht hängen lassen. Wenn du dich Verloren fühlst um deine richtige BH Größe zu finden, Maison Marlies bietet eine Reihe von Guidlines an, sodass du weiter deine Brüste schütteln kannst so viel du willst, ohne dass diese rausfallen. Du möchtest bestimmt keine Probleme in deinem Kleiderschrank, welchen natürlich durch high Quality Dessous vorgebeugt werden kann. Und wenn deine Brüste an ihrem richtigen Platz sind, dann kannst du ausgediegen deine Weiblichkeit feiern! Der Blog bietet dir Vorschläge an, wie du deine Dessous kombinieren und deine eigenen Fashion Sinne inspirieren kannst, damit du auch ja mit den neuesten Fashion Trends mitgehen kannst.
Glücklich mit marlies|dekkers Dessous
Ihre Prominenten Freunde sind natürlich auch von der perfekten Passform der marlies|dekkers BHs überzeugt. Diese Frauen zeigen stolz ihre marlies|dekkers Dessous, sei es auf Fotoshoots für Magazine oder Album Cover, beim Performen auf der Bühne oder in Auftritten in TV Shows. Maison Marlies widmet einen speziellen Teil es Blogs für die Gleichberechtigung zwischen Frau und Mann. In Form von aktuellen Nachrichten, bleibt ihr immer auf dem neuesten Stand der letzten Entwicklungen. Und diese Mission verkörpert Marlies' Vision über die Zukunft.