VentureBeat - Latest Comments in Venture capital: Still white, still male, but getting better (maybe)

Re: Venture capital: Still white, still male, but getting better (maybe)

John Thongthavorn — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:50:25 -0000

Anthony,

Great Article...you are the man! Keep up the good work!

www.workless4wealth.com

Re: Venture capital: Still white, still male, but getting better (maybe)

randomwalker — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 02:22:44 -0000

I did think an attraction to risk-taking behavior is a pretty important quality in a VC, but you know more about the subject than I do. I haven't even met with any VC's yet. And yeah, I have nothing to say on the subject of race.

I guess your last statement pinpoints where we disagree -- I say if some people are happier/more productive in some professions, let them be :-)

P.S Disqus needs some UI improvements! If I make a mistake logging in, it takes me to a registration widget and I lose my comment (unless I want to end up creating a second account). This is the second time :(

Re: Venture capital: Still white, still male, but getting better (maybe)

Anthony Ha — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:31:39 -0000

Uh, thanks, "Gavin".

Re: Venture capital: Still white, still male, but getting better (maybe)

Anthony Ha — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:30:55 -0000

I agree that there are probably professions where there will always be more men than women (like your example of penis modeling) and vice versa, but you haven't convinced me that's the case with venture capital. Do you really think that an attraction to risk-taking behavior is the sole, or even primary, qualification for a VC? And how would you account for the similar disparity between whites and nonwhites?

But then again, I think diversity is inherently a good thing.

Re: Venture capital: Still white, still male, but getting better (maybe)

randomwalker — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:09:03 -0000

I don't think the gender differences are a problem. But then again, I'm a fan of Steven Pinker.

Re: Venture capital: Still white, still male, but getting better (maybe)

Gavin Newsom — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:44:39 -0000

This is very timely. According to an insider with Calpers they are having internal discussions about aligning future investments into VC funds that show the same diversity that they are required to have. Not just at Calpers but other state businesses.
Personally, I think its a great idea considering that the status quo venture guy is; male, Stanford educated with little or no operating experience:)

Bring in some new blood!