The startup funding gap for women is getting wider. Why? And what can we do?

As all the stats, headlines and reports will tell you, it’s been a record year for startup funding in Australia. Yet of the billions of dollars pouring into the ecosystem, the share available to women-led startups has actually — incredibly — shrunk.

The gender funding gap is nothing new. We’ve been talking about this disparity in Australia and around the world for what feels like forever, yet the dial seemingly refuses to shift. 

The pertinent question is: why?

When researching this article, I had countless women reach out to share their stories and views.

Some suggested the issue stems from bias in the pitching process and underrepresentation on investment teams.