--- title: "Venture Capital Association: Let’s Solve Our Diversity Problem" id: "26451" type: "post" slug: "venture-capital-association-lets-solve-our-diversity-problem" published_at: "2014-12-10T00:36:42+00:00" modified_at: "2026-11-09T18:24:09+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2014/12/10/venture-capital-association-lets-solve-our-diversity-problem/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2014/12/10/venture-capital-association-lets-solve-our-diversity-problem.md" excerpt: "In an effort to improve diversity in the startup world, the National Venture Capital Association announced a task force this week meant to tackle the issue at its source. But the task force faces a diversity problem of its own." taxonomy_category: - "Conscious Inclusion" taxonomy_post_tag: - "age inclusion" - "AssociationsNow" - "Leadership" - "Neurodiversity" - "venture capital" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "Executive Team" taxonomy_persona: - "Executive Leadership" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Venture Capital Association: Let’s Solve Our Diversity Problem The headlines a few months ago didn’t exactly say great things about the tech world’s inclusiveness. [Company](https://associationsnow.com/2014/06/googles-diversity-disclosure-happens-next/) after [company](https://associationsnow.com/2014/07/tech-industry-group-pledges-progress-diversity-problem/) released [reports](https://associationsnow.com/2014/07/friday-buzz-another-tech-industry-diversity-headache/) detailing a significant problem plaguing the tech industry as a whole: not enough women and very small numbers of minorities on staff. Some associations [are already addressing the issue](https://associationsnow.com/2014/07/encourage-women-join-industry/) , but the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) is in a position to help work on it from the roots. That’s because the venture capital field is active in funding the companies that have the potential to grow into the next Twitter, Facebook, or Google—and investors suffer from some of the same diversity issues that dog tech giants. And [that problem often hinders (opens in a new tab)](http://blogs.wsj.com/venturecapital/2014/10/30/female-minority-run-startups-have-tougher-fundraising-road-study-says/) how far startups led by women or minorities can go. On Monday, NVCA announced the launch of a new diversity task force focused on increasing opportunities for women and minorities in the startup arena. It will be made up of 11 current and former NVCA board members who have leading roles at high-profile venture capital firms such as Andreessen Horowitz and GE Ventures. “The greater the number of diverse investors and entrepreneurs at the table, the greater capacity we have as a nation to innovate and bring the best ideas to bear,” NVCA President and CEO Bobby Franklin [said in a news release (opens in a new tab)](http://www.nvca.org/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=1103&Itemid=93) [PDF]. “Working alongside the many individuals and organizations focused on increasing inclusion, we look forward to these efforts helping ensure our innovation economy reflects the diversity of our nation.” While the effort generally [met with praise (opens in a new tab)](http://venturebeat.com/2014/12/08/venture-capital-takes-a-step-in-the-right-direction-on-diversity-but-its-still-early-days/) , *USA Today* reporter Jessica Guynn [noted something curious (opens in a new tab)](http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2014/12/08/venture-capital-diversity/20024289/) about the task force that may raise questions. “Yet even the task force the National Venture Capital Association has appointed to promote diversity is not diverse,” Guynn wrote. “Seven of 11 members are white men. Three are women. There are no African Americans or Hispanics on the task force.” However, Scale Venture Partners founder Kate Mitchell, one of the three women on the task force and its cochair, doesn’t necessarily see that as a bad thing. “I love the idea that the white guys were clamoring to be on it. This is not a check-the-box commission,” she told the newspaper. “We wanted the leaders of the industry to put their stamp on it.” (iStock/Thinkstock) [Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Tags: [#age inclusion](https://associationsnow.com/tag/age-inclusion/) [#Leadership](https://associationsnow.com/tag/leadership/) [#Neurodiversity](https://associationsnow.com/tag/neurodiversity/) [#venture capital](https://associationsnow.com/tag/venture-capital/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoLeading the Way in Neuroinclusion with ASAE Research Foundation and MPIDecember 16, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/12/16/leading-the-way-in-neuroinclusion-with-asae-research-foundation-and-mpi/) - [VideoWhy Neuroinclusion Matters: Raising Awareness Across the Association CommunityDecember 15, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/12/15/why-neuroinclusion-matters-raising-awareness-across-the-association-community/) - [VideoMoving Neuroinclusion From Afterthought to Standard PracticeDecember 15, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/12/15/moving-neuroinclusion-from-afterthought-to-standard-practice/) - [VideoIntentional Inclusion: Why Thoughtful Decisions Matter for Neurodivergent CommunitiesDecember 15, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/12/15/intentional-inclusion-why-thoughtful-decisions-matter-for-neurodivergent-communities/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2014%2F12%2F10%2Fventure-capital-association-lets-solve-our-diversity-problem%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !