TLDR:
- More women are taking influential positions in the Greater Boston tech sector, including at VC firms and startups.
- Despite progress, Boston still has a poor reputation for diversity in its startup community.
A generational shift is occurring in the Boston startup ecosystem, with more women moving into leadership roles. Lily Lyman, the youngest person and first woman to head Underscore VC, is one example. Despite the progress, Boston’s startup community still struggles with diversity, as evidenced by only 1% of VC backing going to local women-founded startups in the previous year. Women like Leah Ellis of Sublime Systems and Sarah Hodges of Pillar VC are working to change this narrative.
Ellis and her team at Sublime Systems have developed a method to reduce carbon emissions from cement manufacturing, securing an $87 million grant from the US Department of Energy. While facing challenges from venture capital investors, Ellis remains focused on the potential for success. Hodges, on the other hand, is backing women-led startups and emphasizing the importance of diversity on local college campuses for building a more inclusive startup and investment industry.
The shifting landscape in Boston’s tech scene highlights the need for more women in decision-making roles and the importance of supporting diverse groups of startup-minded individuals. With a growing roster of public tech companies and academic institutions, the future of the Boston startup ecosystem looks promising for innovation and talent.
