Hong Kong-based VC firm founded by women says industry needs to change male-driven culture
Founded by two female partners, Arbor Ventures says disruptive technologies investing needs multilateral thinking
Wei Hopeman, co-founder of Hong Kong-based venture capital firm Arbor Ventures, does not shy away from the topic of gender imbalance in the industry. She has a good reason for that: A study by Techcrunch from October 2017 found that women partners account for only 8 per cent of the world’s top 100 venture capital firms.
As a matter of fact, Hopeman says she sees clear benefits from gender diversity in venture investing.
“Venture capital investing involves taking educated risks and having the right skill sets to manage the risks in times of your investment running into trouble, rather than being ‘perfectionist’ as how women are often perceived,” Hopeman says. “While there is a big gender imbalance in the industry, that should not stop women from advancing in venture capital. Women can also see what they can do differently, for example, by turning an adversity into opportunity.”
Hopeman co-founded Arbor Ventures in Hong Kong with managing partner Melissa Guzy in 2014.
The Arbor team, which currently comprises 10 people but will soon expand with new hires this year, has over 50 per cent women and represent seven nationalities.
Hopeman says she believes diversity – in gender, and also in skill sets and experiences – helps bring about a different perspective when developing an investment thesis in today’s complex technology ecosystem.
Better gender balance is also about cultivating a different type of mentorship that women could bring to start-up entrepreneurs.
