{"id":45658,"date":"2023-10-20T15:45:25","date_gmt":"2023-10-20T15:45:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/startupsmart.test\/2023\/10\/20\/four-australian-vc-firms-selected-to-lead-world-first-startup-diversity-movement-project-include-startupsmart-2\/"},"modified":"2023-10-20T15:45:25","modified_gmt":"2023-10-20T15:45:25","slug":"four-australian-vc-firms-selected-to-lead-world-first-startup-diversity-movement-project-include-startupsmart-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.startupsmart.com.au\/uncategorized\/four-australian-vc-firms-selected-to-lead-world-first-startup-diversity-movement-project-include-startupsmart-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Four Australian VC firms selected to lead world-first startup diversity movement Project Include – StartupSmart"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/div>\n

Four Australian venture capital firms have been selected as the first participants in a world-first global movement for diversity in the tech sector.<\/p>\n

Project Include was launched in San Francisco recently by some of the biggest names in Silicon Valley<\/a>, and is working to close the diversity gap through direct collaboration with startups and VCs around the world.<\/p>\n

In just weeks, 100 startup CEOs and more than 1000 others have pledged to take part in the movement.<\/p>\n

Project Include has now selected the first 11 startups and 15 VC firms that will be participating, including the likes of Airbnb and 500 Startups.<\/p>\n

Australia leading the way<\/h3>\n

Out of the first 15 VC firms, four are based in Melbourne, with Blackbird Ventures, Trimantium Capital, Impact Investment Group and Scale Investors all selected to take part in Project Include.<\/p>\n

The first cohort has been recognised for their commitment to diversity in all shapes and will be adopting a metrics-driven and research-based approach to achieving real diversity, Project Include co-founder and Victorian entrepreneur Susan Wu says.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re proud that there\u2019s such a sizable cohort of Australian VCs involved,\u201d Wu says.<\/p>\n

\u201cOver time we hope to scale these programs so that any startup can use the tools and processes we collaboratively develop to make compelling movements.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wu says these VC firms have been carefully selected for their already displayed commitment to boosting diversity in the sector.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese VC firms have committed to working with their portfolios to provide diversity metrics and apply best practice to build a more inclusive tech industry,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think the tech industry has seen a diversity initiative quite like this before. It\u2019s research-based and metrics-driven, and as a team we\u2019re ready to pivot our recommendations based on empirical evidence.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trimantium Capital managing director Phillip Kingston says he\u2019s honoured to be included.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re interested in building meaningful inclusion in the tech industry and Project Include aims to do exactly that,\u201d Kingston tells StartupSmart<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not interested in a tick-box exercise. We\u2019re interested in contributing to a substantive response that will build diversity and inclusion.\u201d<\/p>\n

VC Include will run parallel to Startup Include and both will be focused on converting Project Include\u2019s recommendations into measurable outcomes.<\/p>\n

Diversity is \u201cnon-negotiable\u201d<\/h3>\n

Project Include has also been backed by the Victorian government, with minister for innovation Philip Dalidakis saying he\u2019s working to have the movement\u2019s recommendations implemented in the state\u2019s independent startup body LaunchVic.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m working with my board at LaunchVic to look at the metrics by Project Include to honour the work that Susan has done,\u201d Dalidakis tells StartupSmart<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cVictoria is very lucky to have someone like Susan Wu involved.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe issue of diversity – both gender and ethnicity – is in my perspective not negotiable.\u201d<\/p>\n

He says he hopes the Australian startup community will act on Project Include\u2019s findings and use them to drive real change.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an ongoing battle that we need to be very vigilant for, and one that I\u2019ll continue to support at each and every step,\u201d Dalidakis says.<\/p>\n

Photo: Ashleigh Richelle<\/em><\/p>\n

Follow StartupSmart on<\/em> Facebook,<\/em> Twitter,<\/em>LinkedIn <\/em>and <\/em>SoundCloud.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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