Women Who Rock GSA a Female Entrepreneurship Podcast

Breaking Norms: Identity VC Invests in LGBTQ+ Founders

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Intro

In this episode of Startuprad.io, we sit down with Til Klein, Founding Partner of Identity VC, a venture capital firm with a unique mission: investing in the next generation of disruptive startups led by LGBTQ+ founders.

Join us as Til shares his journey from a background in consulting to founding Identity VC, driven by a passion for fostering diversity and inclusion in the tech industry. Discover the firm's investment thesis, the challenges and opportunities facing LGBTQ+ founders, and how Identity VC supports its portfolio companies beyond just funding.

Startupland

We had the pleasure of meeting Till at Startupland by Deutsche-Startups. You can now book a ticket for the next event in November here: https://startupland.de/ - There is still an early bird discount available!

Key takeaways from this episode:

  • The importance of a strong mission and vision for startups

  • Common mistakes founders make when pitching to VCs

  • How Identity VC supports its portfolio companies beyond funding

  • The role of AI in investment decisions

  • The evolving landscape of VC and the role of diversity

    • Highlights:

    • "Innovation thrives when we break from the norm. And for the LGBTQ community, breaking the norm is part of our DNA." - Til Klein

  • "We're not just looking for great companies; we're looking for great founders who are passionate about solving real problems." - Til Klein

  • "Diversity is not just a buzzword; it's a strategic advantage that leads to better decision-making and more innovative solutions." - Til Klein

    • Show Notes:

    • Guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tilklein/

  • Website: https://identity.vc/

  • Startuprad.io blog post: https://www.startuprad.io/post//breaking-norms-identity-vc-invests-in-lgbtq-founders

  • Startuprad.io website: https://www.startuprad.io/

    • Timestamps:

    • 0:00 Introduction

  • 2:30 Til's journey to founding Identity VC

  • 5:45 Identity VC's investment thesis

  • 10:15 Challenges and opportunities for LGBTQ+ founders

  • 15:30 How Identity VC supports its portfolio companies

  • 20:45 The role of AI in VC

  • 25:00 The future of VC and the role of diversity

  • 30:00 Q&A

    • Join the Community

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    Share this episode with your network and help us spread the word about the amazing work of LGBTQ+ founders.

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    Women Who Rock GSA a Female Entrepreneurship PodcastBy Johanna Joch and Jörn "Joe" Menninger