EP342 How SheBoot is Solving the 2% Problem
From The Cash Rich Exit Podcast by Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, Wealth Advisor at RBC Dominion Securities,
March 10, 2026 · 34 min
About this episode
The episode discusses how SheBoot is addressing the disparity in venture capital funding for women-founded companies.
Host: Colleen O'Connell-Campbell, Wealth Advisor, RBC Dominion Securities Guests: Sonya Shorey (CEO, Invest Ottawa), Jennifer Francis (Chair, Capital Angel Network), and Julia Elvidge - Co-founders of She Boot Episode Summary: Only 2% of venture capital flows to women-founded companies - yet women start roughly 15% of all companies. In this episode, Colleen sits down with the three co-founders of SheBoot, a national nonprofit that is tackling this gap from both sides of the table - making women tech founders investment-ready and mobilizing women angel investors to fund them. What started in 2020 with 10 investors putting in $10,000 each has grown into a national program with a waitlist of investors, $300,000 in annual investment prizes, and $54 million catalyzed in follow-on funding. The conversation covers how SheBoot's dual mandate works, the special purpose vehicle structure that simplifies the cap table, real stories of founders who have scaled from pitch competition to million-dollar raises and beyond, and why getting more women investing is just as critical as getting more women funded. Key Takeaways Women receive approximately 2% of venture capital despite founding roughly…
People in this episode
Host: Colleen O'Connell-Campbell
Guests: Sonya Shorey, Jennifer Francis, Julia Elvidge
Topics covered
- venture capital
- women founders
- investment readiness
- angel investing
- nonprofit initiatives
Keywords
- venture capital
- women entrepreneurs
- SheBoot
- angel investors
- investment prizes
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: SheBoot, Invest Ottawa, Capital Angel Network, RBC Dominion Securities
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