Waverly Deutsch

There's a wonderful group out of Chicago called Blend that is working on diversity in the venture capital community in Chicago. And when they were doing their research, I said, why aren't you asking about LGBTQ entrepreneurs? They said, isn't that intrusive? So we think it's not intrusive to ask about gender.

There's a wonderful group out of Chicago called Blend that is working on diversity in the venture capital community in Chicago. And when they were doing their research, I said, why aren't you asking about LGBTQ entrepreneurs? They said, isn't that intrusive? So we think it's not intrusive to ask about gender.

We think it's not intrusive to ask someone about their marital status or if they have kids, but we think it's intrusive to ask if they identify as LGBTQ. Why? Because there's still a risk in identifying that way. So I said, rather than asking, are you an LGBTQ plus founder? You can ask, Do you choose to publicly identify as an LGBTQ plus founder, right?

We think it's not intrusive to ask someone about their marital status or if they have kids, but we think it's intrusive to ask if they identify as LGBTQ. Why? Because there's still a risk in identifying that way. So I said, rather than asking, are you an LGBTQ plus founder? You can ask, Do you choose to publicly identify as an LGBTQ plus founder, right?

You can ask your venture capitalists, how many self-identified LGBTQ capital entrepreneurs have you funded in your portfolio? We have to rely on self-identification to even collect data in that space. that makes it much harder to know what's happening with their access to resources, with their support, with their outcomes.

You can ask your venture capitalists, how many self-identified LGBTQ capital entrepreneurs have you funded in your portfolio? We have to rely on self-identification to even collect data in that space. that makes it much harder to know what's happening with their access to resources, with their support, with their outcomes.

It's just a very difficult community to support for that reason, because in the US and in many cultures around the world, it's still a risk to come out as LGBTQ. We've seen a huge rise of anti-LGBTQ backlash in this country. Cargit, which has annually done a beautiful collection of products for Pride, gave in to the protests about recognizing Pride Month and pulled that line of products.

It's just a very difficult community to support for that reason, because in the US and in many cultures around the world, it's still a risk to come out as LGBTQ. We've seen a huge rise of anti-LGBTQ backlash in this country. Cargit, which has annually done a beautiful collection of products for Pride, gave in to the protests about recognizing Pride Month and pulled that line of products.

So there are ramifications in this country to being LGBTQ and in many places around the world. So it's a difficult group of entrepreneurs to support. So you're right. In Pride Month, we should acknowledge that's an area of my personal passion and interest. And I hope that WiseHeart can make a tiny difference with some of the individuals in that community.

So there are ramifications in this country to being LGBTQ and in many places around the world. So it's a difficult group of entrepreneurs to support. So you're right. In Pride Month, we should acknowledge that's an area of my personal passion and interest. And I hope that WiseHeart can make a tiny difference with some of the individuals in that community.

That's a great question, and you're 100% right. I'm seeing that in the market right now. Right now in this country, we're going through a very strange time when the markets are at an all-time high. The public markets are at an all-time high, and yet the tech companies are announcing layoffs constantly and everything. Valuations for privately held tech companies have fallen off tremendously.

That's a great question, and you're 100% right. I'm seeing that in the market right now. Right now in this country, we're going through a very strange time when the markets are at an all-time high. The public markets are at an all-time high, and yet the tech companies are announcing layoffs constantly and everything. Valuations for privately held tech companies have fallen off tremendously.

It's a very strange economy and you're 100% right that economic situations make a huge difference in the landscape for entrepreneurs of all kinds. And I think I can't answer this question without acknowledging the incredible privilege that I've had in my life. People hear about the struggles I've gone through and the hard work I've put in, and I honor that. But I was born white,

It's a very strange economy and you're 100% right that economic situations make a huge difference in the landscape for entrepreneurs of all kinds. And I think I can't answer this question without acknowledging the incredible privilege that I've had in my life. People hear about the struggles I've gone through and the hard work I've put in, and I honor that. But I was born white,

to a middle class household where I got excellent education and excellent opportunities. And I've been very fortunate to have the kind of career, 22 years at a university where I've been able to accumulate a retirement nest egg. I am still able to get health insurance through the university. albeit I have to pay for it. I am incredibly fortunate and my privilege has been part of my journey.

to a middle class household where I got excellent education and excellent opportunities. And I've been very fortunate to have the kind of career, 22 years at a university where I've been able to accumulate a retirement nest egg. I am still able to get health insurance through the university. albeit I have to pay for it. I am incredibly fortunate and my privilege has been part of my journey.

And I think it's really important to acknowledge that a lot of entrepreneurs come from very different places and they don't have that. And so when I look at

And I think it's really important to acknowledge that a lot of entrepreneurs come from very different places and they don't have that. And so when I look at

folks of my generation who do not have nest eggs for the future who are being subject to layoffs why because when you're when you are senior in your career you're more expensive so if i lay off someone who is making two hundred thousand dollars as a director in marketing i could take that two hundred thousand dollars and hire three young people out of college um

folks of my generation who do not have nest eggs for the future who are being subject to layoffs why because when you're when you are senior in your career you're more expensive so if i lay off someone who is making two hundred thousand dollars as a director in marketing i could take that two hundred thousand dollars and hire three young people out of college um