2020 VC Human Capital Survey:
What does the venture capital (VC) industry workforce look like in terms of demographics? What is the current state of VC diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)? The VC Human Capital Survey, powered by Deloitte, National Venture Capital Association, and Venture Forward, answers these and other questions for VC firms seeking to expand the diversity of both their teams and portfolios.
The third edition of our VC Human Capital Survey assesses the state of the US VC industry workforce, with a special focus on DEI. Results from this edition were benchmarked against findings from the first and second editions, which were originally conducted in 2016 and 2018. Conducted in 2020, this third edition requested firm demographic information (e.g., investment stage focus) and demographic information for each employee (e.g., gender and race). Additionally, firms were asked to provide information regarding their talent management practices and DEI programs.
While there have been other industry assessments of VC diversity, this survey provides a more holistic perspective. We gathered data from VC firms of all types and sizes, examined DEI for a variety of groups across all types of positions, and assessed firm talent management strategies. (Learn more.)
LP Office Hours:
LP Office Hours (LPOH) are half-day workshops that connect emerging managers from historically underrepresented backgrounds with Limited Partners (LPs), experienced General Partners (GPs), and each other. The last LPOH highlighted foundation and endowment LPs, and took place virtually in November 2021.
Each LPOH event begins with an educational component, and then breaks out into several rounds of “office hours” – curated small-group and 1:1 conversations between the emerging managers and the experienced GPs and LPs.
The goal of LPOH is to foster open and collaborative dialogue, and to provide a safe space for historically underrepresented emerging managers to seek guidance and advice from leaders in the field. Through intimate conversations with LPs and experienced GPs, emerging managers get to learn about the nuances of fundraising, GP-LP relationship management, and other guidance for success as a VC from the LP’s perspective.
Please note: this is not a pitching event. To ensure that all participants get the opportunity to meaningfully interact with the experienced GPs and LPs, participation is strictly limited to approximately 25 people. These events are specifically intended for emerging managers (no further than raising a second fund), from backgrounds that are historically underrepresented in the venture capital industry.
The next LPOH will take place in Chicago on May 19, 2022 from 2:00-6:00pm CT. Learn more.
If you’re an experienced GP or LP interested in holding office hours, please email Maryam Haque at maryam@ventureforward.org.
Impact to date:
- 4 programs held in 2018 and 2019 (Palo Alto, Boston, Washington, DC, and Los Angeles)
- 2 virtual programs in 2021 (funds of funds focus in June and foundation and endowment focus in November).
- Participant demographics for latest (November 2021) program:
- 76% female
- 72% people of color
- 32% based outside CA, MA & NY
- 12% veterans
- 154 emerging fund manager participants to date
- 69 LP and 32 experienced GP office hour hosts
- 278 one-on-ones and 179 small roundtable discussions facilitated