Theresia Gouw champions diversity as a venture capital leader

In the United States, Theresia Gouw has emerged as a prominent figure in the venture capital landscape as America's first billionaire female venture capitalist. An Indonesian immigrant and former figure skater, she established her career as a leading partner at Accel, where she significantly contributed to the firm's early investment in Facebook. During her 15-year tenure at Accel, Gouw played a pivotal role in driving the firm's success by backing various technology startups which ultimately positioned her for monumental wealth. In 2014, she decided to forge her own path by co-founding Aspect Ventures, aiming to recapture the dynamic venture atmosphere of the late 1990s, focusing specifically on early-stage investments. Gouw's objective centered around fostering diversity in venture capital and increasing female representation within investor circles to create more inclusive board compositions. This dedication to diversity has been a consistent theme throughout her career. In 2019, Gouw co-founded Acrew Capital with a mission to support the growth of underrepresented entrepreneurs and to emphasize diversity within the venture capital space. Acrew’s founding team strongly reflects this commitment, with 83% of its members identifying as women or people of color. The firm quickly made strides in raising significant capital, securing $700 million in October 2021 specifically to invest in industries such as data and security, healthcare, and fintech. Theresia Gouw observed that while there is slight progress toward embracing diversity, challenges persist. To counter these issues, she has linked Acrew's Diversify Capital Fund to initiatives targeting historically Black colleges and universities, fostering greater access to venture capital. With Acrew having made around 150 investments since its inception, Gouw's firm is becoming a noteworthy force in advocating for increased diversity as a vital component of successful technology ventures.