{"id":6789,"date":"2017-03-27T18:35:57","date_gmt":"2017-03-27T18:35:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itnigblog.live-website.com\/?p=6789"},"modified":"2024-04-10T10:40:59","modified_gmt":"2024-04-10T10:40:59","slug":"how-to-boost-diversity-in-the-spanish-startup-ecosystem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itnig.net\/blog\/how-to-boost-diversity-in-the-spanish-startup-ecosystem\/","title":{"rendered":"How to boost diversity in the Spanish startup ecosystem"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\t\t\t\t<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Women in tech - How to boost diversity in the startup community\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/pG-S6hrqTUE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p id=\"33a8\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--figure\">We wanted to use the March edition of our monthly video podcast to put focus on the brilliant women founders in our startup ecosystem. Luckily we have many to choose from in Barcelona, so we invited business angel and co-founder and CEO of\u00a0B-Wom\u00a0<a class=\"markup--anchor markup--p-anchor\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/helenatorras\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/helenatorras\">Helena Torras<\/a>, co-founder of\u00a0Geenapp\u00a0<a class=\"markup--anchor markup--p-anchor\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/ginatost\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/ginatost\/\">Gina Tost<\/a>and CEO and co-founder of\u00a0Eelp!\u00a0<a class=\"markup--anchor markup--p-anchor\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/ninaalastruey\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/ninaalastruey\/\">Nina Alastruey<\/a>\u00a0to discuss the status for women in tech in 2017, with a special focus on Spain and Barcelona.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"7132\" class=\"graf graf--figure graf--layoutOutsetLeft graf-after--p\" data-scroll=\"native\">\n<div class=\"aspectRatioPlaceholder is-locked\">\n<div class=\"progressiveMedia js-progressiveMedia graf-image is-canvasLoaded is-imageLoaded\" data-image-id=\"1*1Wt7U2vWG8J6prexkx3XGQ.png\" data-width=\"1978\" data-height=\"1272\" data-action=\"zoom\" data-action-value=\"1*1Wt7U2vWG8J6prexkx3XGQ.png\" data-scroll=\"native\"><canvas class=\"progressiveMedia-canvas js-progressiveMedia-canvas\" width=\"75\" height=\"47\"><\/canvas><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"progressiveMedia-image js-progressiveMedia-image\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-images-1.medium.com\/max\/1200\/1*1Wt7U2vWG8J6prexkx3XGQ.png\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn-images-1.medium.com\/max\/1200\/1*1Wt7U2vWG8J6prexkx3XGQ.png\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"imageCaption\">Helena Torras is the co-founder and CEO of B-Wom as well as being an experienced business angel and director of Fund Of\u00a0Funds.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"a3be\" class=\"graf graf--h3 graf-after--figure\"><strong class=\"markup--strong markup--h3-strong\">Being a women is an advantage<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p id=\"ba45\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--h3\">Torras explains that being an entrepreneur, and being a woman in startups has changed a lot the last ten years. However, a decade ago, she always felt that being a woman was an advantage:<\/p>\n<blockquote id=\"f91c\" class=\"graf graf--blockquote graf-after--p\"><p>I was the only one, so when I went an event or a meeting, people remembered me. Ten years ago, all investors and entrepreneurs were men, that has changed with time, but I always saw being a women as an advantage.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p id=\"1255\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--blockquote\">Alastruey has a different approach that what it means being a woman in tech in 2017:<\/p>\n<blockquote id=\"d780\" class=\"graf graf--blockquote graf-after--p\"><p>I think it\u2019s super tough and very difficult. I remember being in an investor meeting with my previous startup in Silicon Valley, and one of the investors asked me what I did at the company. I said I was the CEO, and he was super surprised, he thought I worked with marketing, that\u2019s the general conception.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p id=\"72ce\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--blockquote\">Tost which founded Geenapp four years ago, said it wasn\u2019t easy becoming an entrepreneurs, but that other women in the startup community, made it much easier:<\/p>\n<blockquote id=\"411e\" class=\"graf graf--blockquote graf-after--p\"><p>Compared to Helena and Nina I don\u2019t have that much experience, but when I started out it was easier because I had a network of great women entrepreneurs from Barcelona around me, and that empowered me to work even harder.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3 id=\"2b67\" class=\"graf graf--h3 graf-after--blockquote\">The power of diverse\u00a0teams<\/h3>\n<p id=\"ae5c\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--h3\">All three entrepreneurs believe the startup ecosystem is the perfect place for women interesting in tech to start their career.<\/p>\n<p id=\"b2d5\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p\">Alastruey puts it like this:<\/p>\n<blockquote id=\"5035\" class=\"graf graf--blockquote graf-after--p\"><p>Women are incredible as they\u2019re able to multi-task in a different way than men are capable of. For a startup that needs everyone to take responsibility, this is a skill that is in demand.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p id=\"7d7e\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--blockquote\">Tost, founded Geenapp together with Javier Casares and Jaime Ferre:<\/p>\n<blockquote id=\"c2ce\" class=\"graf graf--blockquote graf-after--p\"><p>I have a very diverse team, and from the beginning I was always the multitasker, doing everything, and I think that\u2019s why my more experienced team-members liked me. We started working together almost five years ago, and we\u2019ve know raised a kid that\u2019s kind of big.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<figure id=\"7e9e\" class=\"graf graf--figure graf-after--blockquote\">\n<div class=\"aspectRatioPlaceholder is-locked\">\n<div class=\"progressiveMedia js-progressiveMedia graf-image is-canvasLoaded is-imageLoaded\" data-image-id=\"1*lll0YjElB-op-WPl9upaVg.png\" data-width=\"2118\" data-height=\"1196\" data-action=\"zoom\" data-action-value=\"1*lll0YjElB-op-WPl9upaVg.png\" data-scroll=\"native\"><canvas class=\"progressiveMedia-canvas js-progressiveMedia-canvas\" width=\"75\" height=\"41\"><\/canvas><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"progressiveMedia-image js-progressiveMedia-image\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-images-1.medium.com\/max\/1600\/1*lll0YjElB-op-WPl9upaVg.png\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn-images-1.medium.com\/max\/1600\/1*lll0YjElB-op-WPl9upaVg.png\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"imageCaption\">Gina Tost co-founded Geenapp with her founders almost five years ago. The company links app creators and users is one of the Spain\u2019s most successful SaaS startups.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"7c7c\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--figure\">Torras has invested in many different types of teams, but she says one thing is clear:<\/p>\n<blockquote id=\"4061\" class=\"graf graf--blockquote graf-after--p\"><p>It\u2019s not about having only women or having only men, all studies show that diverse teams perform better than non-diverse startups. It\u2019s all about finding the right balance of talent, and I think a diverse team is the best way to go.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<ul class=\"postList\">\n<li id=\"bb5c\" class=\"graf graf--li graf-after--blockquote\"><a class=\"markup--anchor markup--li-anchor\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLs8CZ4blcEKtHMMFk4s23T8Pi-ZCKohDu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLs8CZ4blcEKtHMMFk4s23T8Pi-ZCKohDu\"><strong class=\"markup--strong markup--li-strong\">Take a look at our other video podcasts here.<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"d08a\" class=\"graf graf--figure graf--layoutOutsetLeft graf-after--li\" data-scroll=\"native\">\n<div class=\"aspectRatioPlaceholder is-locked\">\n<div class=\"progressiveMedia js-progressiveMedia graf-image is-canvasLoaded is-imageLoaded\" data-image-id=\"1*koJRqVA2biCHrsCkjG5i1Q.png\" data-width=\"1588\" data-height=\"1186\" data-action=\"zoom\" data-action-value=\"1*koJRqVA2biCHrsCkjG5i1Q.png\" data-scroll=\"native\"><canvas class=\"progressiveMedia-canvas js-progressiveMedia-canvas\" width=\"75\" height=\"55\"><\/canvas><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"progressiveMedia-image js-progressiveMedia-image\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn-images-1.medium.com\/max\/1200\/1*koJRqVA2biCHrsCkjG5i1Q.png\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn-images-1.medium.com\/max\/1200\/1*koJRqVA2biCHrsCkjG5i1Q.png\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"imageCaption\">CEO and co-founder of Eelp!, Nina Alastruey think it\u2019s extremely tough to be a women entrepreneur in\u00a02017.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3 id=\"9776\" class=\"graf graf--h3 graf-after--figure\">Need to prioritize networking<\/h3>\n<p id=\"1f45\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--h3\">Even though Torras has never seen being a women as a negative thing in the startup community, she does have some advice to up-and-coming entrepreneurs:<\/p>\n<blockquote id=\"74a1\" class=\"graf graf--pullquote graf-after--p\"><p>Some founders think it&#8217;s enough to do well during working hours, but I think you need to go out and network and meet people. It&#8217;s a key to building trust with investors and other entrepreneurs.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p id=\"ddf5\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--pullquote\">Alastruey says there&#8217;s still challenges also in these areas, and that women founders often are kept out of the networking circle because a lot of it happens in an environment mostly reserved for men:<\/p>\n<blockquote id=\"e224\" class=\"graf graf--blockquote graf-after--p\"><p>You rarely see investors who are men inviting a women founder to play golf, and it&#8217;s not as normal to go out with your investors and have a beer if you&#8217;re a woman as if you\u2019re a man.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p id=\"91bc\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--blockquote\">Torras disagrees:<\/p>\n<blockquote id=\"f9f7\" class=\"graf graf--blockquote graf-after--p\"><p>I do all the same things as any other man would do, investor or entrepreneur.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3 id=\"3b16\" class=\"graf graf--h3 graf-after--blockquote\">Support each\u00a0other<\/h3>\n<p id=\"50e7\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--h3\">Tost doesn\u2019t think there\u2019s a clear path to making the startup ecosystem more diverse:<\/p>\n<blockquote id=\"15e0\" class=\"graf graf--blockquote graf-after--p\"><p>There\u2019s no list of things we should get done to become a more diverse tech hub, it boils down to supporting each other as women in tech and working really hard for what you want to achieve.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p id=\"aa88\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--blockquote\">Also Torras thinks supporting each other\u2019s progress is more important than anything else:<\/p>\n<blockquote id=\"395b\" class=\"graf graf--blockquote graf-after--p\"><p>I always believed in seeing opportunities, before challenges. I like to stay positive and focus on the positive things that are happening in the space of women in tech in Spain.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p id=\"2c20\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--blockquote\">She continues:<\/p>\n<blockquote id=\"9a63\" class=\"graf graf--pullquote graf-after--p\"><p>If you are involved in the startup ecosystem, and you show ambition and the right vision, I think being a women is more and more becoming an advantage.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p id=\"d087\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--pullquote\">Torras explains that there\u2019s big things going on, and that she can\u2019t reveal exactly what yet, but that it will benefit women in tech in Barcelona and Spain is for sure.<\/p>\n<p id=\"1fc3\" class=\"graf graf--p graf-after--p graf--trailing\"><em class=\"markup--em markup--p-em\">To get the full discussion, take a look at the video in the top.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We wanted to use the March edition of our monthly video podcast to put focus on the brilliant women founders in our startup ecosystem. Luckily we have many to choose from in Barcelona, so we invited business angel and co-founder and CEO of\u00a0B-Wom\u00a0Helena Torras, co-founder of\u00a0Geenapp\u00a0Gina Tostand CEO and co-founder of\u00a0Eelp!\u00a0Nina Alastruey\u00a0to discuss the status [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6789","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-startups"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/itnig.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6789","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/itnig.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/itnig.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itnig.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itnig.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6789"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/itnig.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6789\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12362,"href":"https:\/\/itnig.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6789\/revisions\/12362"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/itnig.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6789"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itnig.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6789"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itnig.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6789"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}