Summary

This article discusses how investing in women-led organizations has had a positive impact.

Getting Started

Introduction to the article (perhaps by having everyone read it)

Tell students the subject of the article they are about to read and ask if they are aware of any female-led startups. Do they know what kind of businesses they operate, how they got started and how they were funded?

Subject Area(s) covered

Entrepreneurship, investing in startups, female-led businesses

Study and Discussion Activity

Key things students can learn from this lesson

Students will learn the value of supporting women-led companies.

Action (here’s how we’ll do it)

  • Distribute the article for reading.
  • In small groups, either in meeting rooms online, or in class, have students debate this proposition: Women-led startups perform better or grow faster than startups with all male teams.
  • At the conclusion of the debate, have students individually write a brief response to the arguments they heard in the debate.
  • The article reports that StandUp invests in companies that have been subject to innate gender bias in the overall venture capital market and that could deliver outsized returns.  What does this mean?
  • Several Canadian Institutions have invested with StandUp. Why would they be interested in doing this?

Consolidation of learning

  • Go to the StandUp Ventures website. Under portfolio, have students select a company backed by the fund and write a brief case study.
Success and Additional Learning

Success Criteria

  • Students understand that investments in women-led organizations can have substantive benefits.

Confirming Activities

  • There is a need for more female founders to have big companies in Canada. Have students brainstorm what conditions would inspire and support more women to start and grow a business.

Activities to do together

  • Students should identify a women-led business in their community. Have them create five to eight questions they would like to ask the female founder.  Arrange for them to have a phone or video interview, ask their questions and do a short write-up on what they learn.