Empowering Change: Women Shaping Tech & Innovation
As technology evolves, fostering an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem is essential. Women face unique challenges in securing funding, overcoming biases, and accessing leadership roles. At BIND, promoting innovation through collaboration and diverse representation is a priority.
“The rise of gender-focused funds and increased awareness of the economic benefits of diversity are promising steps forward, but sustained advocacy and representation are needed.” – Lola Elejalde Hernani
Lola Elejalde Hernani, an Investor and BIND Mentor, exemplifies the importance of representation. With expertise in foresight, innovation, and investment, she supports women entrepreneurs and advocates for systemic change. Through her work with WA4STEAM, an international network of women angel investors, she empowers women-led startups in STEAM fields by providing capital and strategic mentorship.
“I believe that all women who have the courage to innovate and to be entrepreneurs are inspiring and deserve our recognition.” – Lola Elejalde Hernani
Breaking Barriers in Tech & Investment
Reflecting on her career in a male-dominated industry, Lola highlights the difficulty of breaking into leadership roles. She emphasizes the value of resilience, mentorship, and building supportive networks to navigate these barriers.
Despite progress, women-led startups still receive a smaller share of venture capital funding. Programs like WA4STEAM and BIND are changing this by generating opportunities for female entrepreneurs and promoting gender-focused investments.
Advice for Women Entrepreneurs:
- Build a strong network: Surround yourself with mentors and advocates who open doors.
- Communicate your vision confidently: Practice your pitch and demonstrate your conviction.
- Seek aligned investors: Focus on investors who share your mission.
- Leverage female-focused platforms: Engage with groups like WA4STEAM for support and funding.
Driving Systemic Change for Women Entrepreneurs
Gender disparity in tech investment stems from underrepresentation, limited decision-making roles for women, and biases in evaluating women-led ventures. Addressing these issues requires increasing women in venture capital, creating educational programs, and highlighting the value of diverse teams. Women often adopt collaborative leadership styles and consider social and environmental impacts, fostering long-term, sustainable innovation. This balanced approach is vital in addressing global challenges.
“To build more inclusive systems, we should actively recruit diverse mentors, establish peer networks for knowledge sharing, and create programs that address the specific challenges women face, such as access to funding.” – Lola Elejalde Hernani
Mentorship also plays a vital role in empowering women investors, entrepreneurs and investors, by offering support, building confidence and opening doors to otherwise inaccessible networks. Creating more inclusive ecosystems requires fostering communities for knowledge exchange, engaging mentors from underrepresented groups, and developing programs that tackle the challenges women encounter.
Building an Inclusive Startup Ecosystem
Women innovate across all areas of technology, from circular economy and HealthTech solutions to advancements in AI for nutrition and wellness and smart industry applications. Since 2017, the BIND Platform has impacted the businesses of over 15 women-led startups so far.
BIND Alumni Women in Leadership Roles
We’ll take this opportunity to celebrate women in leadership roles among BIND Alumni Startups. One of them is Priscila Silva, Co-Founder & CMO at Gundo, a FoodTech startup who took part in the 8th Edition of BIND Corporate, with leading consumer goods and foods distributor Uvesco.
Since the beginning of her career, she’s been drawn to the ability to build solutions that create large-scale impact. Which is why she co-founded Gundo, a digital health and nutrition startup which aims to revolutionize people’s well-being by leveraging data and user-centric innovation.
Priscila acknowledges the startup ecosystem is evolving thanks to the increase in visibility of successful women entrepreneurs and growing pressure for diversity in business. “In recent years, I’ve seen more acceleration programs and investment funds dedicated to women-led startups, as well as a shift in the narrative around female leadership in tech.” But there is still work to be done to bridge the gender gap in funding and access to opportunities.
A startup’s growth depends on confidence in its vision and value, yet aspiring women founders often hesitate to seek investment or negotiate favorable terms. Priscila’s advice? “Take up space and don’t be afraid to ask for what your business needs.” She also emphasizes the importance of support, urging women to “surround yourself with a strong support network, seek mentors, and never underestimate your ability to lead in a competitive environment.”
Based on her own experience and observations, Priscila shares “Seeing other women successfully leading in tech and business creates a ripple effect of inspiration and role models.”
BIND accelerates startups like Gundo in their journey, connecting them with paid clients, investors and world-class mentors. We aim to build more success stories of women in leadership and continue to see the impact of ripples growing into waves of diversity and change.
With BIND Director Ane Miren de Ariño Ochoa leading the change along with Mentors like Lola Elejalde Hernani and Dr. Adiari Vázquez, we are bridging the gender gap and building a more inclusive innovation and entrepreneurship community.
“BIND plays a crucial role by connecting startups with industry leaders, offering funding opportunities, and providing visibility to women entrepreneurs.” – Lola Elejalde Hernani
If you’re interested in joining as a mentor, investor, or entrepreneur, visit our website to connect with our coordination team and participate in this supportive ecosystem.
