DVC Digest: December – Wrapping Up 2024, Ready for a More Inclusive 2025!
Hello DVC Community,
This is our final newsletter of the year, and we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our readers for continuing to engage with our content, sharing it with friends, and sending us thoughtful messages. As 2024 comes to a close, we’re already working behind the scenes to plan a bigger, bolder 2025. Stay tuned for exciting updates in mid-January! Until then, our team will be offline, taking a well-deserved rest over the winter holidays.
For our final diversity insight of the year, we’re shining a spotlight on an essential touchpoint for fostering diversity in venture capital: job ads. Inclusive job postings go beyond words—they’re about opening doors, broadening access, and embedding values of equity into the hiring process.
December is also the perfect time to pause, reflect on your achievements, and set ambitious & fearless goals for 2025. To spark your ideas and motivation for the year ahead, we’re sharing a curated selection of reads and listens in this month’s 'What We’re Reading' section—perfect for setting goals and finding inspiration!
This month’s newsletter includes:
The Equity Record US Survey - closing December 13!
Launch of a new programme: The Career Development Programme for mid-career, Partner-track VCs
Advice on creating inclusive job ads
Spotlight on DVC members : Ada Ventures
Diversity VC in the Wild
What we’re reading/listening to
Read time: Approximately 6 minutes
Diversity VC membership can help your fund measure and improve its DEI efforts, while working towards an internationally recognised certification with the Diversity VC Standard.
We’re making the Equity Report bigger and better – join us!
This year’s Equity Record survey in the U.S. is closing December 13! This survey is your chance to share your experiences in the VC industry—helping us build a truly inclusive and impactful ecosystem.
Why participate?
It takes less than 5 minutes to complete.
Your input helps shape a global understanding of the VC industry, connecting perspectives across Latin America, Europe, and the U.S.
You’ll get first access to our findings, invitations to exclusive events with LPs, and the satisfaction of contributing to meaningful change.
We’ve partnered with top-tier researchers, including the London School of Economics, and integrated advanced tech to make the survey easier and more insightful than ever. Your responses will remain 100% confidential.
Take a moment to make your voice heard—fill out the survey here.
Together, we can drive bold, informed action for a better VC industry.
🚀 Launch Alert: The Diversity VC Career Development Programme is here – Empowering the Next Generation of Investors to Rise as VC Partners!
Diversity VC is excited to launch our newest talent initiative: Career Development Programme! Tailored for mid-career VC professionals, this programme combines traditional learning with peer-to-peer collaboration to fast-track the careers of underrepresented VCs, guiding them on the path to becoming Partners. A huge round of applause for our inaugural cohort—definitely the ones to watch!
See the full list of the cohort HERE
The programme covers essential steps to starting a fund, offering insights from GPs, legal experts, and fund administrators on key challenges, deal structures, and costs. Seasoned investors will share the advice they wish they had when starting out, offering invaluable lessons and surprises from their journeys. We’ll continue to update our readers on the programme’s progress in future newsletters.
Interested in supporting this initiative? We’re still looking for mentors and instructors. If you’d like to get involved, please fill out this form.
Diversity VC Advice on creating inclusive job ads
At Diversity VC, we’re committed to supporting venture funds in building more inclusive and equitable teams. Inclusive hiring practices are key to fostering diversity of thought, innovation, and impact within the industry. By helping funds craft job ads that attract talent from a wide range of backgrounds, we aim to ensure that opportunities in venture capital are accessible to all. Here are some practical tips for creating inclusive job ads that can help you build a team reflective of the diverse world we live in.
Be Specific About Success – Clearly outline what makes a successful candidate for the role, focusing on key skills and measurable outcomes.
Separate Essential vs. Desirable Requirements – Distinguish must-haves from nice-to-haves and encourage candidates to apply even if they don’t meet every criterion.
Eliminate Bias in Language and Readability – Review role descriptions and skill lists for biased language and ensure they’re easy to read, going beyond generic company content to make the ad truly inclusive.
Highlight Benefits – Include specifics like flexible working arrangements, personal days, family policies, and other support systems to attract a diverse range of candidates.
Always Include a Salary Band – Transparency on pay encourages fairness and builds trust with potential applicants.
Use Accessible Platforms – Post job ads on platforms that are accessible to a diverse audience, ensuring everyone has an equal opportunity to apply.
If you have any thoughts, comments, or questions about creating inclusive job ads, feel free to share them in the comment box below!
A huge congratulations to Ada Ventures for achieving Level 3 (Established) certification under our newly updated Diversity VC Standard! As more funds progress through the new standard, we’ll continue to celebrate our members’ milestones in implementing DEI best practices across their operations.
To learn more about Ada and their recently released Impact Report, check it out HERE.
The updated Diversity VC Standard now spans Levels 1 to 5, with Level 3 reflecting a well-developed approach to DEI integration. We’ll be highlighting more members who reach this significant milestone in future newsletters.
Interested in elevating your fund's DEI efforts and achieve recognised certification with the Diversity VC Standard !
🌎 Diversity VC in the Wild:
The ILPA’s Diversity in Action breakfast (US), which featured a compelling fireside chat with James Rhee, author of Red Helicopter. Picture 1.
InvestHer reception at the House of Commons (UK), where an impressive lineup of speakers shared their insights. Highlights included Emma Wright, founder of InvestHer, Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, Darren Jones MP (Chief Secretary to the Treasury), Chloe Barz (Director of International Government and External Affairs), Peter Kyle MP, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, and Samantha Niblett MP. Picture 2
Diversity VC co-hosted the FounderX Christmas Mixer in London, bringing together underrepresented founders, investors, and ecosystem operators for an inspiring evening of connection and collaboration. Picture 3.
📚 What we’re reading + listening to:
The Anti-Ableist Manifesto by Tiffany Yu
New Methods for Women: A Manifesto for Independence by Sharmadean Reid
Red Helicopter - a parable for our times: lead change with kindness by James Rhee
What Trump’s Second Term Could Mean for DEI - how can leaders continue to build just and inclusive organisations even in this extremely challenging environment?
Starting in 2025, we’ll be hosting a free book club. If you’re interested in joining, we’d love to hear from you, express your interest below!
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