Committed to inclusion
We know how difficult it can be to grow a successful startup. Building innovative technology, recruiting the right talent, and landing customers are challenges that every founder faces. But for some entrepreneurs, including women, non-binary people, and BIPOC, there are additional hurdles that prevent them from breaking through.
At M12, we aspire to realize a VC and startup ecosystem more reflective of the global population that technology serves. Studies show that diverse leadership is positively correlated with innovation and financial returns. Beyond the business case, it’s the right thing to do.
As an industry, we’re just starting to chip away at deeply entrenched biases that determine who can be an investor or who gets access to capital. But at M12, we’re committed to progress.
Here are some of the initiatives and organizations we’ve supported in pursuit of a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive startup and venture ecosystem.
Female Founders Competition
2020 winners
We partnered with Mayfield and Melinda Gates' Pivotal Ventures to award $6 million to four female-founded enterprise software and deeptech companies.
![Greta Cutulenco, Founder and CEO at Acerta]()
“As a Female Founders Competition winner, Acerta was able to get deep support from the Microsoft Azure team, and closely collaborate with the automotive and sales teams to gain access to potential customers.”
Greta Cutulenco, Founder and CEO, Acerta.
2018 winners
We partnered with EQT Ventures and SVB Financial Group to award $4 million to two women-led companies building software solutions for the enterprise.
![Julie Dorsey, Founder and Chief Scientist at Mental Canvas]()
“Being recognized as one of the most promising enterprise startups in an international competition provided a tremendous confidence boost and reaffirmed that we were on the right path.”
Julie Dorsey, Founder and Chief Scientist, Mental Canvas
Partners
We’re proud to partner with world-class organizations providing resources, mentorship, and networking access to underrepresented founders and investors.
