Blog - Lauren Pearl · Lauren Pearl
articleinsightGender Bias in VC with Charlie O’Donnell
9 March 2026Profit
Source excerpt
About Blog - Lauren PearlA few months ago, venture capitalist–turned-fundraising consultant Charlie O’Donnell and I had a disagreement about gender bias on LinkedIn.After a bit of back and forth, Charlie invited me to take the argument to a recorded video discussion.Which quickly transformed into a LIVE recorded discussion in a cafe around the corner.(Because we're actually IRL friends and neighbors)Charlie released the video last week (you can watch it on YouTube).And upon reviewing it, I have multiple thoughts:1) I’m so glad we did this.The bias against women in VC fundraising is a widely-known phenomenon that we often turn a blind eye towards.And honestly, I think that might be because the statistics are so stark and stubborn that it almost feels like there’s nothing more to say.But there is ALWAYS more to say, so long as women still struggle to raise capital despite being statistically strong performers…
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Apollo layer
What a founder can learn
Founder takeaway
Treat fundraising outcomes as the product of both company fundamentals and investor bias—not as a pure verdict on founder or business quality. Build a deliberate process that makes bias easier to identify and counter.
Why it matters
Gender bias can prevent strong founders from accessing capital and can distort how they interpret rejection. Recognizing that dynamic helps founders protect their confidence, diagnose fundraising friction more accurately, and diversify their paths to funding.