Helen Mitchell, a successful London FinTech entrepreneur, has revealed the extent of exclusion she has faced in the tech sector.
Mitchell, whose company creates commercial collaborations between established brands, venture capital investors, and innovative tech companies, came close to leaving the sector altogether. She has been involved in bringing more than £220 million equity investment into the UK tech sector, but despite her success, she has encountered significant resistance.
As a candidate for a prestigious list of female tech entrepreneurs, Mitchell disclosed the challenges she has faced over the past six years. She stated, ‘Women are being actively ignored and excluded. As a woman in business, it can be hugely demoralising. I often feel I am unseen and there have been times I have wanted to give up.’ Mitchell attributed this to many participants in the ecosystem adhering to the status quo, which contributes to the slow pace of change.
Despite the well-cited figure of 17 per cent of women in tech, Mitchell pointed out that some statistics indicate the sector is becoming less diverse. She emphasised the struggles women founders face in raising investment, receiving lower valuations, and gaining representation at FinTech events. In addition, she highlighted that only 13 per cent of decision makers in UK venture capital are women, and 48 per cent of investment teams have no female members at all.
Nevertheless, there have been positive developments. Gender Pay Gap reporting, new diversity initiatives, and the FinTech Parity Pledge have increased momentum across the industry. Mitchell remains optimistic, driven by her work with women in tech. She enjoys raising the profile of women-led businesses to established brands and governments and consistently requests a diversity component in each client research project.
Mitchell stressed the importance of ensuring diversity of thought and called for more men to engage with the complex issues perpetuating the lack of diversity. ‘The business, social and economic impact of greater diversity is undeniable – and where there’s a will, there’s always a way!’ she remarked.
She also encouraged women in the sector to apply for upcoming lists that profile female tech entrepreneurs, noting that visibility helps women gain recognition and advance in their careers. ‘Having a platform and facilitating this visibility is fundamental to getting women into the boardroom and shows the next generation that FinTech is an industry for people like them,’ said Mitchell.
Mitchell’s experiences underline the persistent issues related to gender diversity in the tech sector, yet her optimism and proactive efforts toward inclusion offer a hopeful outlook for the future.