Hi there,
I had different content planned for this month's update, but we're all deeply impacted by what happened at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, and it doesn't feel right to start with anything else. The morning after, I tried to explain what happened to our 8 year old daughter and 11 year old son as I drove them to school, which is supposed to be a place of safety, learning, and growth. I was hit with intense emotions of deep sadness and fear as I drove away, along with countless other parents.
Compounding these emotions is a sense of helplessness and a crushing dissonance. How can I just go about my days when something like this can repeatedly happen in our country? Where can I channel my rage so it makes an actual difference? Millions of us were already asking these questions, and now we find them impeding our ability to function.
Why is our country incapable of passing even basic gun reform when there is undeniable proof from other countries that it prevents these tragedies? There are many facets to this question, but my mind always lands on the homogeneity of those in power. I frequently talk about the benefits of diversity no matter the context, but I don't often talk about the dangers of not having it.
Only 23% of voting members of the House and Senate are racial or ethnic minorities, only 26% are women, and only 12% are non-Christian. There are many more categories of underrepresentation, but the percentages just keep getting lower. More startling but less discussed is that nearly every state does not have racial or gender parity with their own population. When our elected officials don't look like the people they represent but do look like each other, they don't focus on policies important to their constituents and instead focus on group power to advance their own beliefs. Gun control is only one of the major issues of late where lawmakers' actions diverge from
the will of the people they are supposed to represent.
Increasing the diversity ratio of those in power is not going to happen overnight. The next generation of lawmakers are in our communities, but they need to feel empowered and like they have a fighting chance of success. I founded Scroobious to help the millions of diverse entrepreneurs who never find their voice or see their innovation in the world due to systemic issues. When you are silenced the sense of helplessness becomes heavier. Helplessness stops you from taking action and influencing others. It isn't just the business that never comes to be, the person and their contributions to societal change are stunted as well.
Now I'm speaking directly to you, angel investors. Only 12% of VC decision makers are women, and only 20% are non-White. As with lawmakers, the people writing the big checks don't look like the people starting companies. The good news is that you have the power to help diverse founders find their voices, gain experience in translatable skills like fundraising and public speaking, and learn to influence others. All you have to do is meaningfully consider their pitch, write a small check (big if you can), and offer your time and network to help them. The validation and support you provide exponentially increases the value beyond the check size. We need your "yes," society needs us to succeed, and your portfolio needs the outsized returns. If you have the ability to write a check of any size, intentionally commit the next one to an overlooked founder. Don't know where to find that person? Email me and I will help you. We work with hundreds of them.
Thank you for reading this lengthy intro. For our new subscribers, the updates aren't always like this. When my heart is heavy and rage boils I share information to spark connections and call for achievable action. Know that you aren't alone in your complicated feelings and that you can create meaningful impact right now.
