【B Lab Interview】No.14 Leesa Soulodre part2
世界最大規模を誇る女性起業家向けピッチコンテスト「She Loves Tech」を推進し、またディープテックのクロスボーダーベンチャーキャピタルR3i Groupの創業ジェネラルパートナーであるLeesa Soulodreさん。これまで400以上の多国籍企業やスタートアップのコンサルを行い、2023年には「Five Most Rising Women Leaders to Watch in 2023 (CIO Magazine)」「10 Transformational Business Leaders in 2023 (CIO Magazine)」「10 elite Business Women to Watch in 2023 (EliteX)」に選出されました。世界の起業・イノベーション事情に詳しいLeesaさんにお話しを伺いました。
Q. 女性活躍推進の活動やShe Loves Techについて教えてください
日本の未来を担う女性起業家たちを勇気づけ、資本へのアクセスにおける競争環境を公平にするために3年前に日本で『She Loves Tech』を立ち上げました。最近では日本政府が旗振りをしているようですが、リーダーシップや技術関連分野での女性活躍の割合は依然として低いままです。She Loves Techは、女性起業家の障壁や課題を取り除き、彼女たちが成長し、成功し、テック界に有意義な貢献ができる環境を育成することを目指しています。
R3i Venturesは、女性起業家が成功するために、より包括的で支援的なエコシステムを構築することを目指しています。具体的な取り組みは以下の通りです。
上記のプログラムを組み合わせ、女性起業家のエンパワーメントと、日本におけるより公平で包括的なスタートアップエコシステムを築きます。私たちは、男女の多様性と機会均等が、イノベーション、より強力なビジネスと経済、そして日本の起業家コミュニティの明るい未来につながると確信しています。
共に女性起業家の障壁を取り除き、すべての意欲ある起業家に対してより公平な競争の場を構築できることを信じています。
Q. 最後に日本の女性起業家やみなさんに向けてメッセージを！
みなさまの素晴らしい活動に対して敬意と感嘆の意を表したいと思います。みなさまの献身さ、強靭さ、革新的な精神に感銘を受けますし、日本の美しい風景、豊かな伝統、そして皆さんが貢献している先進的な技術に感嘆しています。起業という旅路の中でさまざまな困難や機会に直面すると思いますが、あなたのビジョンを形作る自身の強み、そして豊かな日本の文化を大切にすることは忘れないでください。また、皆さんの努力と覚悟は、日本だけでなく世界を形作る力を持っています。画期的な研究開発を推進するにしても、国際的なパートナーシップを築くにしても、情熱を追求するにしても、その一歩一歩がポジティブな変革と影響をもたらします。
私たちR3iとShe Loves Techチームは世界中からエールを送ります。自分自身を信じ続け、共に調和と繁栄、そして団結を育む未来を創り上げましょう。起業の舞台で波を起こし続ける限り、あなたの努力が世界中の女性にインスピレーションと力を与えることを知ってください。
心からの敬意と祝福をこめて！
ご応募を忘れなく：www.shelovestech.org
Leesa Soulodre is the driving force behind She Loves Tech, the world’s largest pitch contest for women entrepreneurs, and founding General Partner of R3i Group, a deep-tech cross-border venture capital firm. She has consulted with more than 400 multinational companies and startups and has been named one of the Five Most Rising Women Leaders to Watch in 2023 (CIO Magazine) and 10 Transformational Business Leaders in 2023 (CIO Magazine), and 10 Elite Business Women to Watch in 2023 (EliteX). We spoke with Leesa, an expert on entrepreneurship and innovation around the world.
Q. Please tell me about initiatives for promoting women’s empowerment and about She Loves Tech
The motivation behind us forging She Loves Tech 3 years ago in Japan was to inspire the next generation of female founders in Japan and to level the playing field in their access to capital. Despite significant recent progress driven by the Japanese Government, women remain underrepresented in leadership and tech-related areas. She Loves Tech seeks to break down women entrepreneurs’ barriers and challenges and foster an environment where they can thrive, succeed, and make meaningful contributions to the tech world.
R3i Ventures is committed to addressing the challenges faced by women founders in Japan through its comprehensive support programs. We recognize the importance of promoting gender equality and empowering women in entrepreneurship.Our initiatives aim to create a more inclusive and supportive ecosystem for women entrepreneurs to thrive.
Here’s how R3i Ventures addresses the specific challenges:
Challenging gender bias and stereotypes. Through our R3i Women intensive Bootcamp: R3i Ventures organizes an annual boot camp focused on supporting our female founder community with knowledge, workshops, panel discussions, and mentoring sessions to raise awareness, help to build the muscles for self-promotion essential in fundraising, and challenge prevailing gender norms.
She Loves Tech Funding Competition: Partnered with fantastic partners, including Striders International, Nordic Innovation House Tokyo, Sunryse, and our network of collaborating investors, we provide funding opportunities through the She Loves Tech funding competition, specifically designed to support women founders in Japan. This financial support can help alleviate some of the burdens of work-life balance challenges faced by women founders in Japan and help to accelerate their milestones.
R3i Women Founders Support Program: Our dedicated R3i Women Founders Support Program offers tailored mentorship and coaching sessions to help women entrepreneurs improve their business pitches and company attractiveness to investors. We actively engage with our network of investors to encourage more inclusive investment practices and level their access to a myriad source and access to Capital.
Annual Bootcamp: The She Loves Tech boot camp includes networking sessions facilitating connections between women entrepreneurs and potential partners, investors, and mentors. We create a supportive environment where women can build meaningful professional relationships.
New Role Models Through the She Loves Tech competition, we highlight and celebrate successful Japan-based women founders as role models for aspiring entrepreneurs. These success stories demonstrate that women can excel in entrepreneurship and inspire others to pursue their ambitions.
By combining our annual Bootcamp, She Loves Tech funding competition, and R3i Women Founders Support Program, R3i Ventures strives to empower women founders and foster a more equitable and inclusive startup ecosystem in Japan. We firmly believe that gender diversity and equal opportunities lead to innovation, more substantial businesses and economies, and a brighter future for Japan’s entrepreneurial community.
Together, we can challenge women founders’ barriers and create a more level playing field for all aspiring entrepreneurs.
Q. A final word to female entrepreneurs and everyone in Japan!
I want to convey my warmest regards and admiration for your incredible work. Your dedication, resilience, and innovative spirit are inspiring, and I am amazed by the beauty of Japan’s landscapes, rich traditions, and the advanced technologies you contribute to.
As you navigate the challenges and opportunities in the entrepreneurial journey, remember to embrace your unique strengths and the rich cultural heritage that shapes your vision and aspirations.Your efforts and determination not only impact Japan but also have the power to shape the world. Whether you are driving groundbreaking research and development, forging international partnerships, or pursuing your passions, each step brings positive transformation and impact.
From every corner of the world, our R3i and She Loves Tech team extend our encouragement and support. Keep believing in yourselves, and together, let us build a future of harmony, prosperity, and unity. As you continue to make waves in the entrepreneurial landscape, know that your endeavors inspire and empower women worldwide.
With heartfelt admiration and best wishes!
Don’t forget to apply : www.shelovestech.org