Startups often claim to value diversity but are slow to adopt inclusive hiring practices. Growth-stage companies tend to recruit from familiar Silicon Valley channels, yet if founders desire diverse teams, this must be implemented from the first hire.
Taskrabbit founder Leah Solivan, now managing director of Precedent.VC, spoke with Isabelle Johannessen on Build Mode about her hiring strategy while leading Taskrabbit. As the company evolved from Solivan’s personal credit card-funded venture to a key gig economy platform, the leadership team actively pursued diverse talent for each position.
Diversity must be intentional. Solivan and her team ensured diversity was part of their recruitment and hiring approach. Solivan noted, “If you start early, the culture, team, and network are more diverse, creating a self-sustaining ecosystem. Delaying diverse hiring until scaling makes it too late.”
Startups tend to recruit talent networks rooted in the founder’s community. A diverse tech industry partly depends on who invests in founders. As an early-stage investor, Solivan has insight into finance flow from both perspectives.
“The financial system starts with limited partners who select venture capitalists. These VCs then choose the founders they invest in,” Solivan explained. “The funds exist but are controlled by those with biases.”
Founders and their VCs can address diversity without being underrepresented themselves. Solivan recommends aiming for two female candidate résumés per male résumé, expanding networks, and promoting diverse backgrounds to leadership.
“You’re asking someone to walk off the edge of a cliff — let’s build a net for them to jump into,” Solivan remarked.
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Diverse teams start with diverse VCs with Leah Solivan, Taskrabbit
Leah Solivan, Taskrabbit founder and early-stage investor, discusses diverse VC funding’s impact on startup ecosystems. She shares insights on diverse team-building from day one, emphasizing the significance of empowering VCs to nurture underrepresented founders, ultimately impacting tech talent hiring.
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New episodes of Build Mode drop every Thursday. Hosted by Isabelle Johannessen, produced and edited by Maggie Nye, with audience development by Morgan Little. Special thanks to the Foundry and Cheddar video teams.