142. Why is Only 2% of VC Funding Going to Women Founded Businesses with Jessie Gabriel, All Places

When Jessie Gabriel told me that less than 2% of venture capital funding goes to businesses founded by women, my jaw literally dropped. And that’s just the beginning of the equity gap we unpack in this episode.

Jessie—founder of the law firm All Places—is on a mission to change that. She works with founders and fund managers to make capital more accessible and equitable, and today she’s pulling back the curtain on how money really moves in the entrepreneurial world.

We dive deep into what venture capital is, how to know if your business is ready for funding, and the often-ignored topic of gender equity in the VC and private equity world. This episode is eye-opening for any entrepreneur, whether you’re service-based, product-based, or just curious about how money moves in this industry.

In this episode:

• What a venture capital fund is—and why it may (or may not) be right for your business
• The reality behind who controls capital in the U.S.
• Why less than 2% of venture funding goes to women founders—and what that really means
• How to protect ownership of your business even when raising money
• How Jesse turned grief and encouragement from her community into launching her own firm
• What every entrepreneur can do to help shift inequities in the industry

Action Steps for the week:

1. Spend 5 minutes researching a brand you support—learn who owns it and whether it aligns with your values.
2. Have a real conversation with a client or customer to understand your unique value from their perspective.
3. Pick up a business book that’s been on your radar and actually read it (or listen to it!) to spark new ideas.

Connect with Jessie:

Website: https://www.all-places.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisisallplaces/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessiegabriel/

Connect with me, Hayleigh Hayhurst:

Steal my Podcast Launch Checklist for free: ⁠https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/⁠checklist⁠

Website: https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EspressoPodcastProduction

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/espressopodcastproduction/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@espressopodproduction

Music: John Kiernan. www.johnkiernanmusic.com

Produced by Espresso Podcast Production: https://www.espressopodcastproduction.com/

Join the Conversation: What did you think of this episode? Share your thoughts and key takeaways with me on social media using the hashtag #EmployeeToBoss. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share it with your network.