Today, women-led startups receive less than 3% of all venture funding. In VC, women make up only 15% of investors and 2.4% of founding partners. 74% of VC funds have zero women investors.

A core part of the Transform VC mission is to turn that on its head. We source and make winners out of overlooked founders.

Our Women in Tech series is spotlighting women in our community who are founders, VCs, and (big) tech innovators to learn about their journeys and how they’re disrupting the status quo.

Our first feature is Shadi Saberi, PhD, Founder & CTO of iSono Health.

Shadi developed ATUSA, the world’s first FDA-cleared, AI-powered portable 3D breast ultrasound system. The device is closing critical healthcare gaps by making accessible, low-cost early detection of breast cancer a reality.

1. What’s the best piece of advice someone has given you?
   Grit—staying focused, resilient, and persistent—will take you further than genius. Success isn’t determined by being the smartest in the room; it’s about having the resilience to push forward, even when the journey feels overwhelmingly difficult and long.
2. What are you looking forward to this year for your company?
   We’re entering an exciting chapter at iSono Health — bringing AI-powered breast ultrasound technology to new communities and clinical partners. I’m especially looking forward to scaling access for underserved populations and validating how innovation can radically reshape equity in breast imaging and women’s health.
3. What are you proudest of in your journey so far?
   Getting our first FDA clearance for the ATUSA system — during the peak of COVID. We developed and validated a new category in breast imaging at a time when accessible healthcare innovation has never been more essential.

The needle is not going to shift by simply stating the desire to fund more women, but by concerted efforts to bring women along the entire funding cycle – from the GPs, our investors, our fellows and interns and, finally, the founders. By having women at every step of the cycle, we are ensuring that a female perspective is heard, platformed and valued. 

We meet weekly to discuss how we can continue to transform our deal analyses processes and our engagements to make sure we are representing HERPerspective. 

The women already in our ecosystem are an inspiration to anyone within the world of VC and beyond. They are each trailblazers and strong representatives of Transform’s core values; 

General Partner – Rama Chakaki 

Last year, Rama spoke at length about Venture Capital from her perspective. She continues to challenge every one of us at Transform when we are analyzing deals, preparing for our roadshow and beyond. Her leadership is a strong example of why women in VC matter, and how they can and continue to change the narrative. 

• Companies of the future must provide some tangible benefit to society beyond returns to shareholders
• Again, on the world stage, I encountered an undercurrent of dissatisfaction with economic growth as a primary measure of GDP. The underlying concept here is that a company that has success, in-part, due to the contributions of the larger society should provide some tangible benefit to society. The divergence between firm success and quality of life for the world’s inhabitants is one of the main drivers of this sentiment. The focus on impact has shown the ability to positively benefit society without sacrificing returns to LPs. This model will continue to resonate in conversations on new enclaves of growth amid a changing geopolitical landscape.
• Macroeconomic growth depends in part on continued innovation and transformation of scientific ideas into companies
• Capital markets in the U.S. provide means for innovative science ideas to become companies. Some other areas of the world struggle with this because of overregulation that stifles rapid deployment of capital. When investors see potential for additional returns beyond what the market can offer (alpha), they are more likely to contribute to asset classes that were constrained during inflationary economic cycles. This potential is buried in the story of excess returns from servicing enclaves of underrepresented founders across the U.S. With rates (supposedly) falling over the remainder of 2025, and regulatory climates becoming more friendly to strategic firm activities, there could be ample opportunity in early-stage funding for the foreseeable future.
• Technology companies’ role in shaping geopolitics will have outsized effects on domestic policy
• Countries are competing to position themselves as market leaders in frontier and deep technology. A participant noted that trillions of dollars of capex spend would be needed for countries to achieve tech sovereignty and a large majority of that focus is on data centers for A.I. Clean energy is also an area of focus as cleaner and more sustainable fuel sources dominate the discourse. The companies that provide products and services will find themselves at the center of multipolar global struggles for technology supremacy.

The backdrop of President Trump’s inauguration added an additional layer of complexity to the topics above. Attendees from every major region accepted the impending inflationary impact of tariffs on the U.S. markets. The 2 general consensuses regarding tariffs were 1) the inflationary impact won’t materialize until the 1st half of 2026, and 2) the tariffs themselves may be bargaining tools. President Trump expressed intent to increase oil production in part to decrease inflationary pressures on domestic prices, however, domestic oil producers would be disincentivized to produce beyond a point that would cause oil prices to come down (due to increased supply). Hopes of deregulation by the Trump administration is already driving efforts for investors looking to position themselves in the U.S. private markets once the initial frenzy of the first 12 months cools.

Transform VC is optimally positioned to continue taking advantage of these trends and I am excited to see what 2025 has in store!

1. DEI Needs a New Narrative – We’re Market Makers

Bahiyah Yasmeen Robinson, founder of VC Include and Founding Partner of Include Ventures, highlighted how the concept of DEI is evolving. She emphasized that we should no longer focus solely on representation but see ourselves as market makers—driving real economic power and influence. At Transform VC, we’re inspired to continue investing in founders who are shaping the future of social equity.

2. The Power of Regional Investing

Marvin Clark of JP Morgan Chase Commercial Banking underscored the importance of regional investing to drive local economic growth and create resilient communities. His efforts have tripled the number of diverse-owned businesses in his network. Melissa Stallings of Capital Impact Partners emphasized providing financial, social, and knowledge capital to local real estate developers of color, while Kate Goodall of Halcyon Venture Partners focused on creating social capital and disrupting networks to ensure diverse entrepreneurs and managers receive the support they need.

3. Family Offices: Building Meaningful, Long-term Relationships

The Family Office panel provided a wealth of insights on aligning impact with investment strategies. Lisa Marrone of Pivotal Ventures shared how gender-lens investing can uplift both women-led and male-led funds when they align with Pivotal’s mission. Leah Hokenson of Baldwin Wealth Partners discussed how intergenerational family offices are positioning wealth for long-term impact, connecting private capital to broader cultural shifts. Natalya Sanghvi of Stardust Equity highlighted how 80% of her portfolio’s managers are first-time fund managers, with 75% being diverse, showing how family offices can de-risk and scale impact-driven investments.

4. Mentorship and Staying Power for Emerging Managers

The Fund Fundamentals panel emphasized the critical role of mentorship and financial sustainability for emerging managers. Jailan Griffiths of Nasdaq spoke about building generational wealth for underserved investors, while La Keisha Landrum Pierre of Emmeline Ventures stressed the need for GPs to have the financial and social capital to sustain themselves through the early stages of fundraising. Charlotte Newman of AWS highlighted the power of personal narrative and storytelling in building social capital and connecting with investors, underscoring the importance of resilience in fund management.

5. Resilience and Risk-Taking: Lessons from Esusu

In a powerful closing fireside chat, Samir Goel of Esusu  shared the journey of building a billion-dollar business while breaking barriers in financial inclusion. His reflections on enduring 360 rejections before finally securing a seed round investment were a testament to the resilience and grit required to succeed in impact investing. Samir’s story reinforced our belief that impact investing is about more than returns—it’s about transforming lives.

Moving Forward Together

We left the conference feeling energized, motivated, and incredibly optimistic about the future of impact investing. There is tremendous potential to build a more inclusive and equitable financial ecosystem, and we’re excited to partner with so many incredible leaders from the conference.

We invite all of you to join us in our mission to invest in and nurture 1,000 tech founders, each on a journey to impact a billion lives and generate a billion dollars in returns. Together, we can create systemic change and drive meaningful results for the communities that need it most.

#ImpactInvesting #VCInclude #TransformVC #SocialEquity #ClimateImpact #FinancialInclusion

The gathering was invigorating, offering insights on leveraging tech for impact in economic inclusion across education, housing development, health, and elder community care. A highlight of the event was our GP, Rama Chakaki, speaking on the Entrepreneurship: Catalyst for Inclusive Growth panel alongside Tyrome Smith, Sterling Johnson, and moderator Dr. Dee Stokes. This panel delved into the transformative power of entrepreneurship as a driver of inclusive growth within our communities. Entrepreneurs, policymakers, venture capitalists, angel investors, and business leaders converged to share invaluable insights and strategies aimed at creating an ecosystem that champions diversity, equity, and opportunity.

Rama and her fellow panelists discussed how venture capital and angel investors are engaging with underserved communities, fueling entrepreneurial spirit, and unlocking new pathways to economic empowerment. They explored innovative approaches to fostering entrepreneurship among underrepresented groups, dismantling barriers to entry, and cultivating a supportive environment for small and medium enterprises to thrive. The discussion illuminated the multifaceted role of entrepreneurship in driving social inclusion and economic prosperity, offering valuable perspectives and actionable approaches to harnessing the full potential of entrepreneurship for the benefit of all.

Here are five key takeaways from 2024 Guilford Dialogue Conference:

1: VC Pipeline Disruption 

Our discussions at the Guilford Dialogues highlighted a significant disconnect between the innovations emerging from Silicon Valley and the actual needs at the community level. Despite the thousands of startups in our pipeline and those of our peers, many of these ventures fail to address the most pressing issues faced by marginalized communities.

This gap underscores the importance of aligning startup ideation with community needs, a concept eloquently captured in the idea of finding “The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid.” By prioritizing the marginalized in our innovation processes, we can create solutions that not only drive financial returns but also deliver substantial social impact. Transform VC is committed to disrupting this pipeline by ensuring that the voices and needs of the underserved are at the forefront of our thought and innovation efforts.

2: Visualizing Data is Key

Throughout the conference, it became evident that visualizing data is crucial for understanding and addressing economic segregation across race, gender, and age. Insights derived from decades of data reveal the profound impact of these policies and practices. Importantly, this data also highlights opportunities for tech founders to collaborate with subject matter experts to drive meaningful change.

For instance, structured data from sources like The Opportunity Atlas, referenced by Dr. Raj Chetty of Harvard, sheds light on economic mobility. Similarly, insights from TIAA Institute on longevity across economic and gender divides, presented by Surya Kolluri, underscore the disparities that exist. Additionally, nonprofits and government institutions hold valuable data supporting marginalized communities, which, although less structured, holds immense potential for driving change.

This wealth of information is calling for impact-driven data scientists and tech founders to collaborate and visualize these insights. By doing so, we can transform raw data into actionable strategies that address economic segregation and foster inclusivity.

3: Key Statistics & Learnings from Keynote Speeches

The keynote speeches at the Guilford Dialogues provided profound insights into longevity and economic mobility, highlighting critical areas for societal improvement and innovation.

Longevity Fitness

Surya Kolluri’s keynote on Longevity Fitness revealed that with advances in biotechnology, a baby born today has a 1 in 3 chance of living to 100, and a baby girl has a 1 in 2 chance. Despite these advancements, our society is not financially prepared for such longevity. Kolluri cited Stanford research showing that loneliness in the elderly is as detrimental as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. While most people focus on physical exercise for a longer life, they often overlook the importance of socialization. Statistics show that retirees involved in two social groups have a 2% risk of death within the first six years, which increases to 5% if they lose one group, and skyrockets to 12% if they lose both social connections. These findings emphasize the need for comprehensive planning that includes social engagement to enhance longevity.

Economic Mobility

Dr. Raj Chetty’s keynote on Economic Mobility highlighted an inverse relationship between a child’s age when moving to a better neighborhood and their income gain as an adult: the younger the child, the greater the income increase. Characteristics of high-mobility neighborhoods include lower poverty rates, stable family structures, better school quality, and greater social capital. These insights underscore the importance of early interventions and supportive environments in fostering economic mobility.

4: Diverse Stakeholders Drive Innovation

One of the most powerful insights from the Guilford Dialogues was the realization that bringing together diverse stakeholders who represent the same issue across different domains can spark innovative solutions. By discussing challenges collectively, these stakeholders generate ideas that technology founders can develop, ensuring that solutions are built with the community’s input and needs in mind.

This collaborative approach is not only effective on a local level but also has the potential to be applied across similar regions in the US and among communities with similar profiles globally. By leveraging the collective knowledge and experiences of diverse stakeholders, we can drive meaningful innovation that addresses pressing social and economic issues.

5: Transform VC’s Interns & Fellows Program Brings Inclusion to the VC Community

Transform VC’s interns & fellows program exemplifies our commitment to fostering inclusion within the venture capital community. We believe that VCs have a responsibility to engage stakeholders who can contribute to field research, thesis building, and knowledge dissemination within the tech startup ecosystem. Our program invites beneficiaries to sit at the table alongside others who evaluate tech startups, ensuring that the perspectives and needs of economically, geographically, gender, and age-marginalized communities are considered.

The goal of our interns & fellows program is to build the next generation of technology startups on a foundation of data, personal experiences, and a systems understanding of marginalized communities. By integrating diverse voices and insights, we aim to create solutions that are not only innovative but also deeply impactful. We invite you to join us in this mission and participate in our fellowship program.

The 2024 Guilford Dialogues conference was a powerful reminder of the potential we hold as VCs to drive meaningful change. From addressing the disconnect between Silicon Valley startups and community needs, to the crucial role of data visualization, to the insights from keynote speeches on longevity and economic mobility, to the importance of diverse stakeholders in sparking innovation, and finally, to our commitment to inclusion through the Transform VC interns & fellows program, the event was rich with valuable takeaways.

One speaker poignantly remarked, “It is sad the USA had to declare war on something to fix it. Perhaps it is time to declare war on economic inequity.” As VCs with access to resources and the brightest minds in Silicon Valley, we are uniquely positioned to lead this battle and emerge victorious. We invite you to join us in this mission to bridge divides and create a more inclusive and equitable future. Together, we can harness the power of technology and innovation to transform lives and communities for the better.

Watch the full video: https://books.forbes.com/author-podcasts/knowledge-mindfulness-porch/investing-with-purpose-rama-chakaki-on-driving-impact-through-tech-part-two/