Do tech startups develop solutions that truly benefit the people who need them?
Kimberly Ofori believes that they don’t and that it is time for a new, more sustainable, and inclusive business playbook.
In episode 54 of Women Disrupting Tech, we have a thought-provoking discussion about how financial inclusion can help break biases for a better planet.
Tune in to episode 54 to discover Kimberly’s formula for building sustainable businesses, the importance of diverse perspectives, and why misunderstood problems are actually opportunities in disguise.
To listen, hit the play button below or search for “Women Disrupting Tech” in your podcast app.
The Power of Financial Inclusion for a Better Planet with Kimberly Ofori | Episode 54 of Women Disrupting Tech – Women Disrupting Tech
The Magic You Can Expect in this Episode 🪄
You know that biases exist, even in the progressive tech world. But here are two stats that will blow your mind:
- 1) Femtech startups founded by men raise twice as much as female-founded femtech startups even though 70% of their founders are women (compared to 20% overall).
- 2) Women’s problems are so poorly understood that solutions are seen as ‘niche’ by investors, even though they potentially impact half of the world’s population
So, I wanted to learn what causes this and how we can solve this attitude. And who better to explain this than Kimberly Ofori of The Bold New Company?
In episode 54 of Women Disrupting Tech, Kimberly takes us on an eye-opening journey through financial literacy, inclusion, biases, and the redefinition of success.
In an hour-long conversation, she shares her roadmap towards more financial inclusion in the tech ecosystem:
- Stop throwing money at problems expecting a solution, and start building sustainable businesses💡.
- Include diverse perspectives in decisions about what gets built and how 👥.
- Accept that problems that we may not fully understand aren’t niche; they’re opportunities waiting to be scaled🚀.
By listening, you’ll also discover how guys can step up to the plate and set the right example for their peers.
When you’re ready to listen and learn about the power of financial inclusion for a better planet, find the link to the episode on Spotify below or search for “Women Disrupting Tech” in your favorite podcast app.🎧✨
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About Kimberly and The Bold New Company
Kimberly Ofori is a former banker turned management consultant and then digital entrepreneur at The Bold New Company (formerly known as Ofori and Company).
She is currently chair of the executive board at VOAW, sits on the advisory board of several startups, and acts as an advisor for entrepreneurship programs run by the UNDP and the European Innovation Council, among others.
She’s also the founder and general partner at Future Ventures Fund, where she and her partners invest smart capital in diverse founding teams that use technology to address global financial inclusion, health, and food challenges across Europe and Africa.
During our conversation, she mentions the statistics about the funding of Femtech startups. You can find more information and a link to the report here.
You can connect with her via LinkedIn and her website. And, on these websites, you can learn more about her Bold New Company and Future Ventures Fund.
“The problem isn’t that tech can be used for bad purposes. The problem is that we need to build the things to be used for as much good as possible.”
Kimberly Ofori
What makes this episode magical🌟?
Kimberly and I cover a lot of ground as we discover what financial inclusion is really about: from credit scores to how we build and finance solutions for women’s problems. Whatever the topic, Kimberly is generous in sharing her wisdom and opinions.
A particular part of the conversation, that I found magical was her advice for male allies to be part of the solution. So, if you’re a male ally, here is how you can contribute:
- help raise awareness
- Stop seeing inclusion as a matter of winning and losing
- Support by setting the right example for other men
On supporting and setting the right example, Kimberly shares how she received support from a male ally in a meeting with 10 CEOs when these ‘gentlemen’ asked her to make tea. The response of the male ally was really powerful and a compelling example of how you can do this.
What’s coming up?
In episode 55, we’ll find out how you can game your way into tech with Lizzy Wilmer. It’s a magical episode that will inspire you for sure.
After that, Jacqueline Kazmaier will be our guide in the world of health tech. Her company Autoscriber uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to help doctors spend more time with their patients and less on admin.
So stay tuned for more amazing women disrupting tech and their male allies in season three of Women Disrupting Tech! And if you want to be the first to know what’s coming, use the button below.
Let me know what you think!
When you’ve finished listening to this episode of Women Disrupting Tech, please leave a comment below with your thoughts on how we can achieve greater financial inclusion.
And if you would like to suggest a guest that I absolutely must have on the podcast, send me an email or send me a DM on LinkedIn.
Women Disrupting Tech | The Podcast 
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