Does having more women in venture capital lead to better investments?
Michelle Ter Laak was fascinated by entrepreneurship and innovation from a young age. That curiosity led her to finance, but it was in VC that she found her true passion: helping startups grow, navigating imperfect information, and making investment decisions that go beyond the numbers.
In episode 94 of Women Disrupting Tech, I speak with Michelle about how she’s building the future of venture capital.
Key Takeaways from the episode
Here’s what you’ll discover by listening to episode 94:
💡 AI is a disruptor, in more ways than one.
💡 Diversity is a competitive edge.
💡 Women funding women is not the goal, but a stepping stone.
Listen now on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, or Amazon. Or hit the play button below👇.
Funding and Building the Future of Venture Capital with Michelle ter Laak | Ep. 94 – Women Disrupting Tech
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- Key Takeaways from the episode
- Join the Women Disrupting Tech Community
- The Magic in This Episode 🪄
- Zero-Cost Ways to Support Women Disrupting Tech
- What stands out
- About Michelle ter Laak
- About Arches Capital
- Share what’s on your mind
- What’s coming up?
- More episodes like this?
The Magic in This Episode 🪄
Some conversations leave you with thoughts that stick long after you’ve hit pause. Here are three moments that stood out from the conversation with Michelle Ter Laak:
💡 1. Investing is a community effort.
At Arches Capital, investment decisions aren’t just about financials. They are about mentorship and connection. Their model links startups with experienced angels who provide hands-on support, not just capital. Strong investments are built on relationships.
💡 2. We need more role models, for men too.
Here’s a shocking truth: many male investors struggle to bring women into the game because they have never seen female investors or business angels. Without role models, change is harder. This proves why it is so important to showcase the women who are already out there. Visibility creates opportunity.
💡 3. Celebrating progress in inclusion.
Michelle reflects on how much has changed for women in VC and tech. She shares a personal story about playing on the first female soccer team in her neighborhood and how, years later, stadiums are now full of young girls watching women’s matches. Change is happening, and “we should be proud of how far we’ve come.”
The work isn’t done, but moments like these remind us why we must keep pushing forward.
🎧 Ready to discover all this and more? Tune into the episode on Spotify!
Zero-Cost Ways to Support Women Disrupting Tech
Want to help make inclusion in tech the norm by 2032? Here’s how:
- Follow the podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Better yet, leave a rating or review from one up to five stars on Spotify or Apple. You’ll help other people discover the podcast and help me improve.
- Share the podcast with friends, family, and co-workers. This way, you give the women disrupting tech the platform they need to make it happen. Use the buttons below to share.
What stands out
As always, there’s more to the story than what made it into the final version. So, I’m sharing the hidden gems from this episode.
💡 The Invisible Barrier to More Female Investors
Michelle shared a surprising truth: many male investors struggle to bring women into venture capital—not because they don’t want to, but because they don’t know any female business angels.
Think about that for a second. If you’ve never seen women investing, how do you know to invite them in? This is exactly why representation matters.
💡 Why Diverse Opinions Matter, Also In VC
Behind every investment decision is a massive knowledge gap. Founders often believe that VCs have a crystal ball, but Michelle made it clear: they don’t. At the early stage, there’s no way to know if a startup will succeed.
The only way to make better decisions? Gather as many perspectives as possible and challenge every assumption.
💡 Women Funding Women: A Necessary Evil?
Michelle is clear on this: the goal isn’t for women to only fund women. The goal is a balanced system where gender isn’t a factor.
But right now? Women-led funds and initiatives are necessary to close the gap. It’s a stepping stone, not the destination.
Listen to Michelle’s story by tuning into the episode on Apple Podcasts using the button below.
Or click the image with the quote to watch the episode on YouTube.
“We should be proud of how far we’ve come, and believe in what we can make happen in the future.”
Michelle ter Laak, VC investor at Arches Capital.
About Michelle ter Laak
Michelle Ter Laak is an early-stage venture capitalist with a passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, and impact investing. As an investor at Arches Capital, she focuses on B2B SaaS startups, helping founders navigate the complexities of funding, competition, and AI-driven disruption.
With a background in finance and a deep interest in venture capital, Michelle believes that investing is about more than just numbers; it’s about building strong relationships and fostering community. She actively works to bridge the knowledge gap in VC, making the investment world more accessible for founders and aspiring investors alike.
Michelle invites you to connect with her via LinkedIn.
About Arches Capital
Arches Capital is a fast-growing group of business angels that is bridging the gap between Venture Capitalist (VCs) and how angels operate today, by joining the best of both worlds for its members.
Arches Capital invests in early-stage and scaling companies. It differentiates itself from angel syndicates or funds by supporting the next growth stage as well.
You can learn more about Arches Capital on its website and by following Arches on LinkedIn.
Share what’s on your mind
Should I interview opponents of inclusion in tech on the podcast?
👍 Yes, that is what inclusion is about
👎 No, I don’t consider the podcast safe anymore
Tell me what you think in the comments. There are no wrong choices here.
And if you would like to suggest a guest or a theme for the podcast, please let me know via email or send a DM on LinkedIn.
What’s coming up?
In episode 95, Natasha Syed shares how she is building a green talent pipeline with SkilledIn Green.
After that, we continue the journey to 100 episodes with more amazing role models from the tech ecosystem. So stay tuned for more inspiring stories.
And until we meet again in the next episode, keep being awesome!
More episodes like this?
If you want to listen to the stories of other investors in female ventures, you should check out the following three episodes:
– In episode 92, Sophie Heijenberg shares how she is taking VC beyond the bias.
– In episode 37, Tessa de Flines shares how she is an ambassador for female founders.
– In episode 8, Claire Tange reveals what you’re missing as an investor by not investing in female founders.
Women Disrupting Tech | The Podcast 
chic! 40How SkilledIn Green Is Fixing the Sustainability Talent Gap with Natasha Syed | Show notes for episode 95 of Women Disrupting Tech
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