Leapfrog

June 4, 2018
While observing the existence of steep obstacles, Nino, founder of Brava Investments, dispenses approachable, energetic inspiration for women aspiring to become startup creators. Speaking from personal experience, she makes note of the discouraging effects of female and minority under-representation in business, with only 2.5% of venture capital funding going to women, of whom only about 0.2% are women of color. Her focus is on scale; through her own firm, which invests in companies that will benefit women, she aims to “level the playing field for a billion women,” rather than make one woman the “next Zuckerbergian billionaire.” Stating that “you have to hack the system as it is,” Niño dispenses various “hacks” in five sections, successively titled “Ready,” “Set,” “Go,” “Fund,” and “Grow.” They include, in “Ready,” the admonition “You Don’t Need a Hoodie”—understanding that the skill set associated with entrepreneurship is not limited to men—and, in “Grow,” “Out-Kardashian the Kardashians”—successfully using social media marketing techniques without having to rely on celebrities. This is a must-read for any woman whose has a great idea and the nagging thought that doors are closed to her; Niño helps to blow them open. Agent: Joy Tutela, the David Black Literary Agency.