Male VCs Miss Women's Markets

Shaan Puri discusses how male-dominated venture capital creates market blind spots, particularly in women-focused products and services. He uses the example of Aunt Flow, a company revolutionizing women's hygiene product dispensers in public restrooms, to illustrate how these opportunities emerge.

Key Points:

• Market Opportunity Creation:

  • State laws requiring women's hygiene products in restrooms created a new market
  • Traditional vendors had poor design and user experience
  • Male founders/VCs weren't aware of these problems due to lack of exposure

• Business Model Advantages:

  • Facilities must comply with state laws
  • Multi-million dollar contracts for installation
  • Recurring revenue from product refills
  • High switching costs once installed
  • Similar to Clear's airport model - creates mini-monopolies in locations

• Leadership Dynamics:

  • Led by Claire Coder, described as a "very strong leader personality type"
  • Active on LinkedIn building brand presence
  • Created friendly, approachable branding compared to existing solutions

• Market Entry Strategy:

  • Going state by state as laws are enacted
  • Targeting stadiums, schools, universities
  • Building long-term relationships through installation contracts

• Competitive Advantage:

  • Better design and user experience
  • More hygienic appearance
  • Strong brand identity
  • First-mover advantage in modernizing the space

This illustrates how gender-based blind spots in VC funding can create opportunities for entrepreneurs who recognize and address underserved markets, particularly in women's products and services.