aileenlee
@aileenlee
Followers
86K
Following
88K
Media
294
Statuses
6K
Founder of @CowboyVC, we back & help build seed stage tech cos. Mom/wife who❤️ food, tennis, travel & fighting for equality. Pitches to https://t.co/NqGqheN6eu, not DM pls.
palo alto, ca
Joined November 2008
Walked by WFH husb today and LOL this is how he was working at his desk
138
325
4K
Omg just walked by our small home office to say hi to WFH husband. LOL what did he wear to work today ?!
92
83
1K
despite so many studies showing diverse teams get better results, still sooo many all-male founding teams (going thru decks this am). Seems like cos w more diversity on board will have easier recruiting, fundraising, success in the future. Here's to more balanced teams ahead!.
44
135
777
Taking a day to be sad, angry & exhausted. My parents are scared to walk outside while Asian. Shootings are back. Misogny & racism. White privilege. Too many dead & suffering. It's OK to feel tired & sad. If this is also you, sending you so much 💗 🙏😢 & support.
47
22
766
People were asked to name women tech leaders. They said “Alexa”, “Siri” :(. Of the 8.3% who said they could, only 4% actually could. If u care about equality & gender issues - please learn the names of women in tech.
33
285
620
So many in good humans in my life are working thru impt stuff - a sick parent, mourning a parent, child w health issues, marriage or $$ challenges. A good reminder that folks we encounter every day may dealing with s.t. we can't see - & to be kind and give grace when we can 💝.
12
45
653
Just asked husb if tonight he can look at bike's flat tire, he asked me if i created a jira ticket. This WFH thing is making things so weird at home.
21
38
647
Wrote some thoughts about how a nice coincidence (diet change) seems to have solved a longtime health issue (sleep!) and about the brain/gut connection. Hope you'll check it out - would love to know what you think! .
54
58
638
Request for Startups (RFS): would love to meet new services + brands targeting babyboomer & Gen X women. Feels like a very large, underserved mkt - and in particular, new brands leveraging tech & digital to help women w with peri-menopause and menopause. Pls send! :).
87
133
617
Hey folks - we made it to another friday, hope you are doing ok. My crazy WFH husb wore the weirdest outfit to work today. don't know how he typed, but it seemed to work fine for zooms (sorry am posting so late, work schedule issues). Stay healthy and hope to see you monday!
63
23
545
Woke up hoping the targeted murder of Asian American women was a bad dream, but no. We have to do more to stop racism and misogyny - incl rooting out influencers & taking away their platforms. TY to all the allies out there too. We will mourn & fight hate in solidarity. 😢😢😢.
12
48
549
Among many thoughts - even for a job where you could fire the person if they didn't work out - imagine if in the final interview, a candidate asked if you liked beer, rudely asked if you'd ever drank and blacked out and said "i like beer"~ 30ish times in the interview.
15
79
481
Ha just saw husband joining his co happy hour from inside this box. Happy Friday night, sending you gratitude, hope & virtual hugs!
75
19
527
Wrote a thing reflecting on 10 yrs of @CowboyVC 🤠. Great & less great memories + what’s ahead. Hope you’ll check it out, would love comments / feedback! 🙏.
58
42
538
Just walked by our small home office to say hi to WFH husb who has been on zoom calls all day. What he decided to wear today is really making me laugh.
55
8
535
It’s been 10 years since the original unicorn analysis (when we accidentally coined the term)🦄. So, our @CowboyVC team dug into new data. The tech industry has changed a TON!. ✨ From 39 to 532 unicorns.✨ Pendulum swung HARD from consumer to enterprise.✨ Business types,
30
116
541
VC friends - want to support women in VC? Pls encourage the female investors on your team to attend the @AllRaise Nov summit, it will be an awesome connector/accelerator. Appl'ns here: TY!.
23
196
500
Our daughter's school is getting ready to cautiously re-open. They had a costume-optional, social distanced school mtg this week, most kids wore reg clothes apparently. Yet here's a peek of daughter coming back from school. 😆😆😆 acorn doesn't fall far from the tree
38
5
492
Thinking about the societal impact, jobs, $$ created by cos like Amzn, FB, TW, SF, Youtube. If the next gen of tech winners are co-founded by women & people of color, wld be a force multiplier to change the🌏. Excited to back & support the next gen (pls ping if you are too!).
32
50
491
We made it to friday!! WFH husb had a zoom happy hr, he did not disappoint. Wish we could hear them laughing on the video con(yes he is dressed as a mermaid). Will keep posting next wk but not sure if he will top this.
47
13
475
A staggering ~20% of female founders surveyed experienced sexual harassment, coercion or unwanted sexual contact. This is real and it’s NOT OK.
Survey of YC female founders on sexual harassment and coercion by angel and VC investors:
31
139
467
A big THANK YOU to many tweeps who noticed T100 - I feel very appreciated ❤️. That said many have been/are working to make positive change in & outside of @AllRaise - TY to you! Tech+ VC are far from equitable & diverse, long way to go - excited to work together.
17
17
485
LOL just walked by WFH husb, this is what he wore to work today. Srsly. Happy Passover and almost Easter from our family to yours!! (Also do you see 🐣 🥚? He’s been planting them around the house all wk)
44
10
466
If you hadn't believed in or reflected on white (male) privilege previously, today seems like a really good opportunity to do so. And, what will you differently now that you see it?.
14
53
451
Just brought crazy WFH husb a glass of wine while he is on conf call. Sending y’all love, hope and appreciation during these crazy times!
42
10
439
My parents are in their 80s w health issues, isolated home in NV since Mar. Last nt they were giddy, "today's a 10/10, happiest day in yrs." Got their vaccine date, in a few wks! . 🙏💗🙏 to folks helping battle this virus & for the vaccine. Tears of joy & GRATITUDE from our fam.
25
4
444
THX for reminding us on #InternationalWomensDay how much more needs to be done, Bain Capital Crypto + and the LPs who funded them 😞 😂. PS pls don’t hire+fund women & POC, put on ur website then 👏 yrself. Check ldrship & culture to ensure all folks have equal oppty to THRIVE 🙏
24
40
436
For anyone who commutes (or doesn’t), HIGHLY recommend listening to @Trevornoah ‘s reading of his book “Born a Crime”. Has brought me so much laughter and insight - grateful he wrote it, it’s a gift!.
27
27
396
“The goal is no longer to get a seat at the table. It’s to get a seat and then blow up the table.” .“We have to stop worrying about making white men comfortable.” “We’ve been going to therapy for decades. They can go to therapy too”. Preach, lady @GlennonDoyle #allraisesummit.
13
54
421
Definition of insanity is after 40 drinking wine and thinking, this time, I will sleep fine. Tonight will be different!.Cheers to 🍷 🍷 🍷 friends who can relate, we are one. We may be tired, but we’re happy!.
27
2
412
hey friends. it's been a tough week, didn't feel right to post about weird WFH husband. But the man is a font of creativity, unusual workwear continues. hopefully the laughs will be back next week. Take care of yourselves please ❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏.
21
1
405
Just wrapped an @AllRaise virtual bootcamp for 300+founders. The next gen of female founders are connected, smart, fierce & will build big things. TY @FeliciaCurcuru @selenecruzin @MorganDeBaun @chewishgirl @TheRealFreada @eurie_kim @NairiHourdaj - SO inspired!.
27
27
398
Our Women in VC group has launched a blog! Honored to write the first post to kick things off, w thoughts on the venture ecosystem. Pls read and follow, we'd would love your input. cc @jesskah @jennylefcourt @sarahtavel.
14
118
398
Amazing (in a bad way) that 64% of US VC firms have NO woman check writers in 2021. Founders, you can have huge impact on this. When you have choices, vote with your cap table - work w firms that have women & folks from under represented groups at the top :) #foundersforchange.
Here’s what you should know about checkwriters in 2020: 📊.⭕ The amount of women or non-binary investors in checkwriter roles grew 1%.⭕ 64% percent of firms still have NO female checkwriters.⭕ Only 10% of firms have more than 2 female checkwriters.
19
102
380
Where my awesome female & POC founders at who want to build a new social media network? Pls find me… :).
69
46
382
Please defend Asian-Americans and others if you are ever witness to racism. Let's not succumb to hate stoking from those who wish to manipulate the American people :(.
Spit On, Yelled At, Attacked: Chinese-Americans Fear for Their Safety
7
63
379
Here’s a follow up one of him having zoom happy hr w his team 😆 .PS a reminder we each may need extra time for self-care, and extra empathy for others - everyone is likely more stressed than they seem. Please take care of yourself and others (& thx @twang for the reminder!)
35
19
369
Ok see why our kids were laughing. Walked into husb’s WFH area and he’s on a video chat dressed like this today LOL esp rope coil taped to shorts
46
12
356
Been getting a surprising # of cold emails from banker/consultant types repping tech cos to raise seed or A. Yes fundraising is hard, it's good to get advice & intros - but founders should know a banker cold emailing potential investors at early stage doesn't represent them well.
32
42
359
That lvanka video seems like a scene from the Hunger Games, no?.
29
11
347
My family is so weird. got a pkg with those squishy biodegradable peanuts today (thank you @MaryRuths !)… opened it then went out to run an errand. Came home to this in the kitchen…
29
28
322
Anyone else feeling like folks seem focused on criticizing & taking down high profile, successful women (much more than men) during this time of extreme stress? And, wondering what we could/should do to stop prolonging deep rooted sexism?.
33
17
346
Heart is so full tonight. #grateful for @PamKostka team @AllRaise @ElisaSchreiber @lainypainter @wayeechu @jennylefcourt @jesskah @kirstenagreen @zatlyn @juliahartz @EmilyWWeiss @NairiHourdaj + every volunteer and participant today. Much to do, excited for what’s ahead!
11
6
352
Looking to add a great new person to our @CowboyVC investor team. Pls apply, or encourage a friend to apply: THX :).
15
113
338
Excited @AllRaise is holding a program for female founders who have raised seed, will raise A next. Awesome community, support & speakers are lined up! Apply by 7/20 pls, please spread the word!
8
98
339
I wish to gift to female founders a small fraction of the hubris of a former VC-backed CEO who stepped down after sexual harassment allegations & lawsuit who pings to say "we've never met, but can we meet to review his pitch to prep for a big series A for his hot new co?".
13
33
340
Walked by wfh husb today, he’s writing code from inside this box. The fresh popcorn was v good btw 😆 🤷🏼♀️ .Happy May, friends. Big shoutout to folks keeping grocery & other stores stocked -we so appreciate you ❤️ 🙏 !
33
2
324
Just walked by husband in home office. This is today’s zoom look.
26
7
325
Whew we made it to Friday! Walked by WFH husb to say TGIF, LOL he’s in video mtg like this. Keep smiling friends & hang in there, we are gonna get thru this :). ❤️ 🌈 🎄 💝
23
8
308
Wow, it’s a wrap. Can’t express my gratitude and awe for all the amazing people who are building an inspirational, inclusive @AllRaise tech & venture community. We’re growing so please join us!.
4
23
320
So much deep pain and sadness in the world, esp today. Things have been messed up for a long time, and too many have lived with systemic racism and injustice. We’re so sorry, and will do more to help. WFH husb is taking a costume break this week. #BlackLivesMatter
12
3
317
Happening right now: awesome women founders & VCs rallying to help each other in SF. Yay! #femalefounderofficehours @jesskah @jennylefcourt @SLP_EDU @mahaibrahim @eurie_kim @sarahtavel @jencarolan @kirstenagreen @rquintini
11
37
312
among things i wish for: would love to receive more pitches from startups with diversity on founding team.
30
54
308
The current climate against women leaders in too many places is 💩 💩 💩, from biased media takes to insidious overthrow plots 😡 😖 😡 . Let’s team up to stop this 💩 everywhere possible. It’s NOT ok.
13
30
301
A mid-stage vc-backed ent sw co is doing a ceo search for a sales/mktg oriented leader. The "world class" exec recruiter just presented a slate of 40 white male candidates. Ugh! Shouldn't happen in 2019. Would love diff candidate suggestions to show this recruiter, pls send! :).
48
36
303
Am going to a meeting in person And wearing pants with a button/zipper. It’s a weird day!!.
25
1
285
Today was reminded by a founder we ♥️, we almost didn't meet 5 yrs ago. She was saving our mtg for the end of their process, for pitch to be 'near perfect'. Then fundraising picked up steam, round nearly got done w/out us. Pls ping us EARLY, we don't want to risk not meeting you!.
13
12
284
Finally something good in 2020!!!! #WeHaveHerBack . Let’s get our awesome country back on its feet. Let’s get people back to work, kids to schools. Care for our planet, care for our people, and put a stop to divisive hate. Vote this Nov!! 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 ❤️ 🇺🇸.
7
15
263
Tomorrow is getting real and we are here for it!!! TY for this gift, couldn’t ❤️ this more .🙏 ☮️ 😢 💪🏼🌈💜
9
6
279
We almost made it thru Monday, yay. My ridic husb WFH’d today in this lovely costume, ha! whether you are swimming or barely treading water today, we send you lots of ❤️
30
9
275
At a board retreat where the recent 100 list of innovators is being dissected as an example of how privilege can be blinding; deeply flawed methodology; + the consequences of institutional bias. So I guess thx @Forbes & the authors for providing such a useful teaching moment :(.
11
31
272
Understand why so many in tech change careers to try to help fix healthcare after supporting a loved one with a serious health issue. Even meh results seem to req so much advocacy, $$, + waiting on hold/running around. Excited + hopeful more will be fixed in the next decade.🤞.
12
13
270
The phrase "they are really crushing it" has started to really bug . anyone else?.
77
4
265
Walked by WFH husb this pm and he’s sitting like this. another theme?? . starting to wonder if he has another fam and stores all the weird clothes at their house. Where. Does. It. Come. From
42
6
259
LOL just walked by WFH husb working at his desk. Happy Thurs out there!
35
7
264
Happy Tuesday out there! Sorry this is so late - “caught” my silly husb working in the backyard this pm on our staycation, ha 🐠 🐟 🎣
26
4
261
To the “older white guy” who my kids just told me gave them + their 6th grade friends the finger during their peaceful walkout last wk - they are not mad like me. They feel sorry for you and believe you are entitled to your opinion. Makes me hopeful for the future.
9
9
255
As promised. had a work zoom today w crazy wfh husb, this is how he was dressed. It was so hard to not LOL at random times, don’t know how his colleagues do it! . Hope y’all are doing ok out there. Know folks are weary, angry and sad, we ❤️ you.
26
1
262
Let's work to make sure people like @kkariko never again say “Yes, I was humiliated quite a bit, but. it’s all OK. I just love my work. so happy I lived long enough to see my work bear fruit.” (her decades of mRNA research led to both COVID-19 vaccines.
7
46
249
Founder & VC friends - this is a great time to examine & fix pay equity issues inside your co/firm. AND add diversity to your board(s). Thankful for brave folks like @EmilyKramer who shouldn't have to risk so much after finding she got 1/3 the equity of male peers :(.
Why does this crap never end? Because it is the same investors over and over: Equity for all?. My experience as Carta’s lone woman… | by Emily Kramer | Jul, 2020 | Medium
11
44
245
Wrote a thing on batting average and life in tech/startups. "No One Is Batting 1000" would love to know what you think :)
46
39
257
Our parenting skills are meh but getting this last night made me feel slightly proud 🥲
19
0
257
Such an emotional time. Thinking about those who died needlessly & their loved ones. Who have lost jobs. Who have felt so unsafe & triggered. And, all those who ☮️ marched, knocked on doors, gave $, made calls, stood in long lines with hope that we can heal & rebuild. 🙏 🙏🇺🇸💗.
2
15
244
This is a shout-out to all the healthcare workers out there. you are our superheroes!Thank you for all you do. Xoxo, .Socially isolating WFH husband
20
11
239
LOL husb changed his WFH spot to better enjoy ‘staycation’. Happy weds and sending so much ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ to those who have lost loved ones. This just sucks.
24
3
244
Funnest offsite ever @jenntejada @Jenn_RTR @kirstenagreen @jesskah @arlan @kmlake @annimaniac @JuliaCollins @serenawilliams @sarahtavel @jennylefcourt and more - thank you @AllRaise! (@karaswisher sorry you didn't make the photo maybe we can photoshop you in?).
17
12
237
excited our daughter is working local retail this summer, but we got the impression we shld be cool and not bother her. going shopping there now i’m sure it will be fine, she won’t notice
15
3
240
1/ So excited to invite folks to join us in @AllRaise to make the VC & tech ecosystem accessible, inclusive and balanced. Please visit to learn more! TY @bizcarson @alexrkonrad @Forbes @NairiHourdaj @msquinn for the story & love "the ROAD FORWARD"
My first Forbes cover story: meet the invisible guiding force behind some of Silicon Valley's most important diversity initiatives so far. @alexrkonrad and I have the exclusive story on All Raise, a group of 36 top women in VC changing their industry
13
51
235
Super excited about this one (& so proud to have led series B :)) It's an amazing service w/ an incredible team & visionary CEO @Jenn_RTR. Let's go!!!! . Rent the Runway confidentially files for IPO
10
5
243
amazing founders & funders together today at an @AllRaise planning offsite. Excited for what we will do as a community to accelerate success for women in tech in the new year!
8
12
233
Did double take at what unusual husb wore to WFH today. is a mystery winter holiday theme a foot? .PS THANK YOU to all the people keeping us safe during this crisis. We ❤️ you!
17
6
223
Thx @ajs for this 👇👇👇. Excited to change the game. let’s 2x, 3x, 10x this number in the coming years, who’s with me?!!!!. Female founder IPO data: Only 20 women have taken US startups public - Business Insider
11
36
231
feeling like "for crypto" may be the entrepreneurial gestalt for 2018 - eg "yelp for crypto" "mint for crypto" "stitchfix for crypto" "coursera for crypto" "airbnb for crypto". Xanax for crypto may be needed! :).
10
19
229
Ahoy, mates! Lovely WFH husb today wore this to work today. We hope you are getting thru this week + again say thanks to all the front line workers out there helping to save lives and #stopthespread :).
16
4
224
OMG we’re about the kick off the first ever @AllRaise summit for #womenwhoventure and I might need a Valium bc I’m just TOO EXCITED. TY to our many volunteers & supporters!.
4
7
222
It's just a weird coincidence my iphone tends to slow down and have issues right around every launch of a new model, right?.
13
9
217
Howdy partners. Caught glimpse today of wfm husb walking around home office finally dressed like a Cowboy! Took long enough.
23
4
225