Successful startups have more women in senior positions than unsuccessful ones, according to a new analysis by Dow Jones VentureSource of more than 20,000 venture-backed companies in the U.S. between 1997 and 2011. They had more than twice as many women in top jobs like C-level managers, vice presidents, and board members than their unsuccessful counterparts did.
Companies that went public, were acquired, or turned profitable were defined as “successful.” “Unsuccessful” included both failed companies and “not-yet-successful” startups still operating that may eventually go public or get acquired. At successful companies, the median share of female executives was 7.1 percent, compared with 3.1 percent at unsuccessful firms.