Exploring Who Really Holds Power and Influence in Venture Capital

This episode of Build Mode features Paige Hendricks Buckner, CEO of AllRa, a nonprofit focused on expanding the power and influence of women and non-binary investors in venture capital. The conversation examines how decision-making authority, credit attribution, and capital allocation actually work inside VC firms, and what that means for which founders get funded.

■ Who Holds Power in Venture Capital
- Trends in women and non-binary representation in senior roles at US VC firms
- The gap between holding a title and holding check-writing authority, carry, or attribution
- The role of sponsorship, mentorship, internal politics, and outside networks

■ Capital Flows and Founders
- Investment data on women founders and recent female-led IPOs
- Women and non-binary investors starting their own funds, and what firm building requires
- LP opportunities amid a large intergenerational wealth transfer

■ Paths and Practical Advice
- Entry routes into venture capital for people early in their careers
- Guidance for founders navigating fundraising
- An overview of AllRa Summit 2026 and its agenda

The discussion suits aspiring venture capitalists, investors, fund managers, and founders who want a grounded picture of how influence and credit operate in the industry. Viewers can expect to come away with a clearer sense of what to look for when evaluating firms, roles, and fundraising processes, along with concrete steps such as building relationships, studying the data, and preparing a disciplined fundraising approach.