• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup

2

Markets tumble worldwide as Fed resets expectations: $400 billion wiped off SpaceX stock

3

Current price of oil as of June 23, 2026

1

After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup

2

Markets tumble worldwide as Fed resets expectations: $400 billion wiped off SpaceX stock

3

Current price of oil as of June 23, 2026
Y Combinator

1 in 5 Female Founders Has Been Sexually Harassed By Investors, Y Combinator Survey Shows

By
Brittany Shoot
Brittany Shoot
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Brittany Shoot
Brittany Shoot
Down Arrow Button Icon
October 15, 2018, 8:13 PM ET
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

One in five female founders who passed through influential Silicon Valley startup incubator Y Combinator have been sexually harassed or assaulted by an investor, according to a survey by Y Combinator.

Of 88 YC female founders surveyed, 19 reported experiencing inappropriate “incidents” from angel investors or venture capitalists, which included sexual overtures or badgering, coercion or quid pro quo, or unwanted sexual contact.

They survey comes as Silicon Valley—not to mention the wider business community—is facing a major reckoning in the #MeToo era. In the past year and a half, numerous cases of sexual misconduct, specifically in the tech community, have been in the headlines, including a sexual harassment suit filed by a former Google employee alleging a “bro culture” at the company, as well as a suit filed against Microsoft by over 100 employees, alleging gender discrimination and sexual harassment.

Uber is also under federal investigation for gender discrimination.

In 2017, a poll found that nearly half of women surveyed experienced workplace sexual harassment.

Asked in the Y Combinator survey about reporting unwanted contact and overtures, female founders said they wanted to protect others. When they didn’t report the behavior, they said it was for a reason many will recognize: the fear of retaliation.

The survey was sent to 125 of YC’s female founders, and 88 completed it. Given that 384 female founders have participated in Y Combinator, the survey is an incomplete but hopefully useful as a starting point for addressing what is clearly a widespread problem.

YC published the results of the survey in a blog post on Monday and noted that it has a zero-tolerance policy for inappropriate behavior. Additionally, the firm notes, “We also created a formal process for founders in the YC community to report bad behavior by investors.”

The survey was conducted by YC in coordination with Callisto, a YC-funded non-profit dedicated to building technology to combat sexual assault and harassment. Callisto notes that it only chose to send the survey to the 125 founders who signed up for the YC female founder email list.

Accelerators can act as a stamp of approval to potential outside investors, which is why even already successful startups will often elbow their way into a respected incubator. So when it comes to leveling the playing field in business, it matters when as many as one in five women answer a survey indicating they have experienced harassment or assault as a result of that professional association, especially abuse by the very investors that could have an outsized impact on the success of their startup.

Y Combinator’s Jessica Livingston, who co-founded YC with her husband Paul Graham, has spoken of the need for the incubator to attract more female leaders and launched projects to draw more women into the fold, including the Female Founders Conference. But the real challenge may not be attracting women to YC ranks. Rather, like seemingly every other professional and public space, the real challenge is getting men to stop abusing women.

About the Author
By Brittany Shoot
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in

The founding team at Seltz, a startup trying to reinvent web search for AI agents, pose for a group photo with San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge in the background.
Startups & VentureVenture Capital
Exclusive: Seltz, a startup rebuilding web search for AI agents, raises $12.5 million in seed funding
By Jeremy KahnJune 24, 2026
8 minutes ago
U.S. President Donald Trump winks during an executive order signing event in the Oval Office of the White House on June 22, 2026 in Washington, DC.
EconomyOil
Trump claims consumers are being ‘gouged’ by gas companies and orders DOJ price probe, as Bessent warns U.S. must avoid ‘foreign chokepoints’
By Eleanor PringleJune 24, 2026
24 minutes ago
Sarah Youngwood, EVP and CFO at Nasdaq.
C-SuiteFinance
Inside Nasdaq CFO Sarah Youngwood’s AI playbook
By Sheryl EstradaJune 24, 2026
38 minutes ago
Top CD rates today, June 24, 2026: Lock in up to up to 4.40%
Personal FinanceCertificates of Deposit (CDs)
Top CD rates today, June 24, 2026: Lock in up to up to 4.40%
By Glen Luke FlanaganJune 24, 2026
1 hour ago
Today’s top high-yield savings rates: Up to 5.00% on June 24, 2026
Personal FinanceSavings accounts
Today’s top high-yield savings rates: Up to 5.00% on June 24, 2026
By Glen Luke FlanaganJune 24, 2026
1 hour ago
As mega-funds grab 72% of all capital raised, the gap between VC’s haves and have-nots keeps widening
NewslettersTerm Sheet
As mega-funds grab 72% of all capital raised, the gap between VC’s haves and have-nots keeps widening
By Allie GarfinkleJune 24, 2026
1 hour ago

Most Popular

After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
Success
After forcing workers back to the office, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are now letting their staff work remotely—but only for the World Cup
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 23, 2026
23 hours ago
Markets tumble worldwide as Fed resets expectations: $400 billion wiped off SpaceX stock
Banking
Markets tumble worldwide as Fed resets expectations: $400 billion wiped off SpaceX stock
By Jim EdwardsJune 23, 2026
1 day ago
Current price of oil as of June 23, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of June 23, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 23, 2026
22 hours ago
Meet the 2 men putting New York's $300 billion pension fund in play for the first time in 20 years
Investing
Meet the 2 men putting New York's $300 billion pension fund in play for the first time in 20 years
By Nick LichtenbergJune 22, 2026
2 days ago
Texas and Charlotte used to build huge McMansions—now they're copying the California design tricks they once mocked
Real Estate
Texas and Charlotte used to build huge McMansions—now they're copying the California design tricks they once mocked
By Sydney LakeJune 22, 2026
2 days ago
Former U.S. Secret Service agent says bringing your authentic self to work stifles teamwork: 'You don’t get high performers, you get sloppiness'
Success
Former U.S. Secret Service agent says bringing your authentic self to work stifles teamwork: 'You don’t get high performers, you get sloppiness'
By Sydney LakeJune 21, 2026
3 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.