High Stakes

In this episode of High Stakes, host Paige Soya, Managing Partner at K Street Capital, sits down with Julie Castro Abrams, GP and Founder of How Women Invest, for a candid look at one of the most important shifts happening in venture capital today: the surge of women stepping in as LPs, angel investors, and fund leaders. Just over a decade ago, there were only 12 women-run funds. Today, there are more than 380. We are in a watershed moment—one filled with opportunity, friction, and long-overdue change. Julie breaks down not just why this moment is happening, but what’s still holding women back from fully participating in the ecosystem. Together, Paige and Julie uncover the lived experiences, expertise, and decision-making strengths that women bring to venture—and the systemic obstacles that still stand in their way, from misaligned financial advisor incentives to outdated assumptions about risk, time, and wealth. Whether you’re a GP, an operator thinking about becoming an LP, or simply curious about how capital flows and who gets to shape innovation, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss. In This Episode, We Cover:The Real Barriers Keeping Women from InvestingWhy the biggest limitations aren’t ability or interest, but access, time, exposure, and frictionHow financial advisors, often unknowingly, disincentivize clients from exploring alternative investments like VCWhy the question “Do you personally invest in venture?” can reveal critical advisor blind spotsHow inherited wealth, fear, lack of exposure, and over-reliance on traditional systems impact women differently