Ep 197: "Data Tells Us Venture Capital’s Real Story,” with Paige Hendrix Buckner
Thu Feb 05 2026
Who decides which ideas get funded — and whose voices get left out? In this episode of Entrepreneurial Thinkers, our host Rob sits down with Paige Hendrix Buckner, CEO of All Raise, to pull back the curtain on the world of venture capital and the inequities shaping it. From her unconventional path from teaching fourth graders to Non-profit, and startup tech leadership, Paige shares why changing who controls capital is essential to building better companies — and a healthier economy. The conversation explores the systemic barriers facing women and non-binary investors, why representation alone isn’t enough, and how culture, data, and storytelling can drive real change. Paige also offers practical insights for those aspiring to break into venture capital and explains how All Raise is working to reshape the industry from the inside out. This episode is both a wake-up call and an invitation to be part of a more inclusive future in tech and investing.
Feel free to follow and engage with PAIGE here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paigehendrixbuckner/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paigehbuckner/X: https://x.com/PaigeHBucknerBusiness LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/allraise/Business Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allraiseorg/Website: https://www.allraise.org/We're so grateful to you, our growing audience of entrepreneurs, investors and community leaders interested in the human stories of the Entrepreneurial Thinkers behind entrepreneurial economies worldwide.
As always we hope you enjoy each episode and Like, Follow, Subscribe or share with your friends. You can find our shows here, and our new Video Podcast, at “Entrepreneurial Thinkers” channel on YouTube. Plug in, relax and enjoy inspiring, educational and empowering conversations between Rob and our guests.
¡Cheers y gracias!,
Entrepreneurial Thinkers Team.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
06:07 The Importance of Access to Capital
07:58 All Raise's Strategic Shift
10:09 Paige's Leadership Philosophy
13:59 The Disconnect in the Entrepreneurial Economy
19:04 Women Leading Change in Venture Capital
22:20 Progress and Future Goals for All Raise
27:23 The Importance of Storytelling in VC
31:59 All Raise: Supporting Women and Non-Binary VCs
37:17 The Role of Male Allies in Venture Capital
41:36 Engaging Limited Partners for Diversity
50:44 Challenges in Raising Capital for Underrepresented Founders
52:53 Data-Driven Insights on Diversity and Business Outcomes
53:53 The Impact of Diversity on Business Outcomes
55:54 Lessons from Education to Venture Capital
01:04:43 Preparing for a Career in Venture Capital
More
Who decides which ideas get funded — and whose voices get left out? In this episode of Entrepreneurial Thinkers, our host Rob sits down with Paige Hendrix Buckner, CEO of All Raise, to pull back the curtain on the world of venture capital and the inequities shaping it. From her unconventional path from teaching fourth graders to Non-profit, and startup tech leadership, Paige shares why changing who controls capital is essential to building better companies — and a healthier economy. The conversation explores the systemic barriers facing women and non-binary investors, why representation alone isn’t enough, and how culture, data, and storytelling can drive real change. Paige also offers practical insights for those aspiring to break into venture capital and explains how All Raise is working to reshape the industry from the inside out. This episode is both a wake-up call and an invitation to be part of a more inclusive future in tech and investing. Feel free to follow and engage with PAIGE here: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paigehendrixbuckner/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paigehbuckner/X: https://x.com/PaigeHBucknerBusiness LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/allraise/Business Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allraiseorg/Website: https://www.allraise.org/We're so grateful to you, our growing audience of entrepreneurs, investors and community leaders interested in the human stories of the Entrepreneurial Thinkers behind entrepreneurial economies worldwide. As always we hope you enjoy each episode and Like, Follow, Subscribe or share with your friends. You can find our shows here, and our new Video Podcast, at “Entrepreneurial Thinkers” channel on YouTube. Plug in, relax and enjoy inspiring, educational and empowering conversations between Rob and our guests. ¡Cheers y gracias!, Entrepreneurial Thinkers Team. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 06:07 The Importance of Access to Capital 07:58 All Raise's Strategic Shift 10:09 Paige's Leadership Philosophy 13:59 The Disconnect in the Entrepreneurial Economy 19:04 Women Leading Change in Venture Capital 22:20 Progress and Future Goals for All Raise 27:23 The Importance of Storytelling in VC 31:59 All Raise: Supporting Women and Non-Binary VCs 37:17 The Role of Male Allies in Venture Capital 41:36 Engaging Limited Partners for Diversity 50:44 Challenges in Raising Capital for Underrepresented Founders 52:53 Data-Driven Insights on Diversity and Business Outcomes 53:53 The Impact of Diversity on Business Outcomes 55:54 Lessons from Education to Venture Capital 01:04:43 Preparing for a Career in Venture Capital