Sexual harassment as told by women founders and execs in SEA

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Hello readers,

Let’s get right to it with an excerpt from today’s premium article on the perils of being a woman entrepreneur:

She recounts that when she sat down, the potential investor said: “I want to know more about you. You’re so gorgeous, where are you from? What mix are you? I’d like to have some of your mix.”

Liyana Sulaiman, co-founder of liquidation marketplace Pollen, who is of mixed ancestry, adds: “He put his hand on his chin, stared into my eyes and said, ‘Your mother must have been really beautiful to have made you.’”

I just threw up in my mouth a little.

Today, we look at:

• Stories of unwanted attention from investors and mentors toward women founders and executives
• India welcomes its newest unicorn – a proptech startup
• Other newsy highlights such as the US$25 million series A round of a solar energy company and Kuaishou’s latest financial results

Premium summary

The dangerous bullshit that women entrepreneurs have experienced

Image credit: Timmy Loen

I’m an introvert – I generally like spending time alone or just with my fiancée. I’m not great with large groups, and when I was younger, I believed that life would be simpler if it weren’t for all the people.

Reading today’s premium article reminded me of how much worse women have it. I don’t know what I’d do if there was a chance I’d be propositioned every time I went to meet a new potential investor or business partner. As if those meetings weren’t nerve-wracking enough already.

These stories are important. We need to read and remember them.

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