Women Fight For Funding In Man's World Of Tech Startups By Glenn CHAPMAN on February 28 2021 1:35 PM Lauren Foundos has excelled at just about everything she has put her mind to, from college sports and Wall Street trading to her Forte startup that takes workouts online. Being a woman in the overwhelmingly male world of venture capital was still a barrier -- but, like many other female entrepreneurs, she only worked harder to succeed. "In some cases, before I even spoke, they were asking me if I would step down as chief executive," Foundos said of encounters with venture capitalists. "This was a whole new level."