Project Include cuts ties with Y Combinator over Thiel and Trump
The diversity group says venture capitalist Peter Thiel’s public support of Donald Trump isn’t good for diversity.
Mat Smith, @thatmatsmith
Project Include, a high-profile Silicon Valley diversity initiative, has officially cut ties with the influential Y Combinator venture incubator due to its ties to prominent Donald Trump supporter, Peter Thiel. The venture capitalist gave a speech at the Republican National Convention, and is reported to be offering a $1.25 million donation to Trump. Project Include cofounder Ellen Pao called it “a direct contribution to creating hate and instilling fear.”
In the post, Pao gave a nod to Y Combinator’s work tackling diversity, acknowledging its advances in diversity and inclusion in its own ranks. "We saw an opportunity to work with YC companies interested in building vibrant and diverse organizations, and we actively invited YC as a contributor to our VC Include program," added Pao. While the group has severed its ties with YC directly, Pao told Motherboard that it would still work with YC companies — albeit directly.
Ellen Pao previously worked inside the ranks of venture capital at Kleiner Perkins. She eventually sued the company for gender discrimination.
