Overview
Deep tech – encompassing fields like AI, quantum computing, advanced materials, and biotechnology – is reshaping industries and addressing critical global challenges. Despite its transformative potential, gender disparity persists within this domain. Women remain significantly underrepresented, constituting only about 30% of the workforce in AI globally as of 2022. In Europe, for example, women account for only 6% of founders in deep tech scaleups – almost half of the, still low, figure for ‘traditional’ technology companies. In Southeast Asia, while specific statistics on female representation in deep tech sectors are lacking, women constitute approximately 34% to 40% of the overall tech workforce. Furthermore, women-owned startups across OECD countries receive 23% less investment and face a 30% lower chance of achieving successful exits than those led by men.
Mentorship plays a pivotal role in bridging the gender gap in deep tech by providing guidance, support, and opportunities for women to thrive in this sector. Women in technical roles are twice as likely to be promoted faster than their peers if they have a woman mentor. Addressing this gap is crucial to fostering innovation and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 5: Gender Equality.
This event, organised by the UNDP Global Centre in Singapore in collaboration with SGInnovate, aims to highlight the intersection of deep tech and gender equality. The event will catalyze initiatives supporting young women in deep tech, fostering a culture of mentorship, inclusivity, and empowerment. It will also serve as a platform to help relevant stakeholders navigate the landscape aimed at bridging the gender gap in deep tech.
Schedule
Date: 06 Mar 2025, Thursday
Time: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (GMT +8:00) Kuala Lumpur, Singapore
Location: 32 Carpenter Street, 059911
Speakers
Speaker's Profile:
Linda Nguyen Schindler, Director of the AI Competence Center (Asia) and Director of Ecosystem, Client & Partnerships at Start2 Group, Start2 Group Pte Ltd
Linda is the Director of the AI Competence Center (Asia) and Director of Ecosystem, Client & Partnerships at Start2 Group, empowering AI innovators and fostering key partnerships. Previously, she led cybersecurity innovation at NUS Enterprise, organizing Singapore’s first International Women in Cyber Day. A champion for women in tech, she serves on the Women Entrepreneurship Committee of ACE.sg, Women Corporate Directors, and the American Women’s Association of Singapore. She recently signed an MOU with Microsoft’s “Code; without Barriers” to support women in tech. Linda also teaches financial literacy, entrepreneurship, coding, and AI to primary school students. A former Silicon Valley lawyer turned Singapore ecosystem builder, she leverages her diverse expertise to support start-ups, entrepreneurs, and communities.
Speaker's Profile:
Hortense Le Ferrand, Associate Professor, School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering and Associate Professor, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Nanyang Technological University
A/P Hortense Le Ferrand joined the faculty of NTU in Singapore in 2019 with an Engineer degree from France and a Master and PhD degrees in Materials science from Switzerland. Hortense received a fellowship from National Research Foundation in Singapore in 2020 to develop bioinspired technology. She was MIT innovator under 35 in 2023 and received the Nature award, inspiring women in science, scientific contribution. Hortense is committee member of POWERS for the Promotion of Women in Engineering Research and Science at NTU, and of Women@NTU. She is also advising WoMAEn, the student group of women in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at NTU.
Speaker's Profile:
Kanchana Gupta, Founder, vLookUp
Kanchana Gupta is an entrepreneur, corporate leader, and multi-disciplinary visual artist. She is the founder of vLookUp.ai, a free global mentoring platform dedicated to removing access barriers for women professionals. Since its launch in 2021, vLookUp has grown to 409 mentors and 1,300+ mentees across 400+ organizations in 20 countries, facilitating over 7,000 hours of mentoring. With 22 years of corporate experience—12 full-time and 10 part-time—she has led diverse teams across ASEAN, APAC, India, and Australia, often serving as a "trouble-shooter" for critical projects. As a visual artist for over a decade, she has held five solo exhibitions and participated in numerous group shows worldwide, working across various mediums, including painting, sculpture, installation, and video. Beyond her professional endeavors, she is also an investor, hiker, and dedicated yoga practitioner.
Speaker's Profile:
Hester Spiegel-van den Steenhoven, Founding Partner, Epic Angels
Hester Spiegel is an entrepreneur and investor. She is the co-founder of Epic Angels, the largest all-female angel investor collective investing in women-led startups in Asia-Pacific. She is also the author of ‘Thinking Big and Small: a guide to activating your entrepreneurial mindset’, in which she lays out the essential attributes of successful entrepreneurship, and runs the mini-accelerator ‘Ladies who Launch’. Through her work, she creates access for more women to drive the change they want to see.
Moderator's Profile:
Weijing Ye, Deep Tech and Innovation Analyst, UNDP Global Centre for Technology, Innovation and Sustainable Development
Weijing currently leads the work on deep tech and innovation at the UNDP Global Centre for Technology, Innovation, and Sustainable Development in Singapore. She champions the role of deep tech in accelerating progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She spearheads initiatives that explore the intersection of deep tech and sustainable development, fostering collaborative partnerships with policymakers, ecosystem builders, academic institutions, innovators, and industry experts worldwide. Before joining UNDP, Weijing worked extensively on emerging technologies, digital transformation, and innovation policies with international organizations including the World Bank, OECD, and UNCTAD.
