Australian venture capital firms partner to write moral code of conduct for startup community

A number of Australian venture capital firms have banded together to draft a moral code of conduct for the local startup community.

Working in partnership with Valerie Aurora, a diversity and inclusion expert and cofounder of the Ada Initiative, an organisation that produced codes of conduct and anti-harassment policies to support women in tech,Blackbird Ventures, Airtree Ventures, Square Peg Capital, Rampersand, Blue Sky Venture Capital, and Startmate have written and adopted the code.

Introducing the code, Blackbird partner Sam Wong wrote, “We know that a code of conduct does not by itself ensure a healthy culture. But we do believe that a code of conduct has a role to play in creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for marginalised groups.

“It is useful because it clearly articulates to all members of an organisation or community what standards of behaviour are expected.”

The group pointed out that the code “is not merely aspirational”, as it sets out how reports can be made and what actions may be taken; Square Peg and Blackbird, for example, have established committees to handle violations of the code. Read more

Startup Daily - 22 June 2018