Brilliant but Invisible: Women in Deep Tech Aren’t Even Counted

Hey there, TechSheThink squad!

Buckle up for a truth bomb that’s about to explode in glittery, pastel fury.

Deep tech—think AI, quantum computing, biotech, the stuff that sounds like it’s straight out of a sci-fi movie—is changing the world.

But here’s the tea: the women building this future are so invisible, they might as well be coding in stealth mode.

We’re talking brilliant minds who are revolutionising industries, yet they’re not even counted in the stats, the boardrooms, or the history books. Spoiler alert: this isn’t just a “whoops, we forgot” situation—it’s a systemic glitch, and TechSheThink is here to Ctrl+Alt+Delete it with a vengeance.

Deep tech is the Wild West of innovation, where the stakes are high, the ideas are big, and the potential to solve global problems (like climate change or disease) is a chef’s kiss.

But while the tech bros are busy slapping each other on the back at conferences, the women who are doing the heavy lifting are getting ghosted by the spotlight.

Lack of representation doesn’t just mean fewer women in the room—it means their progress, their brilliance, and their impact are erased from the narrative. And if that doesn’t make your blood boil, grab a coffee, because we’re about to get controversial, quirky, and oh-so-motivational.

Let’s shine a light on these invisible innovators and rewrite the deep tech story—together!

First, let’s break down what deep tech is, because it’s not your average app-for-everything startup.

Deep tech involves cutting-edge science and engineering—think artificial intelligence that can predict diseases, quantum computers that solve problems in seconds, or biotech that grows organs in a lab.

It’s the kind of tech that makes you go, “Whoa, the future is now.”

According to a 2024 report by Dealroom, deep tech investments hit $75 billion globally, with AI and biotech leading the charge.

But here’s the kicker: women-led deep tech startups received less than 2% of that funding. Two Percent. Let that sink in.

Now, you might be thinking, “Okay, but maybe there just aren’t that many women in deep tech?”

Oh, honey, wrong. 

Women are out there, coding neural networks, engineering quantum circuits, and biohacking the future—they’re just not being counted.

A 2023 study by the European Women in VC found that women make up only 15% of deep tech teams, and that’s likely an overestimate because most data doesn’t even bother to track gender diversity in these fields. The stats are so bad, they’re practically a black hole—sucking women’s contributions into oblivion. And when women aren’t counted, their progress becomes invisible, their voices unheard, and their impact uncelebrated.

It’s not just unfair—it’s a straight-up loss for humanity.

Why Women in Deep Tech Are Invisible (Spoiler: It’s Not Us, It’s Them)

Let’s unpack why women in deep tech are the tech world’s best-kept secret. Spoiler alert: it’s not because we’re not brilliant—it’s because the system is rigged to keep us in the shadows. Here’s the messy truth:

• The Data Gap Is Real: Most industry reports don’t even collect gender-specific data in deep tech. If you’re not counted, you don’t exist—at least not in the eyes of investors, policymakers, or award committees. A 2024 McKinsey report on AI innovation didn’t even mention women’s contributions, despite women like Fei-Fei Li pioneering the field with ImageNet. It’s like we’re coding in Narnia—magical, but no one knows we’re there.

• Funding Is a Boys’ Club: Deep tech requires big bucks—think millions for R&D before you even see a prototype. But venture capital is notoriously bro-y. A 2025 BCG study found that women-led startups get asked “prevention-focused” questions (e.g., “How will you avoid failure?”), while men get “promotion-focused” ones (e.g., “How big can this get?”). The result? Women secure less funding, and their projects get stuck in the lab while the guys get to play Tony Stark.

• The “Genius” Stereotype: Deep tech loves its lone-wolf genius trope—you know, the guy in a hoodie who “single-handedly” invents the future. But women are rarely seen as that genius. We’re collaborative, empathetic, and community-driven, which doesn’t fit the mould. So when a woman like Anima Anandkumar develops groundbreaking AI algorithms at NVIDIA, the headlines often credit her male colleagues instead. It’s like we’re the backup singers in our own hit song.

• Work-Life Balance Myths: Deep tech demands long hours—think 80-hour weeks in a lab chasing a quantum breakthrough. But women are still expected to be the primary caregivers at home. The lack of flexible policies means many women either leave or scale back, making their contributions less visible. It’s not that we can’t handle the heat—it’s that the kitchen wasn’t built for us to cook in.

Here’s where it gets controversial: this isn’t just negligence—it’s systemic erasure. By not counting women, the deep tech industry perpetuates a cycle where women’s work isn’t funded, isn’t recognized, and isn’t built upon. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy: if women aren’t seen as deep tech leaders, they won’t be given the resources to become them. And that, TechSheThink fam, is a crime against innovation.

Meet the Invisible Women Who Are Changing Deep Tech Anyway

Despite the odds, women in deep tech are out there killing it—building the future while the world pretends they don’t exist. Let’s give these queens the spotlight they deserve:

• Daphne Koller (Biotech): Daphne co-founded Insitro, a biotech company using AI to accelerate drug discovery. She’s basically teaching machines to find cures for diseases faster than ever, but you won’t see her on the cover of Forbes. Her work could save millions of lives, yet she’s often overshadowed by male CEOs with flashier PR teams. Daphne, we see you, and you’re a legend!

• Anima Anandkumar (AI): Anima is a director at NVIDIA and a professor at Caltech, where she’s advancing AI for scientific discovery. She developed tensor algorithms that make AI faster and more efficient—think self-driving cars that don’t crash. But at conferences, she’s often the only woman on the panel, and her contributions are rarely highlighted in mainstream tech media. Anima, you’re our AI superhero!

• Shohini Ghose (Quantum Computing): Shohini is a quantum physicist at Wilfrid Laurier University, working on quantum cryptography to make data unhackable. She’s also a fierce advocate for diversity in STEM, speaking out about the lack of representation in quantum tech. Shohini’s work could secure the internet of the future, but she’s still fighting to be seen as a leader in her field. Shohini, you’re our quantum queen!

These women are brilliant, but their invisibility isn’t just a personal loss—it’s a global one. If we don’t celebrate their work, we miss out on role models, mentors, and the diverse perspectives that drive innovation. Deep tech needs women’s voices, and it’s time we turned up the volume.

The Cost of Invisibility: Why This Hurts Everyone

Let’s get real about what happens when women in deep tech aren’t counted. This isn’t just a “poor us” moment—it’s a problem for everyone. Here’s why:

• Innovation Suffers: Diverse teams outperform homogenous ones—fact. A 2024 McKinsey study found that companies with gender-diverse leadership are 25% more likely to innovate. Women bring unique perspectives to deep tech, like designing AI that’s less biased or biotech that prioritises women’s health. When women are invisible, their ideas don’t get funded, and we all lose out on better solutions.

• Bias Gets Baked In: Deep tech shapes the future, but if women aren’t at the table, the tech gets built with blind spots. AI systems trained on male-dominated data can misdiagnose women’s health issues (e.g., heart attack symptoms differ by gender). Quantum algorithms designed without women’s input might overlook ethical implications. Invisibility means bias gets coded into the future—yikes!

• The Talent Pipeline Dries Up: If young girls don’t see women in deep tech, they won’t aspire to join the field. A 2025 Girls Who Code report found that only 24% of high school girls consider a tech career, down from 32% a decade ago. Invisibility kills inspiration, and we’re left with a talent shortage just when we need deep tech the most.

Here’s the controversial bit: by ignoring women, deep tech isn’t just stunting its growth—it’s actively harming society. If we want AI that’s fair, biotech that’s inclusive, and quantum tech that’s ethical, we need women’s voices. Period. So why are we still pretending they don’t exist?

How We Fight Back: Making Women in Deep Tech Visible

TechSheThink isn’t here to sit quietly and sip tea while women in deep tech get erased—we’re here to make noise, break barriers, and paint the industry in glittery, inclusive shades. Here’s how we can fight back and make these brilliant women visible:

• Demand Better Data: Call out reports that don’t track gender diversity. If a deep tech conference doesn’t have women speakers, tweet about it. If a VC firm doesn’t fund women-led startups, drag them (politely) on LinkedIn. We need to hold the industry accountable—stats don’t lie, but they don’t exist if we don’t demand them.

• Amplify Their Stories: Share the work of women in deep tech like Daphne, Anima, and Shohini. Follow them on social media, cite their research, and nominate them for awards. Visibility starts with us—if the mainstream media won’t do it, we’ll make our own headlines!

• Build Our Own Spaces: If the deep tech boys’ club won’t let us in, let’s build our own table—and make it fabulous. Start a deep tech women’s network, host a hackathon for female founders, or create a podcast spotlighting women in AI, biotech, and quantum. TechSheThink is all about creating spaces where women shine—join us!

• Mentor the Next Gen: Be the role model you wish you had. Mentor a young woman in deep tech—help her navigate the industry, connect her with opportunities, and remind her she belongs. Even if you’re not in deep tech, you can inspire the next Daphne Koller by showing up and cheering her on.

• Invest in Women: If you’re in a position to fund startups, put your money where your mouth is. Back women-led deep tech companies, even if they’re riskier. And if you’re not an investor, support women-founded businesses by buying their products or sharing their work. Every dollar counts!

This isn’t just about fairness—it’s about survival. Deep tech is shaping the future, and if women aren’t visible, the future will be half as brilliant as it could be. Let’s make sure these women aren’t just counted—they’re celebrated.

TechSheThink’s Promise: We See You, and We’re Not Stopping

At TechSheThink, we’re not here to whisper polite suggestions—we’re here to scream in pastel block letters that women in deep tech deserve to be seen, heard, and funded. We’re fighting for a world where brilliance isn’t invisible, where the women coding AI, engineering quantum systems, and biohacking the future get the spotlight they’ve earned. This isn’t just a mission—it’s a revolution, and we’re bringing the glitter, the grit, and the girl power to make it happen.

So, TechSheThink fam, let’s get loud, get weird, and get visible. The women in deep tech aren’t just brilliant—they’re unstoppable, and it’s time the world knew it. Together, we’ll rewrite the deep tech story, one sparkly, inclusive chapter at a time. You in?

Your Call to Action

Share this article with your deep tech crew—let’s make these women visible!

 Comment below: Who’s a woman in deep tech you admire, and why?

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