Breaking Ground: Jenn Summe's Mission to Transform Venture Funding for Women Founders
In the heart of North Carolina's Triangle, Jenn Summe is revolutionizing how women access venture capital. As a partner at Primordial.io, she's not just opening doors – she's helping rebuild the entire house.
"Women found half of the startups in this country, yet startups with all-women teams receive only 2% of venture funding," Summe shares, highlighting the stark disparity that drives her mission. "These stats don't change much from year to year. If anything, they're moving in the wrong direction."
"We can't lose our collaborative, supportive nature—but we need to recognize the systems designed to keep us small and figure out ways to bust out of them – then share those answers as far and wide as we can with the women in our community."
-Jenn Summe
Summe's path to venture capital wasn't traditional. After starting in digital marketing and working with several Triangle-based startups, she pursued her MBA at Duke's Fuqua School of Business – while pregnant. This experience exemplifies the determination she now recognizes in the founders she supports. "The mom thing only makes you better," she reflects. "Your time management improves, you learn what's important in life, and you gain clarity about the legacy you want to leave."
At Primordial, Summe embodies a founder-first mentality, seeking exceptional entrepreneurs who think strategically about growth and demonstrate capital efficiency. She particularly values diverse founding teams, noting that different backgrounds and experiences often lead to stronger companies.
But Summe's impact extends beyond her day job. Recognizing that women make up only 6% of investment professionals at VC firms, she co-founded Lila, a community dedicated to empowering women in angel investing and venture capital. "We want to create a safe place where there are no stupid questions," she explains. "Whether you're interested in angel investing or you're a female founder wanting to understand how you might be evaluated for funding – come join, come learn."
The initiative focuses on education and community building, aiming to give women confidence in making larger, potentially riskier financial decisions while gaining access to wealth-generating investment opportunities. "There's generational changing money that can be made in this specific asset class," Summe notes, "and we want to get more women involved."
For students at Meredith College's entrepreneurship challenge, Summe represents more than just a mentor – she embodies the possibility of systemic change. Her work demonstrates that success in venture capital isn't just about funding companies; it's about creating pathways for others to follow.
"We can't lose our collaborative, supportive nature," Summe reflects, "but we need to recognize the systems designed to keep us small and figure out ways to bust out of them – then share those answers as far and wide as we can with the women in our community."
Through her roles at both Primordial and Lila, Summe is doing exactly that – transforming the venture capital landscape one investment, one mentor session, and one community gathering at a time.