(FROM THE WALL STREET JOURNAL 3/6/15)
John Doerr Testifies as
Kleiner Trial Continues
John Doerr, one of the most successful venture capitalists,
conceded Wednesday during testimony in his firm's
sex-discrimination trial that there is no easy path for women to
succeed in Silicon Valley.
"It is too hard for [women entrepreneurs] to get funding" and
hence very few women become venture capitalists, said the Kleiner
Perkins Caufield & Byers partner.
The topic of sexism looms over Silicon Valley during the trial,
and Mr. Doerr expanded on his thoughts about women in tech in
response to questions from everyday people, not lawyers. Jurors'
questions, read by Judge Harold Kahn each day, touched Wednesday on
broader themes of gender equality.
Mr. Doerr said one reason it has been hard for women to break
through in venture capital is "you can't learn it from a school."
Successful investors learn by doing, and the pool of qualified
candidates grows gradually.
Asked to describe the venture-capital community, Mr. Doerr
called it "largely male" and said "they compete furiously to be in
whatever the next big thing is."
A recording of an interview with Mr. Doerr played in court by
the attorney of plaintiff Ellen Pao, who is suing his firm for not
advancing her career due to alleged sexism, showed Mr. Doerr
himself has a bias toward male entrepreneurs. In that May 2008
interviewMr. Doerr described his pattern recognition for investing.
The best founders he backed from Google, Yahoo, Amazon and
Netscape, among others, are "white, male nerds."
More women partners in venture-capital firms would help
technology, Mr. Doerr said in response to a juror. "I don't
advocate for women out of a sense of social justice."
Venture-capital firms would benefit "if they found more female
partners qualified to do the work."
But Mr. Doerr said Ms. Pao wasn't qualified to be a partner,
often due to her attitude. He called her "more interested in Ellen"
than the firm. He said he tried "whacking her on the side of the
head" to get Ms. Pao to work better with others at Kleiner
Perkins.
-- Jeff Elder
Google Opens Insurance-
Quote Site for California
Google Inc. introduced a comparison-shopping site for auto
insurance in California, its latest effort to provide more
information beyond links, and potentially boost advertising
revenue.
The service offers quotes from as many as 14 carriers, according
to a Google blog post. Google isn't underwriting insurance policies
itself, but displaying quotes based on information provided by
users, including the model of their vehicle and personal
information such as gender, and marital and employment
statuses.
Google is offering policies from some of those companies,
including MetLife and General Automobile Insurance, owned by
American Family. Policies from others, including Infinity Insurance
and 21st Century Insurance, are advertised through a partnership
with CoverHound, an insurance-comparison site.
Google hopes to offer the service nationwide by next year, said
Keith Moore, CoverHound's chief executive. According to its
website, Google has obtained licenses to sell insurance in 48
states and the District of Columbia.
Google also hopes to add homeowners policies, according to an
industry official who has held discussions with the company.
Google didn't respond to requests for comment.
The largest car insurance companies, aren't participating in
Google's service at the outset.
-- Rolfe Winkler
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