Interview with Gioia Deucher

What inspired you to take on the role of Co-CEO of the company behind Collective, and what do you see as your core mission? 

I have dedicated the past two decades of my career to connecting humans across borders, disciplines and backgrounds to foster dialogue and build meaningful collaborations. Witnessing sparks fly when different people come together and work towards a shared goal, is what drives me. And this is what the Collective, like all LINDEN platforms, is about: leveraging the power of 1+1=3! With my extensive background working to strengthen the Swiss innovation ecosystem, I hope to bring additional momentum to this important platform and expand the Collective’s reach and impact.

What’s something about your journey (personal or professional) that you think the startup community would be surprised to hear?

It’s no surprise but regrettably underexposed in today’s mania of self-marketing: it takes a village to raise a child – and do pretty much everything else! We all need mentors who recognize our potential better than we can ourselves. Supporters who believe in us and open doors. A network of generous humans and committed partners who help carry the load. And role models who inspire and encourage us. I was and am blessed to have all of this – and strongly believe that the Collective can be the community where female founders can find their village!  

What types of partnerships are in your opinion most strategic for Collective’s goals? 

An initiative like the Collective risks preaching to the choir – the already converted. It is hence essential for us to reach beyond the confines of the «female entrepreneurship movement» alone, into companies and organizations that recognize their responsibility as civic agents and sit at the levers of change. That includes the public sector, as much as investment firms and corporates that collaborate with startups. Our goal is not just to have them sign on to the cause; but to help them understand and tap into the potential that opens up when we reach equal representation in innovation! More women in entrepreneurship means more wealth-creation, a broader tax base and technologies that represent diverse needs and perspectives. Beyond impact, signing up as a partner means access to outstanding talents and potential clients. 

We’re actively recruiting new singers for our choir, no matter how strong the vocals. Join us! 

Is Collective meant to be a safe space for female entrepreneurs and aspiring founders — or is it a platform designed to actively drive change, reshaping the male-dominated systems we operate in toward a more equal and gender-responsive ecosystem?

The Collective inserts itself in the logic of systems change – and among a strong set of players who address the issue of underrepresentation of women in entrepreneurship from various angles. Our mission is rooted in the spirit of collaboration and the conviction that it takes coordination and an aligned community of diverse actors to achieve change. The Collective is what our name suggests: the forum where organizations and individuals, who embody the change we seek, come together, find courage and inspiration, and build alliances. What makes the Collective a safe space is the shared belief that our technologically enhanced future needs to be built by entrepreneurs who represent the diverse make-up of our society. The Collective invites the real talk, acknowledging bias, sharing the messy part of the entrepreneurial journey, and developing shared narratives for change.

How are men invited, involved or informed about Collective?

The Collective invites anyone who recognizes that the underrepresentation of women in startups is a problem – because it leaves half of our talents behind, and because it leads to the development of technologies that inherently miss a substantial perspective. We particularly extend this invitation to men, because they are a key to addressing this imbalance – as decision-makers, co-founders, as investors, as husbands, as fathers. The whole village is needed to change a system, and especially today’s village chief!