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Words like “stubborn,” “emotional,” or “driven by feeling” have long been used to dismiss or diminish women entrepreneurs. These labels, often cast in a negative light, suggest they are not rational enough to be in the business.
But for Rhea See, co-founder and CEO of She Loves Tech, the world’s largest startup accelerator for women and technology with a presence in over 80 countries, these perceived feminine attributes are the source of an immense capacity for community building and resilience that is fueling a new era of global economy. Her work is a testament to the belief that when women find their tribe, they unlock the unique perspectives necessary to innovate solutions for the world’s most pressing problems.
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FROM BIAS TO BILLION-DOLLAR VISION
Rhea’s life is a masterclass in navigating cultures. As a Chinese-Filipino raised with an entrepreneurial focus, based in Singapore and working with teams across the world, she defines her sense of belonging as a global citizen. Her tribe is from all over, fueled by the inspiring stories and shared purpose of founders across continents.
Rhea’s diverse background—spanning public relations, private equity, philanthropy, and community organizing—gave her a complete view of the ecosystem. It was a view that quickly formed into an alarming realization. While observing the massive tech boom, she questioned, if technology is supposed to solve the world’s biggest problems, why wasn’t it solving bigger problems? The answer was simple: a lack of diversity in the people building and funding it.
The founding of She Loves Tech, over 10 years ago, wasn’t a sudden, grand launch, but an unconventional, slow-burn response to profound bias. Rhea recalls instances where investors would simply state they “do not invest in women” or immediately assume a woman founder is building a beauty or lifestyle product. This realization, that the system was actively missing out on world-changing innovations, became the movement’s rallying cry. It exposed a structural gap that She Loves Tech had to fill.
Rhea’s strategy from Day One was not to persuade or preach, but to “show them what’s possible.” Her organization focuses on scouting and curating the highest quality, most scalable startups globally, and putting them directly in front of powerful stakeholders. This approach has led to tremendous success, validating Rhea’s core thesis about the kind of businesses women build.
As she observes, women entrepreneurs are innately driven to solve societal challenges. This results in businesses that are not only profitable but deeply meaningful. “Women entrepreneurs are driven to solve problems and tend to innovate in critical sectors. Healthcare has been the top industry for women-led startups for the past six to seven years, with climate also emerging as a significant area. This demonstrates that women are innovating in essential services that have proven resilient,” Rhea said.
Read more of how Rhea See and the women of She Loves Tech will usher in the future in MEGA’s November 2025 issue now available on Readly, Magzter, Press Reader and Zinio.
Images courtesy of RHEA SEE
