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From optics engineer to founder of YC-backed material sciences company

elpha.com

1–10 of 18 posts

Re: From optics engineer to founder of YC-backed material sciences company

#2
Hi HN! This is a conversation we had on Elpha with Dr. Whitney Gaynor, CEO of Sinovia Technologies.

Elpha is a community for women in tech to talk candidly online and I'm the co-founder and CEO. Hope you enjoy the conversation!

I'll be in the comments if you have any questions.

Re: From optics engineer to founder of YC-backed material sciences company

#3
Is there a specific reason Elpha isn't positioned as a community for all persons to talk candidly online?

I look forward to a future where such platforms exist for all people, and don't need to be bound to any particular kind of identity.

I'm concerned about such tools, despite being well-meant, widening divisions rather than healing them.

Re: From optics engineer to founder of YC-backed material sciences company

#4

Is there a specific reason Elpha isn't positioned as a community for all persons to talk candidly online? I look forward to a future where such platforms exist for all people, and don't need to be bound to any particular kind of identity. I'm concerned about such tools, despite being well-meant, widening divisions rather than healing them.

[deleted]

Re: From optics engineer to founder of YC-backed material sciences company

#5
post #2

Hi HN! This is a conversation we had on Elpha with Dr. Whitney Gaynor, CEO of Sinovia Technologies. Elpha is a community for women in tech to talk candidly online and I'm the co-founder and CEO. Hope you enjoy the conversation! I'll be in the comments if you have any questions.

Very interesting discussion, especially with respect to experience with the SBIR program. And I like seeing hardware startups here. Thank you for posting.

Re: From optics engineer to founder of YC-backed material sciences company

#6

Is there a specific reason Elpha isn't positioned as a community for all persons to talk candidly online? I look forward to a future where such platforms exist for all people, and don't need to be bound to any particular kind of identity. I'm concerned about such tools, despite being well-meant, widening divisions rather than healing them.

There are plenty of communities that allow all persons to talk candidly online. However, these communities of all persons tend to be dominated by the majority voice while other voices get drowned out. These majorities don't usually consist of women and other groups.

Re: From optics engineer to founder of YC-backed material sciences company

#7

Is there a specific reason Elpha isn't positioned as a community for all persons to talk candidly online? I look forward to a future where such platforms exist for all people, and don't need to be bound to any particular kind of identity. I'm concerned about such tools, despite being well-meant, widening divisions rather than healing them.

There are plenty of communities that allow all persons to talk candidly online. However, these communities of all persons tend to be dominated by the majority voice while other voices get drowned out. These majorities don't usually consist of women and other groups.

I find my belief that women are equal in talent and ability contradicts the notion that such segregated 'safe spaces' are anything but sexist; how do we reconcile the opinion that women are equal with the opinion that women need segregated spaces (professional-related)?

Re: From optics engineer to founder of YC-backed material sciences company

#8

Is there a specific reason Elpha isn't positioned as a community for all persons to talk candidly online? I look forward to a future where such platforms exist for all people, and don't need to be bound to any particular kind of identity. I'm concerned about such tools, despite being well-meant, widening divisions rather than healing them.

> Is there a specific reason Elpha isn't positioned as a community for all persons to talk candidly online?

Possibly to save them the tedium of having to answer fucking stupid questions.

Re: From optics engineer to founder of YC-backed material sciences company

#9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are plenty of communities that allow all persons to talk candidly online. However, these communities of all persons tend to be dominated by the majority voice while other voices get drowned out. These majorities don't usually consist of women and other groups.

I find my belief that women are equal in talent and ability contradicts the notion that such segregated 'safe spaces' are anything but sexist; how do we reconcile the opinion that women are equal with the opinion that women need segregated spaces (professional-related)?

You can probably reconcile by talking in person with women who use these spaces.

Re: From optics engineer to founder of YC-backed material sciences company

#10
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find my belief that women are equal in talent and ability contradicts the notion that such segregated 'safe spaces' are anything but sexist; how do we reconcile the opinion that women are equal with the opinion that women need segregated spaces (professional-related)?

You can probably reconcile by talking in person with women who use these spaces.

Is this not the most (or at least a) reasonable place to discuss? It would seem rude to walk into a club and ask 'why should you exist'.
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