Rui Ma is a partner in 500 Startups, a Silicon Valley-based fund. [Photo/Bloomberg]

Sexism still seeps into the industry. Men also lead the biggest venture firms and hold the vast majority of partnership posts, even if it is less than in the US. "It's dangerous to say the field is completely even, because especially in tech, at least at the operational level, there is a huge gender issue," said Rui Ma, partner for 500 Startups, a Silicon Valley-based fund. She often finds herself the only woman at industry panels.

Bloomberg