It’s a fact: Some of the dumbest ideas in history have made millions. The Pet Rock (yep, a literal rock in a box). The Slinky (totally a broken tension spring). The Lucky Break Wishbone (a fake plastic wishbone, in case snapping a real one was way too hard). These aren’t just ridiculous ideas—they’re ridiculously successful ideas, all invented by men.
Now, name one equally stupid invention by a woman that was properly funded and turned into a household name. I’ll wait. Spanx, you say? Firstly any woman who’s eaten too many snacls will tell you they are a genius idea and secondly, the fabulous Sara Blakely couldn’t even find someone to make her Spanx, let alone fund them. So yes, women have just as many weird, wild or even bad ideas as men—perhaps even more, given how creative we have to be just to navigate a world that isn’t really built for us. But when women pitch ideas, especially ones that seem shall we say, ‘unconventional’, they’re met with skepticism, not investment. Here’s the kicker: Even in 2024, startups with all-women founding teams received just 2.2% of venture capital funding—a number that hasn’t budged in years despite all the talk about “supporting women entrepreneurs.” For context, that’s $3.1 billion out of $170 billion invested, and it’s actually the lowest percentage since 2016. So yeah, while guys get millions for boxing up rocks, women are still clawing for crumbs.
My Own “Too Stupid to Succeed” Idea—Until a Man Did It
Years ago, I had an idea: an Airbnb-style platform for cars, jet skis, bikes and scooters—basically, anything people owned but weren’t using all the time. Sound familiar? It should—because now we have Turo for cars, Lime for scooters, and countless bike-sharing platforms.
But when I pitched this all those years ago? A man told me it would never work because the insurance would be too complicated. (Maybe he just meant too complicated for me?) Now, not only do these companies exist, but they’re thriving. And the only thing missing? The fact that I also suggested to add luxury items such as boats and jet skis, which to this day, still haven’t been done properly.
So what’s the difference? Was it, that I was a woman pitching it?
The Gender Bias of “Crazy” Ideas
When men pitch absurd ideas, they’re often seen as visionary, daring, disruptive. When women do it, we’re met with logistical concerns, risk analysis, and doubt. The same “stupid” ideas that get men venture capital get women a patronizing smile and a reminder that it’s just not realistic.
I’m not saying every woman’s idea should get funded just because. But if men can get millions for selling literal rocks, maybe—just maybe—women deserve a shot, too.
And if any investors are reading this: I still think the boat and jet ski rental idea is a winner. But you probably won’t fund it until a guy pitches it, right?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Rachel is a serial entrepreneur, part-time optimist, and full-time realist about how the game is played. She’s the inventor of TODOSPRAY—a multi-purpose 60% alc. cocktail spray that’s good enough to sip, yet strong enough to sanitize. Follow @todospray