Alright, let's break it down! When you're in the teamwork game, you need a squad with different skills to either compete or just get the job done. Even if some folks do their thing solo, it's never a one-person show because, at the end of the day, we're all working for a customer. And hey, there's always some supplier in the mix helping us achieve our mission. So, it's only fair to apply these teamwork lessons to each person, even if we're doing our own solo gig. Everyone's got their spot and identity in society, playing a key role in the big picture of where we live.

In the business world, teamwork is the holy grail for any venture. That's like Business School 101—no debates. And guess what? Diversity in these teams is like the secret sauce for a business looking to level up and grow.

Now, the big question everyone's asking: What in the world do we mean by diversity in the business arena?

According to the Adecco Foundation, "Corporate Diversity is a strategic business value that thrives on a mix of different talents, all essential for a company to run like a well-oiled machine. We often try to measure it by putting people in boxes based on gender, age, disability, race, you name it. But it gets trickier when we ditch these labels and focus on the smarts, experiences, values, attitudes, and genuine vibes of people. These less tangible and harder-to-quantify qualities are what make up the real Diversity—the kind that really spices things up for businesses."

Now, onto the next biggie: Why the heck is diversity so darn crucial for a business?

1. Stirring the creativity and innovation pot

   Creativity thrives in a mixed bag of talents. The coolest ideas pop up in teams where diverse opinions collide, mixing different outlooks, perspectives, and angles. It's like the ultimate breeding ground for creativity and innovation.

   And guess what? In a diverse crew, we put the brakes on groupthink, that mind-melding thing psychologists talked about back in 1972. It's more likely to happen in a squad where everyone's cut from the same cloth.

   Diversity is the driving force behind innovation, born from fresh ideas and group creativity. This atmosphere ups the chances of employees cooking up new products or spicing up their tasks with some creative flair. Boston Consulting Group even did a study with 1,700 companies in 8 different countries, and guess what they found? Companies with above-average diversity were raking in, on average, 19% higher innovation revenues and 9% higher EBIT margins. Oh, and a 2019 survey by the HR Research Institute said 66% of organizations claimed diversity boosts innovation.

2. Nailing it for everyone touched by the company

   If a company has a diverse squad, it's got profiles from all kinds of customer segments and stakeholders. When shaping the company's strategy, this mix helps it better meet the real needs of our diverse society. Also, when tackling tricky business challenges that affect different types of people, a diverse company is better equipped to handle actions, criticisms, and responses from folks with different points of view.

   Take Airbnb, for instance, the tech giant in the apartment booking game. In 2017, they snatched up a smaller London startup called Accomable, adding a unique value to the mix: accessibility. Airbnb acquired a company focused on listing apartments adapted for people with reduced mobility, and along with the purchase, they started beefing up their own accessibility features. This is a prime example of how diverse profiles bring solutions and perspectives to real problems faced by the people impacted by companies. Stuff that might otherwise slip through the cracks and stunt growth.

3. Cracking problems at warp speed

   Investing in diversity and inclusion within an organization has been proven to speed up decision-making in teams. A 2017 study by the HR Research Institute found that cognitively diverse teams solve problems faster than homogenous ones. Another report by Cloverpop concluded that diverse teams made decisions 60% faster than non-diverse teams, and age, gender, and geographic diversity teams got the decision right 87% of the time, compared to 58% for homogenous teams.

4. Boosting talent retention and recruitment

   Companies that embrace diversity and inclusion make their employees happy, leading to higher employee engagement and retention. It's a fact that the company's reputation improves among customers, investors, and staff, bringing a slew of benefits—better hiring opportunities, attracting a more diverse talent pool, and reaching a wider array of profiles.

   According to job search platform Glassdoor, a whopping 76% of job seekers in active pursuit consider workplace diversity a significant factor when weighing job opportunities and companies. And 32% straight-up wouldn't bother applying to companies lacking diversity in their teams.

5. Spicing up the economic results

   In the grand scheme of things, all the above points are essential ingredients for a company's success. Companies with more diversity demonstrate more efficient management that translates into better economic returns. It's often summed up as: "Diversity equals better results."

IDIVING INTO THE RICHNESS OF DIVERSITY WITH A SPRINKLE OF INCLUSION AND EQUITY

Sure, having diverse teams brings some real perks to the table. But let's spill the tea—diversity alone needs the magic touch of inclusion and equity to unleash its full power. That's why we're always chatting about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).

"Diversity to embrace and acknowledge differences, inclusion to champion those differences and give each one its place, and equity to ensure equal opportunities." - Lucila García (SERES Foundation)

Inclusion, then, is the art of managing and integrating individual differences in a team, fostering a mix of talents, experiences, and identities. It's about making each pro feel like a rockstar—unique yet part of the squad they rep (Adecco Foundation). So, inclusion is basically diversity kicking it up a notch.

AT ZUBI CAPITAL, WE WALK THE TALK

We're not just aware of the perks of a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace at Zubi Capital—we live it, both within our organization and with our ventures. That's why we don't just have diversity, equity, and inclusion policies across the board and in each of our ventures; we invest in companies that align with these principles and actively work on it with our ventures.

Zubi Capital, SGEIC, is a venture capital manager focused on impact investing. We put our money where our heart is—aiming to create a domino effect with our investments. Our purpose is crystal clear, ambitious, and exciting, aligning with the projects we design.

With the Zubi Capital Diversity Catalyst fund, F.C.R.E. S.A., we invest through a diversity lens in impact startups (fresh, innovative, or tech-based companies). We leverage diversity when analyzing companies, in ongoing support for our ventures, and throughout our investment journey.

The goal of this fund? Boosting diversity within startups shaping our future. Right now, the entrepreneurial scene lacks diversity in both founding teams and staff. According to the Spanish Entrepreneurship Map by South Summit 2022, the average entrepreneur in Spain is almost robot-like: a 33-year-old guy (80%) with high qualifications (most have a university degree, while 70% hold a master's, and 16% dive in with a PhD). Perhaps most concerning? These stats have barely budged in the last eight years.

As Zubi Capital, our commitment is to play the investing game hand in hand with companies. Once we've thrown in our investment chips, we roll up our sleeves with our ventures, jointly developing the necessary policies to keep diversity flowing through the company culture as they grow. We also help them scout for talent beyond their usual networks, making it easier to attract diverse talent that can bring a unique value to the table when it comes to growing, expanding, and scaling their businesses.

Our vision is that, by the end of the fund's life, there will be greater diversity in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and we'll have to seek out another challenge to tackle. Even with just a few months on the market, our investment strategy is already validated: among all the companies we've invested in, we see diversity among the founders.

Besides quickly validating our strategy, we're already seeing results in several companies. Since our investment, the number of teams embracing diversity has increased.

That's why we're confident our purpose is achievable. By promoting diversity in both the founding teams and the overall company, we intentionally generate a positive social impact. Our commitment to the triple bottom line is unwavering. That's why we invest in impact companies—whether environmental, social, or both—using our diversity lens to create a social impact while seeking market returns that generate economic impact.

We know that teams with greater diversity deliver better results for companies. At Zubi Capital, we're giving investors the chance to reap these benefits and contribute to a more just and equitable future for everyone.