SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – A high-profile sex bias case captivating Silicon Valley has sparked debate over the treatment of women in the high technology and venture capitalist arenas.
Ellen Pao, 45, has accused venture capital firm Kleiner, Perkins, Caulfield & Byers of firing her after she complained of discrimination. She is seeking $16 million.
The firm denies all wrongdoing and says Pao was a poor performer who didn’t get along with her colleagues.
Opening statements were expected to start Tuesday, and the trial in San Francisco Superior Court could last four weeks. The jury includes five men and seven women.
Regardless of who wins the trial, the case has shined another light on the issue of gender and racial bias in Silicon Valley in general and the venture capital sector in particular.