My advice to a young female founder starting out today would be to develop a support group of other founders whom you trust and to whom you can turn for advice. Avoid doing business with men who relate to you as a wife or a daughter — no matter what you think they can bring to the table. And keep looking for gold — those men who give direct feedback and consider you a peer. It’s amazing how a few people like this can make a huge difference.

But recognize that there will be times when you are stressed and emotional, when you will find yourself in weird and uncomfortable situations. It’s all part of the journey for members of the 3 percent.