By: Rachel Donovan

When Catherine Gray’s documentary Show Her the Money premiered, it revealed a striking and persistent inequality in the world of venture capital: women entrepreneurs receive only 2% of all funding, while men dominate with 98%. The film’s raw storytelling and intimate portrayals quickly resonated, illuminating not just a funding gap, but a call for systemic change. Yet for Gray, the story was far from finished.

Her book Show Her the Money picks up where the documentary leaves off, expanding the conversation with a deeper dive into the remarkable stories behind the scenes and the broader ecosystem working to level the playing field. But transforming a visual exposé into a compelling written narrative posed unique challenges—and opportunities.

Maintaining Emotional Impact in a New Medium

Gray acknowledges the difficulty in preserving the documentary’s immediate emotional punch in book form. “A book format just allows people to enjoy people’s riveting stories and visualize it in their own personal way,” she explains. Unlike the film’s real-time unfolding of stories through faces and voices, the book invites readers to co-create the emotional experience in their minds.

This shift changes the nature of engagement, allowing for reflection and introspection that the film’s pace might not afford. The book’s layered storytelling uncovers nuances that might be overlooked in a documentary’s runtime, providing richer context around the systemic challenges women face in venture capital—and the personal journeys behind those statistics.

Encouraging Action: Bridging Viewers and Readers

Despite differences in format, Gray’s ultimate goal for both the film and the book is clear: to inspire action. “We want people to visit our website and utilize the resources we provide to learn why women get only 2% of venture capital and men get 98%, and about how they can be part of the solution and why they would want to be,” she emphasizes.

The book complements the film by not only educating but by showing how venture capital can be a fascinating, fun, and impactful world. “We want both the viewer and the reader to understand how venture capital introduces you to some of the most brilliant people on the planet—who are innovating game-changing ideas that will affect you and your children for generations to come.”

Gray’s vision is not to simply inform, but to empower. By demystifying venture capital and humanizing the women who challenge its norms, the project invites a broader audience to see themselves as participants—whether as investors, entrepreneurs, advocates, or allies.

Looking Forward: Building a Community and Curriculum

Gray is far from done expanding this vital work. She shares ambitious plans to broaden Show Her the Money into a sustained movement with lasting impact.

The next step: releasing the documentary on streaming platforms, making it more accessible worldwide. “We will keep building our community,” Gray says. This community aims to connect investors, entrepreneurs, educators, and advocates around the shared mission of gender equity in funding.

Beyond distribution, Gray and her team are developing a spinoff docuseries. This will dive even deeper into individual stories and emerging trends, sustaining the momentum and expanding the conversation.

A particularly exciting development is the creation of an educational program focused on venture capital to be implemented in high schools, colleges, and universities. Gray believes early exposure to venture capital as a career path, an investment vehicle, and a way to fund and scale ideas is critical. “We want more young people to understand venture capital and see it as a viable option,” she explains.

This educational initiative promises to reshape perceptions from the ground up, making sure future generations have the tools, knowledge, and inspiration to participate fully in this crucial economic space.

A Movement in the Making

What started as a documentary has evolved into a multi-platform crusade for equity, education, and empowerment. We took the Film on 100 City worldwide tour and now intend to tour with the book too!

Gray’s work combines the power of storytelling with concrete resources and community-building to transform awareness into action.

For readers and viewers alike, Show Her the Money offers not just insight into a stark gender gap, but a blueprint for change. It reveals venture capital as an exciting, dynamic arena where innovation thrives—and where women’s voices and investments are essential to the future.

In an era when inclusivity is rightly recognized as a driver of innovation and growth, Gray’s project is both timely and urgent. It challenges entrenched systems while lighting a path forward—one that invites everyone to join in creating a more equitable, prosperous future.

As Catherine Gray continues to expand this vital work, her message remains clear and compelling: understanding the problem is only the first step. True impact requires action, community, and the courage to commit to a better tomorrow.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice. No guarantees or claims are made regarding the outcomes of any actions taken based on the content of this article. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and seek professional guidance if needed before making any decisions based on the content of this article.