Ex-VP sues Insight Partners over alleged gender bias: ‘I’m going to hold them accountable’

A former vice president at Insight Partners has sued the US venture capital firm, alleging gender and disability discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination.

The case is a rare legal challenge against a top-tier venture firm and comes as the industry grapples with entrenched gender imbalances.

“Today I filed a lawsuit against Insight Partners, one of the largest VC funds in the world,” Kate Lowry, who lodged the complaint, wrote on LinkedIn Monday.

“My lawyers and I attempted to settle this privately for months,” the post continued. “Insight chose not to come to the table, and instructed me to take things public if I wanted any meaningful outcomes. And so I am.”

New York-based Insight Partners currently manages upwards of $90bn. The firm is a major backer of software and fintech startups, including several European impact companies such as Vinted, carbon tracking platform Sylvera, and Norwegian wind farm software provider Shoreline Wind.

Lowry joined Insight in April 2022 as a vice president after holding senior roles at Meta, McKinsey & Company, and a venture-backed startup. According to the complaint, she alleges she was subjected to a hostile work environment and treated less favourably than male colleagues shortly after joining.

The complaint alleges that Lowry was paid around 30% below market rates in 2024 and that, after taking medical leave, her compensation was reduced, including a cut to the expected carried interest on deals from $750,000 to $500,000.

Lowry also says she was “berated” continuously by her female manager.

‘You need to obey me like a dog’

Some of the comments allegedly made by her supervisor, mentioned in the suit and seen by TechCrunch, include “you need to obey me like a dog; do whatever I say whenever I say it, without speaking” and “you are incompetent, shut up and take notes.”

The lawsuit claims Lowry’s compensation was reduced after she raised concerns internally, before her employment was ultimately terminated. She alleges the firm threatened financial penalties if she continued to speak out.

Insight Partners has not publicly commented on the allegations at the time of writing. The firm did not immediately respond to our request for comment.

The case comes amid longstanding concerns over gender imbalance in venture capital. In 2025, women held approximately 15.4% of partner or decision-making roles at VC firms, according to research by Founders Forum Group.

Despite the inherent imbalances, lawsuits against VCs for gender discrimination are incredibly rare, with most issues settled privately rather than in open court. The most notable exception was former Reddit CEO Ellen Pao’s highly-publicised gender discrimination lawsuit against Kleiner Perkins, which was later dismissed.

“We are in a cultural moment where wealthy, powerful people are trying to tell us they're above the rules,” Lowry wrote on LinkedIn. “That isn't true – and I'm going to show you how to protect yourself, and hold them accountable.”

The lawsuit seeks compensatory (economic and non-economic damages) and punitive damages, injunctive relief, attorneys' fees, and a jury trial.