Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has a lot to say about why she put money into Aspect, a firm co-founded by veteran investors Theresia Gout and Jennifer Fonstad. Gates also has some thoughts for other limited partners (investors in investors), many of whom are scrambling to figure out how to respond to the recent slew of sexual harassment problems in the tech world. Fortune caught up with Gates via email.

Fortune: What are the reasons you decided to invest in Aspect’s fund? How does diversity and culture factor into your decision?

Gates: Here’s what we know. The venture capital industry has long been dominated by white, male VCs, who — no surprise— tend to invest in white, male entrepreneurs. Only 7% of venture capital partners are women. Women founders receive just [over] 2% of VC funding; women of color get 0.2%. It’s abundantly clear that women and minority entrepreneurs face substantial barriers in the venture and startup ecosystem — including, in some cases, harassment and abuse. The damaging effects of this power imbalance extend far beyond Silicon Valley. When the only people giving and receiving venture funding belong to a small, homogenous group, society misses out on all kinds of breakthrough ideas and financial opportunities. Over the long term, our economic competitiveness begins to erode.

Fortune: Going forward, what are your criteria for investments in the tech area? Has the criteria changed in light of the sexual harassment problems in the sector?

Gates: The wave of sexual misconduct stories we saw in 2017 were outrageous, but ultimately, they shed light on problems that women in Silicon Valley have known about for a long time. In many ways, the venture and startup ecosystem is still a boys’ club — one that all too often excludes, disadvantages, and mistreats talented women who want to contribute to it ...

LPs are the ultimate power brokers in venture capital, and we need them to step up. After the past year, ignorance is no longer a plausible excuse for inaction. And lip service is no longer an acceptable substitute for action.

Read the full interview with Melinda Gates about women and sexual harassment in tech by Michal Lev-Ram at fortune.com.