AFROTECH’s Post

I’m inspired by VC and entrepreneur groups like this. Spokes needs to be connected to networks like this so that we can grow and finance the long game of system change within an ecosystem of service providers import exporters and urban planners. Let’s have a conversation about how to bring women into, the urban development and transportation planning ecosystem in a way that creates companies, victim, thrive and showcase the brilliance of female entrepreneurs and company owners.

Gender equality in venture capital isn't just a matter of fairness – it's a strategic move. Firms with more female investing partners see demonstrable increases in portfolio success, fund returns, and profitable exits. Investing in diversity drives prosperity for the entire industry. VC firms prioritizing gender equality reap tangible financial benefits.  Women-led VC firms - like Pocket Sun’s SoGal Ventures - invest ~2x more into female founded companies. They also tend to have 1.5% higher fund returns.  #womeninvest #investinwomen

#WomenInvestors #DEIinvestments #VentureCapital SERENA WILLIAMS SHARES HER VC FUND’S ‘MISSION’ TO INVEST IN WOMEN AND DIVERSITY, AND THE 14 COMPANIES THAT REACHED UNICORN STATUS Serena Williams recently explained the groundbreaking work she's doing with her venture capital fund Serena Ventures. Since launching Serena Ventures, her fund’s portfolio includes 79% underrepresented founders, 54% women founders, 47% Black founders, and 11% Latino founders. Among her company’s highlighted investments is the company Parfait. This Black-woman-owned wig customization platform provides all women with an AI-backed virtual experience with a wide range of styles. “My portfolio kind of leans more toward women and people of color because when people are talking about diversity that really means everyone having a seat at the table. Everyone having a chance to win,” Williams said. - some thing interesting to read. Women led Investors believing in building DEI portfolios https://lnkd.in/gQBEcTtZ

Thrilled to announce that SV is featured on the Business Insider Seed 40 for the second year running! This list highlights the top 40 female investors in early stage venture capital. Our managing partner Serena Williams explains how we set our companies up for success: "I believe that investing doesn't begin or end with capital. At Serena Ventures, we offer comprehensive support to our founders, like executive coaching, marketing, and branding support to name a few. So founders can simultaneously scale with their company.” Click the link below to learn more & check out the other incredible women also featured this year! https://lnkd.in/ddrM8UQu

The face of an angel 😇 Honored to share that I’m the newest member of Pipeline Angels - a network of angel investors creating capital for women entrepreneurs. Women of color often do not have the funds, family means, or friends to invest in their businesses. I personally know this firsthand. In 2022, women-founded startups raised 1.9% of all venture capital funds, dropping from 2.4% in 2021. Why? Because 89% of the decision-makers in venture capital are white and male. We’ve seen the recent attack on the Fearless Fund and their work to increase those numbers, and fill the pipeline with resources. As an accredited investor, I believe this is the perfect time to link with change-makers and visionaries, and help finance the mission. Super excited to spread my wings and join Pipeline Angels as we change the face of angel investing and make a difference in the world of business for women entrepreneurs everywhere. 💰🌎 #PipelineAngels #ImpactInvesting #InvestingForChange #blackVC #angelinvestor #blackinvestors #womeninvestors

Come join our LP Paulina from Bosch in this session on why corporate venture should invests in venture capital firms! If you are corporate looking to access frontier climate solutions that may advance your net zero goals and related business lines, reach out to me!

Guess who... In 2014, this woman made a bold career move (don't want to say too much), switching professions to establish her own venture capital fund. Fast forward to 2024, and an impressive 14 of her investments have achieved unicorn status (a company valued at over $1 billion)! What drove her to create this groundbreaking venture? Learning that less than 2% of all VC money went to women. With a mission to change the game, her venture has invested in over 85 companies, boasting a portfolio comprising 79% underrepresented founders, 54% women founders, 47% Black founders, and 11% Latino founders. A year ago I had the opportunity to zoom with her and was instantly inspired. She is the epitome of the idea that with determination and a vision, anything is possible. Can you guess who this incredible woman is? Let me know in the comments below! 👇 #venturecapital #womaninbusiness #vc #angelinvestor

Founders and funders! Join Women Founders Network for an illuminating evening of startup fundraising. GP Laurel Mintz will be moderating the panel discussion with trailblazing women investors: Ashley Balla of Halogen Ventures, La Keisha Landrum Pierre of Emmeline Ventures and debra fine of Springboard Growth Capital. Topics we'll be covering include: - Seed Funding Strategies: Learn about effective approaches to secure initial funding for your startup and set a strong foundation for growth. - Crafting a Winning Pitch: Discover the art of creating a compelling pitch that not only captures investors' attention but also communicates the value proposition of your venture. - Investor Relations: Gain insights into building and maintaining relationships with investors, understanding their expectations, and navigating the challenges of the investor-founder dynamic. RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/gGwH-ydt #FabricVC #WeaveWithUs #VentureCapital #DiverseFunding

Did you know that in 2022, Black and Latina women founders only received a mere 0.1% of venture capital funding? But why is that? Picture this: you're in the early stages of building your dream company. You're pitching passionately to a room full of investors. But who are these investors? Mostly white males. And unfortunately, they tend to invest in people who resemble themselves or who they feel most comfortable with. This inherent bias can significantly hinder women and minorities. Miriam Rivera, the Co-founder and Managing Director of Ulu Ventures, articulated this point perfectly in a recent piece by Pivotal Ventures. She explained that when investors rely on intuition or shared assumptions rather than solid evidence, it's often women and minorities who lose out. But here's the exciting part: at Ulu Ventures, they're changing the game. Instead of taking shortcuts, they prioritize data and evidence in their decision-making process. And the evidence speaks for itself—there are countless women and minority founders with groundbreaking ideas poised to change the world. While we love celebrating progress, we acknowledge there's still work to be done. That's why we're thrilled to launch our deep dive angel investing course. We firmly believe that by increasing the number of women investors, we can create more opportunities for diverse founders to thrive. Are you ready to join us on this journey? Explore our angel investing course starting later this week. Click here to learn more: https://lnkd.in/g6UsfawZ #angelinvesting #womeninvesting #womenfinances

When I was raising my first round at No Limbits, it was funds like these who understood how big a business opportunity it was to serve the disabled community. There is a notion that DEI funds are "charity" funds, that the money goes to social good but doesn't get a return. I've seen them dismissed and have even been told to my face "They only invested in you because you're a person with a disability and you're a feel good story." But the reality is that all of the minority populations represented by these funds have enormous disposable income and want to spend it in businesses where they see themselves. These funds are masters of their niches and know the power of community representation, not just because it's right, but because it generates a real return. These are strategic investors because of the deep knowledge and connections they have in their communities. I sense a founder attitude of "This is something for the VC's to figure out," in regards to the Fearless Fund case but I urge my fellow founders to pay attention to this too. Especially underrepresented founders and social impact founders because these are often the only funds that understand our potential in the early stages.