This is a season where the lack of diversity throughout the tech and venture capital scenes speaks loudly. There’s a largely untapped market in the venture capital funding arena that a select number of investors are taking advantage of. Since African Americans are historically underrepresented in the funding pools, take a look at these Black-managed fund managers who make diversity in funding a top priority.
- Base10 Partners – Adeyemi Ajao and TJ Nahigian launched initiatives to support organizations that are fighting inequality by pledging 1% of all profit and another 1% of interest in order to increase opportunities for minorities in tech and venture capital. Base10 also commits to investing more into minority-founded businesses and also in hiring minorities at all levels within their organization.
- Impact America Fund – Seeks to connect both the cultural and financial disparities among low to moderately funded black-owned businesses. This early-stage funding source, founded and managed by Kesha Cash, seeks out companies who are tech-focused, that also help founders attract institutional funding opportunities.
- Fairview Capital Partners – Harnesses diversity and team culture to draw innovative and profitable investments related to technology and life science. As a future-focused investment firm, the emphasis is on helping institutional investors intelligently invest in businesses that outperform in the private markets. The fund is under the leadership of Co-Founders and Managing Partners, Dr. Laurence C. Morse and JoAnn H. Price.
- HBCU Seed – Is a venture capital and private equity firm founded by Terrel “T-Time” Davis that provides funding for businesses owned by HBCU students, alumni, staff, and faculty. Established to tackle the inadequate resources available to aspiring entrepreneurs in the African-American communities that attend and support Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
- Harlem Capital – Founded in 2015 by Henri Pierre-Jacques and Jarrid Tingle, the firm Invests in early stage businesses founded by U.S.- based women and minorities. The fund seeks to create impact by giving minorities and women ownership.
- MaC Venture Capital – Invests in global tech companies that create in-demand products, while also benefiting from shifts in cultural trends and behaviors. The seed fund is the result of a merger between the California-based Cross Culture Ventures and M Ventures. Marlon Nichols and Adrian Fenty are the fund’s managing partners with 100 investments in their portfolio; MaC Venture Capital offers founders capital, advice and relationship building.
- Syncom Venture Partners – Consists of a diverse team who invests in growing profitable companies owned by minorities and women. The firm specializes in the ability to make a high racial and social impact using a proven investment strategy that produces high returns. The fund is run by President Edward Dugger III.
