The Investment & Inclusion Series

This series - made in collaboration with the VC Inclusion Lab of Brown University - explores effective approaches and practices in DEI, Investment and the Future of Fundraising.

These open & ‘imperfect’ conversations are calling in all investors, entrepreneurs and community builders who - like us - want to educate themselves and create actionable change towards a more diverse and equitable startup ecosystem. We hope you join us.

What These Conversations Are About

Anchored in data, these conversations are focused on actionable ways investors, founders and ecosystem organizations can change the current structure for funding which benefits a selective few. We’ll look at and debunk perceived ‘pipeline problems’ and talk to groups redefining access for New Majority & Female founders. We’ll be joined by groups creating programs for BIPOC & women to become decision makers in Investment & VC, Investors focused on New Majority & Female founders, and we’ll explore ways white investors can achieve diverse portfolios. Through it all we’ll get a deeper understanding of the issues of bias, power imbalance and more in the fundraising process, including in Pitching, Networking and Markets.

Defining The Term 'New Majority'

NOTE: #NewMajority is the term we will be using going forward to rewire the negative connotations of using ‘under’ when using words like minority, underrepresented or undervalued. With minority-majority population shifts and as more people of color, women, immigrants, LGBTQ, veterans, disabled & neuro-diverse founders create businesses at a high rate our use of language is important in reflecting population shifts. We thank and credit the work of Melissa Bradley at 1863 Ventures for this term.

Speakers Include:

Banu Ozkazanc-Pan

Director of Venture Capital Inclusion Lab; Prof at Brown University.

Senofer Mendoza

Founder, General Partner Mendoza Ventures

Kamal Hassan

Founding Partner, Loyal VC

Yasmin Cruz Ferrine

General Partner at Visible Hands VC

Shila Nieves Burney

General Partner at Zane Venture Fund

Lisa Frusztajer

Investor Portfolia, Investor In Residence at TCN

Allison Byers

Founder & CEO, Scroobious

Eli Velazquez

ACA Board Member & Co-Founder at Investors Of Color Network

Samer Yousif

Chief Of Staff at BLCK VC

Courtney Scrubbs

Founder, The DAWA Investment Network

Marie Meslin

Executive Director at TCN & Creator of the Fellowship For Female Founders

Vonetta Young

Advisor, Investment Readiness + Fund Formation at VY Advisors & Board Member 1863 Ventures

Malia Lazu

Founder, The Urban Labs & Lecturer at MIT

Upcoming Conversation: From Data To Action

During the Investment & Inclusion series we’ve often focused on points of action. Data alone doesn’t move the individual or the collective so how can we help ourselves and others move from WELL MEANING to WELL DOING (to WELL FUNDING!). What DOES it take to move the collective and the individual to action. We’ll explore how ecosystem players, investors and founders can take many different actions to help move the needle on inequity in the startup and investment sector and how amplifying other’s work, collaborating and partnering will lead to more impact and help more New Majority voices be heard. With Banu Ozkazanc-Pan from the Venture Capital Inclusion Lab, Malia Lazu, MIT Lecturer and curator of the Inclusive Innovation Economy Series & Founder of the The Urban Labs. Moderated by Marie Meslin, ED of The Capital Network.

Time: THUR, February 25th, 2-3:30PM

Online via Zoom

REGISTER HERE

WANT TO SUPPORT THIS INITIATIVE? WE’RE LOOKING FOR FUNDING TO CONTINUE THIS SERIES THROUGHOUT 2021.

CONTACT [email protected] FOR A CHAT!

Previous Conversations

Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Gathers experts and white investors who have built a truly diverse portfolio to explore concrete ways for all investors to diversify funding opportunities. We’ll look at Investment data and trends, and we’ll explore common biases and ways to expand deal sourcing, network and move beyond pattern matching to increase investor returns and diversify portfolios. We’ll also look at what happens post investment on ways of giving equitable access to key networks and mentorship. Speakers: Banu Pan from the VC Inclusion Lab, Lisa Frusztajer from Portfolia, Senofer Mendoza from Mendoza Ventures & Kamal Hassan from Loyal VC. Hosted by Marie Meslin, ED at The Capital Network.

TAKE ACTION
Want to take action based on this discussion?
Here are 6 things investors can do TODAY to help diversify capital.

Chapter 2

Chapter 2: We have convened groups who are building pipelines, or redefining access for New Majority founders in various ways. From platforms, to programs and partnerships these groups offer concrete resources for funding and supporting more undervalued founders. Speakers: Banu Pan from the VC Inclusion Lab, Shila Nieves-Burney of Zane VC, Allison Byers of Scroobious, Yasmin Cruz of Visible Hands VC and Marie Meslin of The Capital Network’s Fellowship For Female Founders.

Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Increasing funding for New Majority founders also means increasing the number of BIPOC making investment decisions at VC firms, and increasing their access to making angel investments. We’ll be talking to new funds by and for new majority groups and to organizations training the next generation of investors of color. We’ll explore policy changes and initiatives that are being undertaken to grow this group into decision makers - not just associates - and actions that can be taken by ecosystem players to support these initiatives. With Samer Yousif from BLCK VC , Eli Velasquez from the ACA & The Investors Of Color Network , Vonetta Young of VY Associates & 1863 Ventures and Courtney Scrubbs, Founder of the DAWA Investment Network. Moderated by Banu Ozkazanc-Pan from the Venture Capital Inclusion Lab. Hosted by Marie Meslin, ED of The Capital Network.