ODD BIRD

Early-stage tech venture fund investing in immigrant founders building amazing scalable products.

We empower Black founders to build the impossible. Black founders are over mentored and under funded‍. ‍0.24% of VC funding received by Black entrepreneurs - 38 businesses in total, of those only one Black female founder raised Series A. A VC accessibility gap: 88% of Black founders in the UK self-fund at least part of their venture. ‍There’s always been entrepreneurialism in the Black community. Venture capital just hasn’t made its way to them yet. Our 5-year vision is backing 30 Black-led startups from the Black Seed programme by 2026 across the UK.‍ Our co-working space in Brixton is a space to connect Black founders. As a portfolio company you get access to our venture studio and resource hub.

We are a mission-driven investment vehicle created to close the wealth gap through investment in high-growth startups led by Black and Latino founders. We’re not just investors, we’re partners. We couple financial investment with a deep bench of in-house support to best position teams for success by exposing them to the diversity of thought, capabilities and expertise that drives innovation and tests the limits of what’s possible. $300k in pre-seed/seed investment support & services of Hearst and partners.

EXPERT DOJO IS THE MOST ACTIVE INTERNATIONAL EARLY-STAGE STARTUP ACCELERATOR IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. WE INVEST $100,000 IN EACH OF OUR STARTUPS AND HELP THEM GET TRACTION AND SCALE FASTER THAN THEY COULD EVER DO BY THEMSELVES. Since 2018, we have invested in over 220 startups to accelerate their growth. What makes us special is our focus on building visionary companies. We typically invest in pre-seed and seed stage startups that have a product, a go to market strategy and a potential for high growth. Most of our startups are minority and female founded technology companies. However, we remain industry agnostic and invest in founders from all over the world and from diverse backgrounds. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are important pillars of our community and we strive to improve in every aspect of our organization. Out of our 105 investments, 41% are into female founded/led companies. We rank higher in comparison to the top accelerators in the US, with an average of only 18.8% of their investments being into female founded/led startups.

Parallel18 is a program of the Puerto Rico Science, Technology, and Research Trust, a private non-profit organization created with the goal of maximizing Puerto Rico’s participation and creation of jobs in the global knowledge economy by promoting investment and financing of science and technology research development. The organization manages and hosts over a dozen initiatives that range from grants and technical support to meetups and educational resources for researchers, entrepreneurs, farmers, investors, and other groups. At parallel18, we are changing the narrative of Puerto Rico’s economy by promoting a diverse business community. We believe in creating opportunities for entrepreneurs of underrepresented groups in the innovation ecosystem and support their goals of building a high-impact business that can reach the world.

ID Ventures supports promising early-stage startups in Michigan with capital and expertise. We are a collaborative investor and provide inclusive access to our resources and network. In addition to capital, our team of experts works with ecosystem partners across our network in order to help our companies prepare for follow-on funding, scale their teams, and develop their boards and advisors. Additionally, our entrepreneurs are joining a family of early-stage companies in which to share, learn, and grow. We provide early-stage investment to promising Michigan-based, high-tech startups, as well as programs that strengthen the startup ecosystem. Since 2009, we have invested in over 200 companies with 14 exits, deployed more than $21 million through multiple funds, and leveraged over $1 billion in additional investment. CRITERIA FOR FUNDING We support companies with high-growth potential that are in the post-idea stage and seeking funding in the Pre-seed to Series A rounds. When considering investment opportunities, we look at a broad range of sectors and startups that meet the following criteria: Key founders and at least one full-time employee in Michigan Minimum Viable Product created Tech-enabled or high-tech component For-profit LLC, C Corp, or S Corp Identified scalable venture path Demonstrated progress against business model INCLUSIVITY MATTERS ID Ventures invests in minority and women led companies at 4x the national average because we see great opportunity in entrepreneurs from all backgrounds. By providing opportunities to underrepresented entrepreneurs, we can ensure representation, respect our state’s diversity, and create a start-up community unlike any other. WHAT TO EXPECT IN OUR FUNDING PROCESSINQUIRY: Fill out our online form to tell us a little about your startup and schedule an introductory phone call. INTERNAL REVIEW: Our team discusses the opportunity and assesses if appropriate to move forward. TEAM MEETING: If continuing the process, we’ll spend time getting to know your company and future plans through a series of virtual or in-person meetings to build a long-term relationship. DILIGENCE: Once both our teams are ready to proceed, we will ask for a set of company materials and references. APPROVAL: Company is reviewed with our investment committee for final approval. DOCUMENTATION: Investment documents are drafted, reviewed, and signed. FUNDING: Funds are disbursed per our agreement with ongoing reporting requirements. WELCOME TO THE FAMILY! Our team provides ongoing resources, support and networking opportunities for continued growth.