Pledge Ventures

Fifth Star Funds is a venture philanthropy fund seeking to address the funding epidemic in America where only 1% of venture capital is awarded to Black founders. We accomplish this by investing in Black tech founders in Chicago at the early stage “Friends & Family” round. We believe the funding gap at this stage is the most critical to address, as centuries of inequity have prevented these potential entrepreneurs from having the initial capital to start their businesses. Any individual, corporation, or foundation can contribute to the fund as a tax-deductible donation, and 100% of all returns from successful investments are reinvested into the fund to support future generations of underrepresented founders. We are partnered with leaders in the industry such as 1871, Winston & Strawn, Tides.org, and many more. The Chicago flag features four stars that represent pivotal events in our city’s history; we contend that the Fifth Star belongs to underrepresented founders and the extraordinary impact they will have on our city’s future.

Our mission is to empower entrepreneurs to do immense good. We approach this mission with a deep understanding of the sector – Founders Pledge was built for and by entrepreneurs, and launched out of Founders Forum, Europe's foremost network of digital and technology entrepreneurs. Our board members, advisors, sponsors and funders include some of the most influential voices in the tech sector and social sector.

Gazelle Capital launches, advises, and invests in small businesses. Our focus is being a growth catalyst in financial and operational aspects of the business. We support owners throughout the build, grow, scale, and exit processes. Our clients are typically founders and executives of small businesses who are seeking expert advice on fundraising, capital planning, shareholder value enhancement, and exit planning. We make numerous small investments in early-stage companies, rather than a few large investments in later-stage companies. Then we roll up our sleeves to help those companies hit their growth potential. Investing early proves us with an equity stake that mitigates some of the risks involved with investing at this stage. We seek to generate a large enough individual return for the Fund to balance the portfolio’s anticipated losses. We aim to provide our investors with the national average rate of return. 1% for the Community We’re a mission-driven company with a strong belief in not doing it alone. That’s why we donate 1% of our overall revenue to causes that make a healthier, smarter, or cleaner future for our communities. Our Vision Communities strengthened by the thriving companies that grow there. Our Mission We make other company visions a reality. That’s how we see ourselves creating communities anyone can thrive in. What Is a Gazelle Company? “According to the original technical definition, a gazelle company is a high-growth company that has been increasing its revenues by at least 20% annually for four years or more, starting from a revenue base of at least $100,000“ Community Engagement We tend to invest in the communities we live in - or have lived in previously. So it’s important to us to engage there in other ways as well. We help build networks and take part in community-building activities to give back to the places we’ve loved. Philanthropic Efforts 1% of our overall revenue is donated to causes we believe in. We’ve supported Starting Right Now and Skull Games.

We are a sector agnostic early-stage investor that wants to partner with founders from the very beginning of their journey and support them throughout their growth. Our team has global experience in building and scaling companies both as founders and in various CxO roles. We invest in ambitious and determined teams that can one day become industry leaders.

Visible Hands is a venture capital firm on a mission to highlight and invest in the limitless potential of overlooked founders. We envision a world where talent and execution - not race or gender - are the key predictors for success. Our Manifesto Our world is changing. Our communities are changing - they are becoming stronger and more vibrant in their diversity, and face fresh possibilities and challenges as a new generation looks increasingly different from the last. We believe that as new opportunities arise, anyone should have the chance to seize them. The best solutions come from those closest to the problem - as our problems evolve, so should the problem-solvers. We believe that investing in women, people of color, and other underrepresented groups is key to creating a more prosperous and equitable future for everyone. We celebrate the bold, the curious, and the irrational. We applaud those with big dreams, and who choose the harder, riskier path in relentless pursuit of pushing forward what is possible. We also acknowledge that being a risk-taker often comes from a position of privilege - opportunity and wealth gaps persist along racial and gender lines, and access to financial and social capital too often determines which ideas are nurtured to grow. We believe that we must first acknowledge that the playing field was built to be unequal in order to change it. We know that we must change it. High-growth entrepreneurship should not be reserved for the privileged few. We need to shine a light inwards on our collective blindspots, and cast out a wider and more inclusive net to find and support existing talent. Instead of relying on unseen market forces, we’re taking matters into our own hands. No one should have to look a certain way to be deemed deserving; great entrepreneurs are all around us but we must choose to see them. By sharing our privileges with those not born into it and manufacturing fairness where it doesn’t yet exist, we can fundamentally change access to wealth and opportunity in this generation. This is our open call for anyone who feels stuck on the outside looking in: We see you. We value you. We need you. Your perspective is unique, your lived experience is invaluable, and your potential is limitless. Never doubt that your voice matters and that you deserve to be heard, even if it can feel like it doesn’t. We believe that good ideas, regardless of who or where they come from, should rise to the top, and we will fight alongside you to get them there.

We are a founders’ led sector agnostic technology focused micro-VC fund investing in seed and pre-seed stage companies with emphasis on green signals indicating high quality teams. Who are we? At Warmup Ventures, we've walked the path of entrepreneurship, scaling businesses, raising capital, and fostering strong core teams and culture. With our entrepreneurial DNA and unwavering energy, we bring more than just capital to the table. Our collective experience in angel investing has allowed us to witness the transformative power of early-stage support. From intro to the next round of investors to connections with CEOs of large tech companies/startups for business synergies, from planning your GTM to making a key tech hire, we offer the ammunition founders are seeking to propel their startups to new heights. What sets us apart is our network of Limited Partners (LPs), comprising successful startup founders, investment professionals, senior business and product leaders, and successful business leaders. Our LPs understand the challenges and opportunities that founders face, as they have built and grown their own businesses. This unique composition creates a powerful ecosystem where angel(truly) capital meets firsthand entrepreneurial knowledge. Size: Co-investment Cheques of up to $750K Stage: Seed and Pre-Seed. Preferably the first investment after founders Sector: Sector agnostic technology focused