RAMPART VC

BLCK VC is transforming the venture capital industry to mirror the diverse demographics of the U.S. Venture Capital is a crucial component of achieving economic equality; it is a vehicle to build wealth, develop future leaders, and strengthen communities. BLCK VC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that equips Black investors with the access, education, and community they need to accelerate their careers in venture capital. We do not accept the status quo; we are driving the industry forward by pushing venture capital firms to become more inclusive in their hiring, deal flow, and portfolios. Venture firms in the United States invest over $130 billion annually, however, Black investors have systematically been excluded from mobilizing this capital. Today, only 3% of venture capital investors are Black; additionally, only 2% of partners–individuals that make investment decisions–at venture firms are Black. Over the past few years, there has been slow and sporadic progress within venture capital to become more inclusive. BLCK VC aims to transform venture capital into an inclusive engine for change and generational wealth creation by shifting the demographics of the venture industry to mirror the diversity of this nation. In the short term, we strive to double the percentage of Black investors and Black partners in venture capital to 6% and 4%, respectively, by 2024.

We propel early-stage fintech startups in the UK and EU. Our comprehensive view of the fintech landscape has seen us back ambitious entrepreneurs solving global problems in financial services, and the connected sectors influencing the future of financial services for companies, societies and everyday people. Our approachA carefully curated team: Our team is tightknit, fast moving and vigilant for every chance to add value. Building trust from day one: We aren't just sporadic board attendees; we live and breathe the ambitions of our founders. Sector specialists: We leverage our sector-focussed networks and resources to create maximum impact as quickly as possible. Committed to the journey: We continue to support our companies through multiple rounds of further funding, injecting tangible value adds at every step. Is Outward the right partner for you? Our sweet spot is companies: raising £1-6m based in the UK or EU with global ambitions showing clear evidence of traction with a mission driven team FAQsIn terms of revenue milestones and other KPIs, at what stage does Outward invest? We do not have rigid must-haves on revenue and business traction. As no two businesses are the same, we look at multiple and diverse data points to build conviction on the need for a product or service to exist. You may have a small number of customers yet you have amassed engagement data indicating product/market fit. You may have minimal revenue yet your launch customer(s) are influential and evangelical about your product. How much does Outward typically invest in the first investment round? Our initial entry investment is £750k to £1.5m in funding rounds of £1m to £10m. We reserve the majority of our funds to make follow-on investments in our portfolio companies. Does Outward take a lead investor role? As decisive, first-mover investors, we are experienced at performing a lead investor role in coordinating other investors in the funding round. That said, our approach is always collaborative and our priority is to ensure the best outcome for the investee with minimal fuss. As such, we are equally happy to co-lead or follow terms set by a lead investor depending on the round composition. What does the typical investment process look like? We are a small and nimble team, and as such, we try to keep our investment process as streamlined as possible. Initial conversations with founders will be focused on building conviction on these five questions which may take place over 1-3 calls: 1) Why will this team succeed? 2) Why is this market attractive? 3) Why does this product need to exist? 4) Why could this company become a category leader? 5) Why does Outward VC need to invest? Once the investment team is confident, we invite founders to a meeting with all seven team members. Following this, we will debate internally and come to a decision on whether or not to invest. Who are Outward’s Limited Partners? The fund’s cornerstone Limited Partners are two international financial institutions – Investec Bank and NIBC (Blackstone Group). In addition, our Limited Partners comprise a range of institutions, family offices and private investors, many of whom have extensive global networks in financial services. How do you help and support founders post-investment? Post-investment, our mission is to provide tailored support to our portfolio companies. This includes new hires, commercial partnerships, board construction, positioning for the next funding round, and marketing support. To ensure we understand the needs of the business, a Board Observer right is a part of our investment terms. Before choosing us as an investor partner in your business, we ask that you speak with the founders in our portfolio to understand Outward’s pragmatic and high-impact approach to adding value post-investment. What is Outward’s definition of fintech or ‘connected fintech’? A quick review of Outward’s existing portfolio should give a flavour of our broad definition of fintech. Our mission is to empower start-ups seeking to be the most important fintech companies in the world. We cover the full range of financial services from banking to capital markets to asset management to insurance, and our portfolio is equally weighted across B2B and B2C. In addition, we also actively seek out adjacent and connected sectors that we believe will have a key role shaping the future of financial services.

We democratize startup investments. By enabling everyone to participate in big change, even with small amounts. For us, that means making it easy to invest in new, exciting and ethical companies, so that together we can support the companies that are building a better future for all of us. Our motivation We founded capacura to invest in impact start-ups in the fields of education, health and the environment. Together with our investors, we take responsibility to actively stand up for a better future for each and every one of us. In our vision to create the best investment in the world, we combine both the pursuit of economic success through high-yield investments and the drive to create a better tomorrow for all of us. Convinced that we should decide for ourselves which companies shape our future, we have developed an innovative business model that allows anyone to invest in impact start-ups for as little as €1,000. Ina and Dr. Ingo Dahm For Ina and Ingo, the desire for good access to healthcare and education for all, a clean environment and social fairness run like red threads through their lives. While Ina earned her first professional spurs in the social sector and worked meaningfully in child and adolescent psychiatry, street work, residential care and youth protection centers, Ingo researched and completed his doctorate in the field of machine learning and artificial intelligence. He worked intensively with students and start-ups, worked as a manager for Microsoft and Deutsche Telekom AG, became Professor of Technology and Innovation Management and was elected Rector of what is now Germany's largest university. Together, Ina & Ingo carried out consulting projects and were mandated by large German companies, medium-sized companies and start-ups in the areas of coaching, supervision, digitization, innovation and turn-around management. While Ina is particularly popular with young female entrepreneurs as a business coach, Ingo has extensive experience as an advisory board member at renowned universities and international companies as well as entrepreneurial experience from his own start-up projects. Both are convinced that impact startup investments are a perfect bridge between the world of high-yield risk investments and the cosmos of sustainability through donations and foundations.

We help you go from zero to MVP, launch to users, and earn your first conviction win. Our Vision We don’t connect money to ideas. We connect wisdom to energy - and when that fits, the money takes care of itself. We Invest at Day Zero: Stage Zero VC invests when it’s just you, a bold idea, and a dream worth chasing. We help you shape that into an MVP, get it in front of users, and build your early traction. No noise. Just execution. We Don't Fund Passengers: We don’t do ego, pitch theatre, or over-polished decks. We back gritty builders solving real problems. Our capital comes with hard questions, honest feedback, and weekly hands-on support. That’s the deal. We Fix What’s Broken: Most early-stage support in Australia is too slow, too vague, or too late. We show up when you’re still in the garage and help you ship, test, and iterate until you get your first users - and your first win. We Shape Founders: You don’t pitch us a fairytale - you bring us your willingness to build something meaningful. If you accept our challenge, we’ll help you turn zero into win. But only if you commit. Ideas vs Execution Ideas float in the air - anyone can grab one. What’s scarce is conviction and the grit to turn that idea into something users love. Ideas Are Everywhere: We don’t buy the myth of idea scarcity. If you need us to sign an NDA to hear yours, you’re probably not ready for the real work yet. 1% Inspiration, 99% Perspiration: What matters is the 99 %: shipping, iterating, listening to users, and sweating the details. That’s where we lean in with you. Total Transparency: Come prepared to share the whole playbook - why it’s different, how it wins, and where it’s weak. If you can withstand candid critique, that’s a green flag for us. Still guarding a “million-dollar idea”? Prove it in the market, then let’s talk. If you’re ready to build in the open and out-execute everyone else, we’re all ears. Who We Invest In We back founders who start with themselves: build one small product, ship it, prove value, then grow. Big slogans can wait - evidence comes first. Humble Builders: First-time or early founders willing to learn, take feedback, and change their own habits before trying to change the world. Proof-First Teams: You focus on a narrow problem, launch quickly, and collect real usage or revenue - no vanity metrics, no pitch-deck theatre. Iterative Minds: You value tight feedback loops, pivot fast, and treat advice as fuel, not friction. Ambition tempered by evidence. Still chasing moon-shots without proof? Build, ship, learn - then come back. We’ll be here. How We Advise Capital is a commodity. Conviction & sweat matter. Product & GTM Sprints: Weekly deep-dives with our operating partners to sharpen roadmap and storytelling. Founder Mental Model: Tactical coaching on founder-market fit, team culture, and early hiring. Fundraising Prep: Warm intros, deck refinement, and mock pitches to accelerate Seed & beyond. Operator Network: Instant access to domain experts and the Stage Zero guild of portfolio founders. Our Process We always start with advice. Capital follows only when the partnership works. Advisory First: We join your advisory board (or stay independent) to understand the team, tech, and trajectory - long before we talk term sheets. Build the Relationship: Weekly sessions, brutal honesty, clear KPIs. We give advice and watch how quickly it turns into action. Earn the Cheque: If the guidance helps and you execute relentlessly, we invest. No follow-through? No funding. Simple. Join the Collective Stage Zero isn’t just founders and capital - it’s a guild of experienced operators who still love the game but don’t want to start from scratch. Seasoned Operators: Finance pros, BD closers, growth hackers, engineers, legal minds - if you have battle scars and insights, founders need you. Mission-Driven Mentorship: Share your playbooks, join advisory boards, or roll up your sleeves on specific sprints. Zero politics - just impact. Capital Happens Naturally: When advice clicks and the venture takes shape, money follows effortlessly. Great teams + great mentors = easy yes for investors.

VC Lab is the venture capital accelerator guided by the Mensarius Oath. The program was launched in Q1 of 2020 to change the face of venture capital and help humanity finance solutions to our most pressing problems. VC Lab has grown globally to provide advisory services, formation assistance, back office support and a technology platform to run venture capital firms.

Building the leading European organisation, which unifies students from diverse backgrounds by a core passion: Venture Capital. Empowering ambitious students across Europe from various academic backgrounds and offer them the unique chance to live their passion for VC.