VCFamilia

We believe Latinx founders bring remarkable ingenuity, incredible determination, and rich life experiences to their startup companies - yet they receive a tiny fraction of the funding and opportunities available to other groups. Inicio Ventures was formed to help close that gap by ensuring that Latinx founders can build equity and wealth in the startup economy. To complement our investment work, we build and manage Latinx startup ecosystem programs, including our pitch competition series focused on growing the talent pipeline, a Venture Fellows program for grad students interested in being the next generation of Latinx investors and an industry convening and collaboration that creates opportunities for Latinx leaders and their organizations to work together.

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.

Our work directs how capital is formed and distributed to expand opportunities for Black and historically excluded communities. We actively reimagine the innovation economy by developing the next generation of venture capital leaders in communities where entrepreneurs face barriers to accessing capital. Our vision is to build a global innovation economy where Black and historically excluded innovators can boldly create, fail, invest, and thrive. Our origins are rooted in the legacy of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), which forged opportunities for Black Americans in a time when our country would not. We are anchored in this intention, and similar to HBCUs, we purposefully extend our support to all overlooked communities, including but not limited to Indigenous, Latinx, LGBTQ+, and undocumented immigrants. We know that innovation lives within us–and has been untapped, underinvested, and ignored for far too long.

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.

Flávia and Érica met in 2021, during an online meeting for angel investors. The two soon discovered that they had many affinities and also a common discomfort: the lack of representation and diversity in the world of angel investing. The environments of both startups and investors were dominated by white men. One cause could be because only 13% of angel investors were women according to data from the Brazilian angel survey. And with this realization came the idea: “Why don't we create an angel investment group just for women?” This is how Sororitê was born. At first, they created a group on WhatsApp and promoted virtual meetings with other investors. The group grew quickly, organically. One participant went, liked it and invited another. It went from virtual to real and today Sororitê has a physical headquarter in São Paulo, has a team of supporters, holds face-to-face meetings, monthly talks and events for networking and knowledge exchange. It is a safe space of empathy and acceptance. It has become a very powerful network with more than 100 angel investors and hundreds of startups, founded by women, evaluated. Jaana joined Flávia and Erica, in 2022. They are founding partners of the largest investors community in Latin America whose main objective is to fight gender disparities in their environment.

New York Ventures supports high-growth companies and their partners to use technology to solve important challenges in areas of strategic interest and importance. We actively look to provide greater access to venture capital for regions, industries and individuals, including women and minority entrepreneurs and fund managers. Our goal is to build a robust startup ecosystem across New York State, leveraging public and private sector assets. New York Ventures is actively deploying over $300 million of capital through equity programs for both direct and indirect investment. In 2022, New York was awarded funds via the U.S. Department of Treasury State Small Business Credit Initiative, which helps us to support our several programs. Venture Capital Program Funds Pre-seed and Seed Matching Fund: $30 million fund for investing in venture backable start-ups at the early stages of their development NYS Innovation Venture Capital Fund: $135+ million fund for investing in venture-backable startups from Seed through Series B Emerging and Regional Partner Fund: $102 million fund for investing in diverse and emerging venture fund managers or managers who invest in undercapitalized regions in NYS Community and Regional Partner Fund: $52 million fund for investing in venture fund managers who operate or partner with mentor-based programs like accelerators Impact NY Ventures programs and companies create impact in numerous ways, but we are proud of the range and diversity of companies and managers that all our programs have supported since 2011. 224 companies: More than 55% located outside of New York City $135M+ invested by NYS, matched by $900M+ from the private sector 43.3% portfolio companies started and/or led by women or minorities Team The New York Ventures team has extensive experience as investors and entrepreneurs, with offices in New York City, the Southern Tier, Western NY and the Capital Region. In addition, we regularly collaborate with our partners within the Small Business and Technology Development Division who help entrepreneurs at all stages of growth and development. Jennifer Tegan - Managing Director Silvia Garcia Codony - Assistant Vice President Karan Mehta - Senior Director Ryoko Nozawa - Senior Director Josh Nelson - Director Zack Pecenak - Director Audrey Chisholm - Assistant Director Elaine Chen - Operations Associate Thomas Halpin - Project Associate