Coverage from VCWIRE TECH, published 2024-10-08.
Industry newsletter VCWire reported that Kalamazoo Forward Ventures, a venture capital firm based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, had launched with a $50 million investment fund. The brief described the firm as Black-owned and said it would back Michigan startups, new projects and founders who have been excluded from traditional capital networks, pairing capital with expertise and other resources founders need to grow. Beyond early-stage venture investments in high-growth startups, VCWire said the firm also provides funding for real estate development and supplies capital and connections to local main street businesses.
Citing the firm’s website, the item listed four members of the team: Dwayne Powell Jr. as managing partner of Main Street Capital, Von H. Washington Jr. as general partner, and Eric L. Wimbley and Daniel S. Jefferies as managing partners for venture capital. The report carried no dollar breakdown by strategy, no named portfolio companies and no comment from the partners.
