Venture Captial
Our Venture Capital Fund helps high-growth startups led by underrepresented founders, unique entrepreneurs, and driven innovators get off the ground. We jump in early, offering not just funding, but also the know-how and connections that founders need to build their early product, land those first customers, and start generating revenue.
We don’t limit ourselves to a single industry. Instead, we back startups from various sectors, all united by a common goal: closing important gaps for underserved customers. Our aim is to be a catalyst for equity, making a difference in Kalamazoo, throughout Michigan, and across the country.
The talent and ideas of underrepresented founders have historically been overlooked by venture investors.
1%
Black founders received only 1% of U.S. venture capital investment in 2022, a slight decline from the 1.3% seen in 2021. [Pitchbook]
2.1%
In 2022, female-led startups received just 2.1% of venture capital funding in the U.S., a decrease from 2.4% in 2021. [Crunchbase]
0.5%
Only 0.5% of total venture capital funding in the U.S. went to startups with LGBTQ+ founders. [StartOut 2023]
Disabled founders are also overlooked to the point that data is not available on the percentage of venture funding that they receive.
However data shows that diverse teams outperform their competitors
35%
Diverse founding teams (in terms of gender, race, and ethnicity) perform better financially, with 35% higher returns on equity compared to homogenous teams. [McKinsey & Company report titled "Diversity Wins: How Inclusion Matters," published in 2020].
70%
Companies with diverse leadership are 70% more likely to capture new markets. [McKinsey]
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