BVI Cohort 7 Updates ✨

On day 2 (last week), we were blessed with a fireside chat between Qiana Patterson and Stacy Brown-Philpot, who shared her journey from leading a major tech company to finding her own venture capital firm. The conversation? Priceless.

Want to stay up-to-date on the latest BLCK VC news and announcements? Subscribe to our newsletter. → blckvc.org/newsletter

Say hello to our 7th Black Venture Institute Cohort 👏🏾

BVI provides access, insight, and community for Black operators and executives looking to become angel, scout, and venture investors.

Drop our participants some well wishes and notes of encouragement!

SF 🤩 Join us for an interactive knowledge share session with the NEA team to learn the ins and outs of a successful Series A fundraising round.

Reserve your spot! → lu.ma/seriesa

The a16z NY Tech Week Calendar is now live — and so is the return of my tech week brunch!

AWSM SCTY Founders & Funders Brunch w/ BLCK VC & SomosVC 🫐🧇🍓🍳🥓
Thurs, June 6th
12pm–4pm
SoHo

ғʀɪᴛᴢɪsᴍ 🇭🇹🇬🇾 BLCK VC SomosVC (fka LatinxVC) a16z
🥞 Register to attend below ↓

lu.ma/px0dlydv

Earlier this month, we sat down with Ryan Taylor, an investor at Azolla Ventures and a co-lead of the BLCK VC Boston chapter.

His unconventional intro to VC is an inspiring one. ✨ Read the story in full on our Medium blog. → blck-vc.medium.com/community-spot….

An overview of our highly esteemed, one-of-a-kind Black Venture Institute 😏

'We can transcend the script...and pave the way for the future that we design. We just need to tap that power, that conviction, that determination within us. The good news is, we follow people that look like us if the story is told the right way.' - Robert F. Smith

When women, in particular, join boards, the benefits are endless. Here are four key takeaways from our OnBoard film screening event.

Food & drinks ✅
Great conversation ✅
Opportunity to support inclusive growth of the Silicon Valley innovation economy ✅

SF, this event has everything you need—and then some! See you there?

lu.ma/communityHH

If you are organized, a team player, and passionate about supporting Black professionals in the venture capital industry - we want you on our team. ✨

Apply today to help us build our education programs and mentor network → recruitcrm.io/apply/17104497…

There are some amazing women in the BLCK VC community. 💜 Here are 10 you should - without a doubt - know about: blck-vc.medium.com/trailblazing-w…

Still thinking about the gems dropped at our BHM event in Toronto, so we figured we'd share them with the world. Here are some reminders to take with you this week. ✨

If you don't know Patricia Roberts's name, you should look her up. (Or see OnBoard, the film)

Last week, BLCK VC SF hosted a screening of this inspiring documentary, which highlights the evolution of board diversity—Patricia was a trailblazer in the 1970s. 🎥

Last month, we sat down with Frederik Groce, BLCK VC Co-Founder/Board Co-Chair and Deal Lead at Wellington Access Ventures, to chat about his journey to venture, thoughts on closing the gap, and vision for his fund's future.

Read the interview in full → blck-vc.medium.com/community-spot…

💭 QTNA.

Black investors make up less than __% of the venture capital industry.

Brb...channeling the roaring 20s ✨

Last week's gala, in partnership with EVCA, was such a beautiful opportunity to celebrate the venture ecosystem in Boston.

Thank you to our sponsors and all the vendors who made this come to life.

Our 7th Breaking into Venture (BiV) cohort is underway, and they're killing it! 👏🏾 For those unfamiliar with this staple program, here's a brief overview:

This article got us thinking. 🤔 AI seems to be the talk of the town, but it also is a means to encourage more inclusive investment portfolios.

How can VCs break traditional funding patterns to ensure underrepresented founders reap the benefits of AI?

fortune.com/2024/03/12/sma…

This International Women’s Day, we want to #InspireInclusion by shining a light on the gender disparities that exist within the venture capital industry.

Here are some insights from our 2023 State of Black Venture Report: