Project W’s Post

As part of our Transition to Community, we’re highlighting the incredibly resilient seed startup founders and their crucial role in transforming the tech landscape. These founders, embodying diversity and innovation, have been pivotal in shaping a more inclusive tech ecosystem through their groundbreaking ventures. GET Cities has been a cornerstone in promoting equity in tech, especially in Chicago, by driving change with a focus on gender. Our efforts, including deploying $3.2 million to support equity in tech, hosting over 200 events, and piloting 37 interventions, have significantly strengthened our ecosystem as a whole. The GET Seed founders, through their startups, have exemplified leadership and tenacity, creating pathways for underrepresented groups in tech and contributing to a more diverse industry. As we transition to our partner organizations, they will ensure that this momentum continues. World Business Chicago (WBC), dedicated to fostering inclusive economic growth and job creation, will take on the work of convening the Tech Equity Working Group and Tech Equity Network. They will also manage the scaling seed portfolios, including initiatives similar to Venture Fellows and Techrise + Velocity. We believe this transition model will inspire sustainable impact, foster resilience within communities, and encourage strong relationships to thrive. Let's celebrate the remarkable achievements of the seed founders within our community and look forward to the continued growth and inclusivity they inspire. #GETTransition

Couldn’t agree more. Female-founder gap in funding is not just a matter of gender, but of business potential. But I’d add the following layer: the burden of closing the gap shouldn’t be women’s responsibility solely. Yes, we need to increase the presence of women at the VC executive level taking decisions. And yes, women founders need to take on the leap more often. But this is an ecosystem’s responsibility - institutions, systems, and everyone in between.

In 2023 female entrepreneurs received an estimated only 1.8% of the US venture capital investment allocation. This abysmal statistic is dangerous for our society. At Ankh Impact Ventures we believe diversity drives innovation. We give significant attention to women-led or co-founded businesses. Through our investments, we aim to bridge the gender investment gap while capitalizing on the proven strengths of female co-founded or led businesses across various domains. AIV invests in diverse founders driving transformative companies that benefit profitability, people, and the planet. AIV back’s change makers, agents of change, and rising stars on a life mission to make the world a better place. An impact-driven venture capital investment platform with a gender and racial equity lens. AIV provides initial funding for the next frontier of international rising stars that are daring to reimagine how we learn, live, and consume. Take Global Action Now ! Empower Diverse Perspectives ! Leverage Science for Impact Dominic-Madori Davis Thank you for writing the article ! Stephanie Dorsey E²JDJ Barbara Iyayi Unicorn Growth Capital Onyinye Balogun, MD MS Mission-Driven Tech Nia Mosby @VICI THANK YOU for your leadership, sacrifices, very hard work, and endless commitment to make the world a better place. #femalefirst #womwnceos #generationequality #diversity #representation #womenleaders #womenintech #startup #femalefounders #impact #diversityandinclusion #diversitymatters #changethenarrative #changethefuture #fillthegap #betterperformance #diversitydrivesinnovation #diversitydrivessuccess #womenchangemakers #femalefounders #womeninvc #dei

New York City is at the forefront of supporting diverse climate tech founders by improving access to capital and networks. The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) is driving this initiative with its Founder Fellowship program, designed to eliminate barriers for underrepresented tech founders, including those in climate tech. Globally, climate tech startups raised $8.1 billion in Q1 2024, a 400% quarter-over-quarter increase, according to a recent article from TechCrunch. However, underrepresented founders still receive disproportionately low funding, with women founders receiving 2% of funding and Black and Latinx founders receiving only a total of 3% venture capital raised. NYCEDC’s Founder Fellowship is tackling this disparity by providing access to crucial resources, networks, and mentorship. Our client-partner, CREtech New York, recently launched the CREtech Climate Venture Coalition to accelerate investments into Built World climate tech startups globally. From seed to late stage, from hardware to software, in every category within the Built World, if you are a startup raising capital the CREtech Climate Venture Coalition makes it super easy and efficient to get your fundraising deck immediately in front of the leading climate tech-focused venture firms in the sector. By breaking down barriers and fostering inclusivity, NYC is paving the way for a more diverse and innovative climate tech sector! Check out this article from Trellis Group to learn more:  https://bit.ly/3Sgz8Nm #ClimateTech #Sustainability #DEI #VentureCapital

“Last year, Crunchbase found that Black founders in the U.S. raised 0.48% of all venture dollars allocated last year — that’s around $661 million out of $136 billion…In 2022, Black founders raised just 1% of all venture funding, which, believe it or not, was a dip from the 1.3% raised in the record-breaking year that was 2021. Black founders and women dominate the conversation when it comes to inequitable #funding, but in reality, other communities also face challenges when looking for investor #money. Latino founders also face difficulties raising #capital, with funding allocated to that group often as low as it is to the Black #community… Members of the LGBTQ community also face their own set of challenges when looking for investor capital. To help gather data, last year, Crunchbase announced it would officially start tracking the amount of #venturecapital dollars allocated to #LGBTQ+ #founders.” All excerpts and #data in the article below by Dominic-Madori Davis in TechCrunch. #InspiredByYou #transparency #investing #accountability #intersectionality #diversity #equity #inclusion #economy #assetmanagement #wealthmanagement #money #cultureofmoney

Picture this: You conceive an idea. You innovate and you build. It's a true labour of love. Then somebody comes along and tells you that your baby is ugly. As a deep tech venture builder, our critical role is to de-risk early-stage technologies. One way we do this is to find all the reasons a venture may not work, and then help find ways around them all. To do this well, the right balance has to be struck. On one hand, avoiding asking hard questions will result in a leaky strategy. On the other hand, blunt feedback will also prove ineffective. No one wants to answer questions when their haunches are up! De-risking with empathy allows us to validate assumptions, build a robust strategy, and strengthen relationships. And by successfully de-risking ventures, we help to lay the foundations for success. We don't call babies ugly. We just help make sure their nappies are fastened tight enough. What questions do you think every tech founder should be asking themselves? 🤔 #venturebuilder #earlystagetech #deeptech #derisking Cambridge Future Tech

🚀 **Day 11: "TechForGood" - Harnessing Technology for Positive Impact** On Day 11 of Spartan Tech's 100 Days, we shine a spotlight on "TechForGood," a movement dedicated to harnessing technology for positive social impact. Founded by visionary leaders Priya Sharma and Rahul Patel, TechForGood emerged from a shared belief in the potential of technology to address pressing social and environmental challenges. Recognizing the need for collaborative action to leverage technology for the greater good, Priya and Rahul set out to mobilize a community of changemakers. Their mission? To catalyze innovation, collaboration, and investment in tech-driven solutions that tackle issues such as poverty, inequality, climate change, and more. Through initiatives such as hackathons, accelerator programs, and impact investing, TechForGood empowers entrepreneurs, startups, and organizations to create scalable and sustainable solutions for a better world. Despite challenges such as resource constraints and systemic barriers, Priya and Rahul's dedication to their cause has driven TechForGood's impact. Today, the movement is mobilizing a global community of tech enthusiasts, changemakers, and philanthropists to drive positive change through technology. Join us in celebrating the visionary founders behind TechForGood and their commitment to harnessing technology for a brighter and more equitable future. 🌍💻 #SpartanTech100StartupStories #TechForGood #SocialImpactTech

Do you know what's caught the attention of venture capitalists worldwide lately?🤔 It's Calgary's tech sector. Investors are not just looking to throw money at it – they're keen on setting roots here, drawn in by the welcoming vibe of Calgary's tech community. This is what Crystal Phillips shared during her incredible speech at @Tech Thursday. As a venture capitalist herself at Thin Air Labs, she's all about helping early-stage startups in medtech go global. Moreover, as the founder and Vice Chair of Branch Out Neurological Foundation, Crystal has raised over $3 million to accelerate neurological research in universities across Canada. What stuck with me was Crystal’s emphasis on bringing three key players together – innovators from university labs, startup founders, and investors – to drive Calgary's tech ecosystem forward. 💡Now, let me share my Tech Thursday Insight 3: To make Brenda Beckedorf's vision for Society Five.0, Tate Hackert's thriving financial future for SMBs, and Crystal's medtech dreams a reality across Calgary, Edmonton, and beyond, they need... drum roll... … Inbound marketing delivered by content writers! By crafting effective marketing strategies, executing engaging social media campaigns, and producing diverse content such as blog articles, storytelling, emails, landing pages, sales proposals, whitepapers, videos, podcasts, and more — content writers have the power to facilitate open communication, collaboration, and cooperation among all stakeholders. In the next post, I will show you exactly how I'm going to contribute to Silicon Valley-like Calgary’s tech ecosystem journey from the content writer's perspective. #techthursday #yyctech #yycbusiness #inboundmarketing #writewhatmatters

Tapping into the potential of emerging markets is crucial for global progress, yet less than 10% of venture capital supports them. On Friday 15 March at SXSW Austin, we’ll take a deep dive on how: 🔵 UNICEF challenges current models of tech development, equity and power distribution   🔵 and leverages digital solutions for every child. Here’s a teaser - at UNICEF, we: 🔵 Support tech entrepreneurs from developing and emerging markets through its Venture Fund.   🔵 Invest in open-source technologies that benefit children worldwide, and discover and develop Digital Public Goods.   🔵 Have expertise in AI, drones, data science and XR for social impact.  🔵 Accept and disburse cryptocurrencies for impactful investments in transformative solutions for children through our CryptoFund.   🔵 Work hard to make a dent towards more equity in global power and capital flows.    But we can't do it alone. That's why we're on the lookout for partners who share our passion and vision to co-create, iterate and scale innovative approaches. Expect to hear more from us SXSW. If you're there, find out more at our panel discussions:    📢 The Great Dislocation: Global Crises vs Tech Capital Flows:  https://uni.cf/3VigNl9 feat. Antonella Perrone, Kavindya Thennakoon, Christina Last, and Chris Szymczak. 📢 How UNICEF Is Challenging The UN to Drive a Tech Equitable Future: https://uni.cf/4a8xYtB feat. Tanya Accone, Júlia Leite, Ricardo Andres Pineda Guzman, and Danielle E. Simmons

Exploring the adversities faced by minority founders in tech, this post delves into how the anti-'woke' sentiment is limiting diversity and funding opportunities. #DiversityInTech #VentureCapital @OneTechLDN @InfiniumVS