Venture capital is an exciting field that combines innovation and investment, offering endless opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors passionate about funding the future. However, becoming a venture capitalist can be complicated to navigate, especially for those from underrepresented backgrounds. As the CEO and founder of HBCUvc, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing Black representation in venture capital, I have seen firsthand the barriers that prevent many aspiring individuals from breaking into the industry.

Despite these challenges, I believe there is a clear path to venture capital that begins with working at a startup. This route offers a unique perspective on entrepreneurship and the chance to build invaluable relationships. While venture capital is often viewed as an exclusive realm with limited positions available, working at a startup provides a wealth of opportunities to gain operational experience, develop key skills, and network with future founders and investors.

Startups are hotbeds of innovation and collaboration, offering an excellent breeding ground for aspiring entrepreneurs. By working at a startup, individuals gain a firsthand understanding of the challenges and triumphs founders face in their journey. This experience equips aspiring venture capitalists with a unique perspective, enabling them to evaluate potential investments more effectively and support portfolio companies. Additionally, specific skills such as financial modeling, market analysis, and strategic planning are highly valued in venture capital and can be developed at a startup.

Moreover, startups offer a more accessible entry point for early career professionals than the competitive venture capital industry. With diverse roles across various industries and verticals, startups provide an excellent opportunity to gain relevant experience and build a network of trusted contacts.

In conclusion, aspiring investors seeking to break into the venture capital industry should consider working at a startup as a reasonable stepping stone. The operational experience, valuable skills, and trusted relationships (strong emphasis on trusted relationships) gained from working at a startup can position individuals for a successful career in venture capital.

*Please note that while the ideas and insights presented in this article are my own, both ChatGPT and Grammarly Generative AI assisted in refining the language, structure, and quality of the content.

Startup Secrets: Your Roadmap to a Career in Venture Capital was originally published in HBCUvc on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

There has been a relatively slight uptick in new Black venture fund managers. Of these emerging fund managers, anecdotally, a more significant percentage of them have a stated focus on investing solely in Black or people of color entrepreneurs. Given the current funding landscape, where a dismal amount of venture capital goes to Black entrepreneurs, increasing access to funding should be celebrated and encouraged. I personally love seeing Black entrepreneurs receive funding and will do a double applaud (salute and backflip) when I see a Black investor at the helm of the decision. And at the same time, I genuinely question if my work of advocating for more Black investors to invest in Black people is a genuine interest or an unreluctant necessity for a mission-driven Black woman who sees/understands how systematic racism impacts Black people’s access to capital, entrepreneurship, and other opportunities to generate wealth within Black communities.

Last year, I read Caste: The Origins of our Discontents, written by Isabel Wilkerson. A friend recommended the book before the release of the movie Origin, which is based on the book mentioned above. Due to my experience working in racial equity, the context of the book was familiar. Still, I was interested in the new language, lingo, and definitions presented by the author used to describe race relations in the United States. The book describes race relations in the United States as a caste system, similar to India and other places. In Wilkerson’s description, White people in the United States rule as the dominant or ruling caste, while Black people are the lowest members of the caste system. Other races are described as being in between.

My biggest takeaway from the book was a chapter detailing how caste systems often dictate available career paths. The book gives an example of when Black people were permitted secondary education opportunities in the United States, often the highest professional career paths were to become teachers, lawyers, or doctors for other Black people. The chapter prompted reflections on its relevance for venture capital and its current racial demographics.

At HBCUvc, we increase the number of Black investors working in venture capital. One of the reasons we advocate for Black investors is to increase investments in Black entrepreneurs. According to a recent Techcrunch article, investments in Black entrepreneurs have decreased for the third consecutive year. In 2023, only 0.48% of venture capital dollars went to Black entrepreneurs. In April 2023, NVCA’s Human Capital report, which monitors venture capital demographics, showed that the number of Black investment professionals was increasing. Black representation in investment partners rose to 4% from 3% in 2018 and 2020. However, what hasn’t been measured is the number of new Black general partners (GPs) or fund managers who have created new funds that solely focus on investing in Black or People of Color entrepreneurs.

Based on my anecdotal experience, a higher than usual percentage of Black GPs have funds dedicated to investing in Black or People of Color entrepreneurs. This includes funds created after the 2020 George Floyd murder when corporations and foundations allocated temporary funding to support new GPs who committed to supporting Black entrepreneurs. A common complaint I hear from Black GPs who don’t explicitly focus on Black entrepreneurs is that there is an assumption from funders that all Black GPs categorically are impact investors or an assumption that Black GPs can only invest in Black entrepreneurs. Conversely, I know many Black GPs who are intrinsically motivated to invest solely in Black entrepreneurs as part of their personal mission.

Drawing parallels to Wilkerson’s insights on caste systems’ impact on available career paths, I wonder whether the inclination towards investing in Black entrepreneurs among Black GPs is a genuine choice or the manifestation of a caste system within venture capital. Ultimately, the response to the question mentioned earlier isn’t binary. It’s a multifaceted inquiry that demands introspection and dialogue among limited partners, GPs, and the greater venture capital community. By unpacking these motivations and confronting systemic racism head-on, we can pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable venture capital ecosystem.

Exploring Caste Systems in Venture Capital was originally published in HBCUvc on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

As you may know, Fearless Fund — one of venture capital’s most promising firms founded by and for Black women — is at the center of a lawsuit led by a staunch conservative activist group. This vehement attack on Fearless Fund, its critical work, and its founders Arian Simone and Ayana Parsons affects an entire network of overlooked entrepreneurs, and more dangerously, the effort to dismantle barriers in the way of their economic freedom.

Fearless Fund has been a supportive partner of HBCUvc, by hosting our HBCU students in a paid internship. Their work goes beyond funding Black women, but also creating career opportunities for HBCU students through our partnership. For HBCUvc whose mission is to increase capital and opportunities for future Black investors, this unprecedented moment both invigorates our work and reminds us of how necessary it is to support our partners.

With a matched fervency and commitment to rectify historical and systemic disparities against Black and historically excluded communities, HBCUvc is proud to stand by Fearless Fund. In an industry where traditional funding avenues often overlook or undervalue the potential of Black female-led startups, it is firms like Fearless Fund who unapologetically transform the ecosystem, inspire waves of Black women entrepreneurs, and fuel growth for dozens of businesses.

Now is a critical time to rally support behind Fearless Fund — here’s how you can make a difference:

1. Spread Awareness: Share Fearless Fund’s story on social media, using the power of your voice to shed light on their fight against discrimination.
2. Donate: Contribute to their legal defense fund to ensure they have the resources necessary to navigate this challenge.
3. Attend Summit: Join the two-day Fearless Venture Capital Summit 2023 where you can connect and network with hundreds in the world of entrepreneurship and venture capital in Atlanta, GA.

In solidarity,

Hadiyah Mujhid
Founder and CEO

Chelsea Roberts
Chief Operations Officer

Yolanda Stephens
Director of Programs

Cynthia Lopez Dixon
Chief Administrative Officer

Chelsea Burwell
Communications Manager

Kiley Williams
Programs Associate

Group behind Affirmation Action Sues Black Venture Fund—This Is Our Response was originally published in HBCUvc on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

In collaboration with 26 partnering host VC firms, we proudly announce our 2023 class of HBCUvc Fellows. This year, 35 students and recent alumni from more than 20 colleges and universities will join our ecosystem as part of our Fellowship Program, providing each Fellow with immersive training and foundational venture capital knowledge. In addition to their hands-on summer internship experience, our 2023 HBCUvc Fellows will have access to networking, professional development, and mentoring opportunities across our community of 600+ strong, consisting of Senior Fellows, firm partners, investors, and industry experts.

Since our inaugural class in 2018, our network of aspiring investors and entrepreneurs has grown exponentially across several city-based cohorts, including Birmingham, San Francisco, and our partnerships with 50 South Capital in Chicago, as well as Pledge LA and The Annenberg Foundation in Los Angeles. This year’s class features passionate and talented professionals who bring a wealth of experiences and perspectives to the rapidly changing worlds of tech entrepreneurship and venture capital. We’re proud to welcome these professionals into the fold of our ecosystem as they represent more than 15 colleges/universities, including eight HBCUs like Johnson C. Smith University, Morehouse College, Howard University, and for the first time, Paul Quinn College and Dillard University.

Ahead of their 10-week paid internship, they will join us for a three-day, in-person New Fellows Retreat hosted by Atento Capital in Tulsa, OK, as well as other programming and events to meet and engage with past cohorts and VC experts.

Join us in congratulating our newest cohort of HBCUvc Fellows and learn more about them below.

Aliya Lakhani

University of California, Los Angeles and Johns Hopkins University
Interning with Supply Change Capital

Alliyah Gary

Howard University and Harvard Business School
Interning with Lux Capital

Amin Elamin

Yale University and University of Maryland
Interning with American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social Impact

Anthony Doe

The University of Texas at Austin
Interning with Touchdown Ventures

Austin Little

Morehouse College
Interning with Redpoint Ventures

Ayodeji Babatunde

Georgia State University
Interning with Munich Re Ventures

Brandon Best

Columbia University in the City of New York and Boston University
Interning with OCA Ventures

Bryan Duncan

Morehouse College
Interning with Toyota Ventures

Chris Musoke

Purdue University
Interning with the University System of Maryland — Maryland Momentum Fund

Colby Prince

Morehouse College
Interning with Squadra

Dailen Whiten

Howard University
Interning with 50 South Capital

Devaughn Blackburn

Howard University
Interning with Latimer Ventures

Devon Dudley

Morehouse College and Boston University
Interning with Bloomberg Beta

Diamonde Henderson

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Interning with Sixty8 Capital

Ebony Bogui-Akinyi

North Carolina A&T State University
Interning with Techstars

Ebun Oni

Morgan State University and Columbia University in the City of New York
Interning with Avivar Capital

Ericka Drinker

Paul Quinn College
Interning with Energy Impact Partners LP

Ericka Kamanou-Tenta

New York University
Interning with Listen Ventures

Gabon Williams

Johnson C. Smith University and University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Interning with Capitalize VC

Grace Sanders

University of Michigan
Interning with Black Tech Nation Ventures

Halle Abraham

University of Pennsylvania and The Wharton School
Interning with Obvious Ventures

Hugo Mkhize

University of California, San Diego
Interning with Toyota Ventures

Ishmael Qawiy

Florida A&M University and Rutgers University
Interning with Agent Capital

Javon Jones

Georgia State University
Interning with Bronze Valley

Justin Jones

Morehouse College and Columbia University in the City of New York
Interning with Atento Capital

Lawer Angmor-Teye

Delaware State University
Interning with Strategic Education Inc.

Leilani Moten

Morgan State University
Interning with Techstars

Lotanna Anozie

Howard University
Interning with Fearless Fund

Mathieu Davis

Harvard University and the University of Michigan
Interning with Black Tech Nation Ventures

Nassar Omar

Morehouse College and the University of Michigan
Interning with Collide Capital

Natalie Neptune

Penn State University
Interning at 7wire Ventures

Rashauna David

Hampton University
Interning at Zane Venture Fund

Ria Panjwani

Brown University
Interning at Buoyant Ventures

Tyra Gravesande

Spelman College
Interning at Atento Capital

Victoria Hardy

Dillard University
Interning at Advantage Capital

HBCUvc Welcomes Its 2023 Venture Capital Fellowship Cohorts was originally published in HBCUvc on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Most are unaware of the hurdles facing Black founders, who receive less than 1% of venture capital; but, to understand why, one must step back and recognize that there are just as few Black decision-makers in executive roles within the industry to champion on behalf of Black-led innovation. Moreover, for the unsung heroes who are spearheading monumental efforts to back startups led by Black and historically marginalized founders, capacity support and resources are needed to help sustain their vital presence in the field.

In conjunction with The Roy and Patricia Disney Family Foundation, HBCUvc is launching an effort to support many of those heroes—Black General Partners—in venture capital. Rooted in the mission of fortifying funding and career pathways to innovators and future VCs, this initiative will provide support to Black GPs by increasing capacity and nurturing an ecosystem that supports their work in advancing diverse capital deployment to overlooked founders. A critical aspect of this newly-launched program is its connection with HBCUvc’s Fellowship Program, which will allow for in-group mentoring, as Black GPs and their firms host nine HBCUvc Fellows as summer interns. For these general partners — many of whom are early-stage—this provides them an opportunity not only to lead and connect with their interns/mentees through a culturally-enriched environment but also to lay the foundation for what the future of their VC careers could look like where Black people are at the helm of funding decisions and Black innovation can thrive. In turn, HBCUvc Fellows can witness the upstart and dynamics of starting a fund alongside their mentors and establish trusting relationships in VC while being affirmed and actualizing their own aspirations in the industry.

Forgoing the acclaim of Silicon Valley, this cohort of general partners and their firms has carved out their own paths across six metropolitan areas and honed in on supporting innovation in traditionally overlooked markets throughout the East and the South. Furthermore, their work supersedes the bare minimum expectation of VCs who deploy capital to empower Black and Brown founders; instead, these general partners are in the business of building more inclusive ecosystems in the communities they serve.

Our inaugural class of Black GPs represents seven VC firms where eight HBCUvc Fellows will complete their summer internships starting in June. These general partners and their firms are:

David Motley, Black Tech Nation Ventures

Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Tessa Flippin, Capitalize VC

Location: Chicago, IL

Aaron Samuels and Brian Hollins, Collide Capital

Location: New York, NY

Arian Simone and Ayana Parsons, Fearless Fund

Location: Atlanta, GA

Luke Cooper, Latimer Ventures

Location: Baltimore, MD

Kelli Jones, Sixty8 Capital

Location: Indianapolis, IN

Shila Nieves Burney, Zane Venture Fund

Location: Atlanta, GA

By empowering and elevating Black decision-makers in venture capital, we aim to create more attainable outcomes for startups and future investors who will transform the tech and VC space to reach its full potential. If you are interested in supporting this work or being considered for a future GP cohort, contact Chelsea Roberts at partnerships@hbcu.vc.

HBCUvc Black General Partners Alliance Supports Capacity Needs, Opportunities for New Wave of… was originally published in HBCUvc on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Ask almost anyone who’s made the (wise) decision to attend a historically Black college or university about the moment they knew their HBCU was “the” school for them, and more than likely, you’ll catch them crack a smile or even spot a glimmer in their eyes. Difficult to explain but understood by all within the HBCU alumni collective, these life-changing institutions are the stomping grounds for transformative growth and change — both individually and en masse — within the Black community.

Take my experience for example: During my four years at the illustrious Winston-Salem State University in the northwestern region of North Carolina, I befriended and crossed paths with incredible people who would go on to elevate educational systems, break into the film and entertainment industry, curate jaw-dropping experiences as event visionaries, and build startups and technologies to serve the greater good. Even with smaller enrollment rates and lower endowments, HBCUs are anchored institutions held in high esteem within Black communities. Whereas these institutions account for only 3% of all American colleges and universities, HBCUs enroll 15% of all Black university students in the nation and award degrees to nearly 1 in 4 Black students. Furthermore, according to the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, almost 1 in 5 Black CEOs across Fortune 500 companies graduated from an HBCU. In sum, ingenuity and promise have flourished at every turn at the 105 HBCUs across the nation for generations.

Examining the current state of venture capital and startup culture, I can’t help but take notice of the industries’ blindspots — lack of diverse funding, limited career entry and retentive pathways for Black and Brown VC talent, and an elusive culture filled with cookie-cutter white, male, representation at both ends of the system. All of this fuels my wandering mind to consider what a world with more HBCU fund managers, checkwriters, GPs, angel investors, and supported entrepreneurs would look like.

Could HBCUs really be the missing piece to reviving venture capital?

Here are four considerations for why I believe students and alums from these overlooked institutions are the clear answer to saving this industry:

VC is about relationships: Witness a buzzing community come together on any HBCU campus during Homecoming, and you’ll watch the power of relationships unfold. For many of us, HBCUs are our home away from home. It’s where we’ve developed fictive kinships, received our first professional experiences — whether paid, unpaid, or work-study — and gotten to know the cities that have enveloped our beloved campuses. From the power of Divine Nine Greek organizations to the collective rallying around our athletic programs and powerhouse academic departments, HBCU students and alumni hold their connections and campus culture dear to their hearts and commit to being unofficial bridges and ambassadors for those within their network to advance in all areas of their lives. Similarly, the venture capital industry operates on trust networks, many of which were built and strengthened through alumni connections at schools like Harvard University and Stanford University. Imagine the shift that would ensue when HBCUs’ organic “let-me-put-you-on” network-building practices were brought into the VC and tech spheres.

VC is about supporting innovation: HBCU Family, lean in for this one. While you were on “The Yard,” how many students did you know who were beauticians, barbers, estheticians, seamstresses, graphic designers, caterers, consultants, promoters, or the like? I’ll give you a moment to build your mental roster, but I’d argue that there is no greater grind-and-go-get-it culture than on a historically Black college/university campus. Whether rooted in survival, necessity, or mere interest, the spirit of entrepreneurship runs strongly throughout these institutions, with several successful endeavors lasting well beyond their beginnings on campus. It’s time for us to map clear pipelines for student and alumni founders to succeed and grow as the next generation of startup giants.

VC is white and male-dominated…. and that’s the problem: The obvious kryptonite facing venture capital is its cookie-cutter representation. The Silicon Bros have traditionally propped the door of opportunity open for those who fit within their mold, leaving many with limited access to funder and investor relationships, wondering how they can crack the Da Vinci code of VC. Even with several failed endeavors and breached trust under their belt, white male founders can — and often do — get billion-dollar backing from firms, while the stakes and weight of making sound investment decisions for Black and Brown founders are much higher and incur steeper consequences. Plus, factor in the urgency for safe spaces led and occupied by Black and Brown actors that serve the mental health needs of the historically overlooked and underserved in the VC space. By carving more roads to success in the industry for HBCU founders and investors, we nurture a more realistic ecosystem where new perspectives are embraced and blindspots of privilege are minimized.

VC is about believing in an outrageous but attainable outcome: Yes, venture capital is foreign and unfamiliar to the majority of HBCU students, and yes, they may be outnumbered in their representation compared to their counterparts, but the tide is changing in their favor. Several organizations like HBCUvc, Black Venture Capital Consortium, Black Ambition, and more are devoted to leveling the playing field for Black and Brown aspiring investors and entrepreneurs. It’s no mistake or secret that these arenas were not built with Black perspectives in mind, but how successful and sustainable can a so-called innovation-driven industry be if it gives the same ideas from the same demographic? With more than 100 HBCUs operating across the country, it’s time for the untapped talent on these campuses to shine.

We’ve already gotten a taste of what success in tech and venture capital looks like through the eyes of several inspiring HBCU founders and investors like:

• Melissa Butler, Florida A&M University alumna and founder/CEO of The Lip Bar
• Rodney Williams, Howard University alumnus and co-founder of Solo Funds and LISNR
• Paul Judge, Morehouse College alumnus and managing partner at Panoramic Ventures
• Aaron Holiday, Morehouse College alumnus and co-founder/managing partner at 645 Ventures
• Jewel Burks Solomon, Howard University alumna and managing partner at Collab Capital
• Nasir Qadree, Hampton University alumnus and founder/CEO of Zeal Capital Partners
• Pinky Cole, Clark Atlanta University alumna and founder/CEO of Slutty Vegan

Looking ahead, the charge to keeping this momentum up is three-fold:

1. Increase funding to HBCUs regardless of the proximity to VC and tech,
2. Create long-term relationships built on supporting Black-led organizations that promote career entryways into VC, tech, and entrepreneurship for HBCUs and other historically underrepresented communities, and
3. Facilitate opportunities for VCs to come to HBCU campuses to mentor and connect with future founders and investors.

HBCUs: The Key To Unlocking Venture Capital’s Potential was originally published in HBCUvc on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

From the campus of the nation’s oldest HBCU — Cheyney University — to Florida A&M University, which has the largest HBCU campus in the United States, thousands of students are honing their crafts and building their futures to become CEOs, executive directors, vice presidents and more across various fields and industries. Our HBCUvc Senior Fellows, who come from more than 30 of those esteemed institutions, are no exception, as they carve out their unique career and professional paths in tech, venture capital, and beyond.

We tapped in with Class 4 Senior Fellow and soon-to-be Howard University alumna Nia Baker to hear how her academic journey at The Mecca has intersected with her new paths as a budding entrepreneur and VC leader.

HBCUvc: Before becoming an HBCUvc Fellow, how did you know you wanted to attend Howard University? What was your first exposure to learning about HBCUs?

Baker: I toured Howard University during my junior year of high school. I had already done my own research about different HBCUs, and at the time, Howard was one of the only schools that had a fashion design program, and becoming a fashion designer was what I was interested in at the time. But when I toured, I really fell in love with the campus, and I had a feeling that I not only belonged at Howard, but I also belonged in [Washington] D.C. Even though I had a change in career direction, I never forgot how much that tour impacted me, so I applied early decision for Howard my senior year.

HBCUvc: In your opinion, what is most special about HBCUs that most people don’t know?

Baker: Community! I don’t think media outlets don’t shine enough light on how special the community of HBCUs are; it really is something you have to experience. I’ve met some of the most talented and ambitious people throughout my time at Howard, and all of the alumni are so willing to give back to the students. HBCU students and alumni as a whole are driven to look out for other HBCU students and alumni; the connections I’ve made personally were how I found out about HBCUvc.

HBCUvc: What sparked your interest in venture capital? More specifically, how were you introduced to HBCUvc?

Baker: As a freshman, I was already interested in the art of investing and how to create the most impact while also making my money work for me. I was in the investment group for Howard, and looking for an opportunity to learn about venture capital specifically. One of the upperclassmen in the group sent out a link for HBCUvc, and I reached out to him to tell him I was interested. Going in, I was really nervous because I had no idea what to expect from the fellowship, but looking back, it turned out to be one of the most fruitful opportunities I had to start my career in VC and tech.

HBCUvc: Reflecting on your HBCUvc fellowship experience, what would you say is the greatest lesson (technical or figurative) you learned during that time?

Baker: I think the greatest lesson that I learned is how important due diligence is, whether one is creating or investing in a business. There are so many things that have to be taken into consideration when it comes to a successful venture — certain factors like what separates a business from the competition, what qualifies the entrepreneur to run the business, whether their business model is profitable. Those are all very important to evaluate a business venture, and this is a lesson I took with me through classes, case competitions, and my own entrepreneurial journey.

HBCUvc: What skills did you gain through your HBCUvc experience that you continue to use today?

Baker: Through watching other entrepreneurs pitch during the fellowship, I actually learned how to create a pitch deck based on some of the great things that I saw them do, and some of the mistakes they made from a VC perspective. We learned about how to research the market a company is in and do some evaluations of the financials that I still use to this day to evaluate how attractive an industry is!

HBCUvc: You recently were accepted into Black Girl Ventures’ NextGen Student Visionaries Program — congratulations! What do you hope to achieve through this experience?

Baker: Thank you so much! I’m really excited to learn from Black Girl Ventures, as I really admire what they do for Black and Brown founders. My business venture is targeting food apartheid and how we can consistently get healthy food and snacks to consumers in these areas. I have already learned a lot about how to improve my business model, and I truly hope this experience can help me get my venture to launch successfully.

HBCUvc: If you could offer guidance to other HBCU students, especially at Howard, who are interested in entering the VC and tech industry, what would you share?

Baker: I’d definitely say take every opportunity you can, as early as you can. The VC and tech industries are very competitive to get into; it’s especially difficult to get into without any experience. With fellowships like HBCUvc, I developed both a network and experience that I used to get other opportunities within the industry. There are a few other fellows that went through the fellowship with me (Go, Class 4!) that were able to do really cool things in the VC space before they even graduated college. Despite the lack of diversity within the VC and tech space, there are still Black professionals in the industry that are doing everything they can to get us as students in these spaces. If you are truly interested in VC or tech, now is definitely the time to take action!

HBCUvc: Outside of your coursework, what do you enjoy doing?

Baker: I still really enjoy the fashion industry! I’ve been sewing and making patterns since I was 11 years old, so I don’t think my love for clothes will ever change. One of my favorite experiences was when I was able to participate in the Gucci Scholars program in the Spring of 2021. I loved hearing about what happens behind the scenes of a luxury brand and working on a project to push sales even in the midst of COVID. One of my favorite photos is of when I was able to go to a Gucci store in Soho, New York, and see some of my colleagues during a release party!

HBCUvc: What’s in heavy rotation on your playlist? (e.g. music, podcasts, audiobooks)

Baker: Kendrick Lamar and Isaiah Rashad are two of my favorite artists. Plus, “Slow Down” by VanJess is one of my new favorite songs. All of them are constantly on replay!

HBCUvc: What is a mantra/motto/quote/scripture you live by? Why?

Greek philosopher Heraclitus once said: “Change is the only constant in life.” Throughout my life, I’ve gone from my home in Minnesota to interning in Brazil to studying at Howard University, and now this spring, I will be entering a brand new journey as a Howard graduate. My environment has changed, my perspective has changed, my career aspects have changed, and at one point, all these changes drove me crazy! But, I had to really live by the idea that things will always be changing, and I have to learn how to adapt. I learned to not only adapt to change but look at these changes as a new opportunity and a new adventure to take. Even today, I’m looking at these changes that I will endure this year as a new adventure to embark on.

We’ll eagerly follow Nia’s journey as she prepares for post-graduate opportunities; we can’t wait to see what’s in store for her future within and beyond tech and VC. To connect with Nia or follow her via social media, check her out on LinkedIn.

HBCUvc Fellow Spotlight: Nia Baker was originally published in HBCUvc on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

After three extensive application cycles and hundreds of applications, we have selected our finalists for the 2023 HBCUvc Fellowship Program. While our Fellows will be officially announced in late March, we are excited to spotlight these incredible students, recent alumni, and up-and-coming leaders who are seeking impact-driven paths within tech and venture capital and endeavoring to transform the space for inclusivity and equity.

Note: Those with asterisk (*) by their name signifies that they are a Senior Fellow within our community.

HBCU Cohort Finalists

Steven Adams II
Senior, Morehouse College

Emmanuel Adeyemi
Sophomore, Fisk University

Temi Ajibola
Graduate Student, Morgan State University

Adetoro Akinola
Freshman, Fisk University

Ke’Shawn Alexander
Morehouse College (alumnus) and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

Lotanna Anozie
Sophomore, Howard University

Devaughn Blackburn
Undergraduate Alumnus, Howard University

Ebony Bogui-Akinyi
Undergraduate Alumna, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

Josh Brome
Undergraduate Alumnus, Tennessee State University

Ren Butler*
Undergraduate Alumnus, Philander Smith College

Lucky Chitundu
Junior, Alabama State University

DeRonte Craig
Undergraduate Alumnus, Bowie State University

Rashauna David
Undergraduate Alumna, Hampton University

Kadeisha Davis
Sophomore, Howard University

LaQuawne DePriest
Sophomore, Virginia State University

Ericka Drinker
Sophomore, Paul Quinn College

Devon Dudley
Undergraduate Alumnus, Morehouse College

Bryan Duncan
Senior, Morehouse College

Jeff Feaster
Graduate Student, Morgan State University

Tyasha Ford
Junior, Morgan State University

Diamond GC
Freshman, Fisk University

Tyra Gravesande
Undergraduate Alumna, Spelman College

Alliyah Gary
Undergraduate Alumna, Howard University

Tyler Greene
Undergraduate Alumnus, Morehouse College

Navaud Guscott
Freshman, Benedict College

Miles Hammock
Undergraduate Alumnus, Tennessee State University

Victoria Hardy
Senior, Dillard University

Madison Henderson
Junior, Howard University

Taea Jackson
Undergraduate Alumna, Alcorn State University

EJ Johnson
Undergraduate Alumnus, Hampton University

Justin Jones
Undergraduate Alumnus, Morehouse College

Aleesha Kearney
Junior, Spelman College

Anthony Kemp
Sophomore, Morehouse College

Angela Kihiko
Undergraduate Alumna, Spelman College

Loubao Kraka
Undergraduate Alumnus, Harris-Stowe State University

Theresa Kumazah*
Senior, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

Austin Little
Undergraduate Alumnus, Morehouse College

Elsa Mengistu
Senior, Howard University

Leilani Moten
Undergraduate Alumna, Morgan State University

Kelechukwu Nwaiwu
Freshman, Fisk University

Beney Ogbon
Senior, Prairie View Agricultural and Mechanical University

Nassar Omar
Undergraduate Alumnus, Morehouse College

Ebun Oni
Undergraduate Alumna, Morgan State University

Tamea Perry
Senior, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

Colby Prince
Junior, Morehouse College

Ishmael Qawiy
Undergraduate Alumnus, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

Ryann Robinson
Sophomore, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

Ridwan Salau
Freshman, Fisk University

Naton Smith, Jr.
Undergraduate Alumnus, Tennessee State University

Daikerra Sweat
Senior, Fisk University

Sydney Taylor
J.D. Candidate, Southern University Law Center

David Totty
Sophomore, Morehouse College

Omoh Umoru
Junior, Texas Southern University

Jace Watkins
Senior, Xavier University of Louisiana

Sydney Watson
Undergraduate Alumna, Tennessee State University

Dailen Whiten
Junior, Howard University

Josh Wilkinson
Undergraduate Alumnus, Alabama State University

Gabon Williams
Undergraduate Alumnus, Johnson C. Smith University

Samson Williams
Sophomore, Howard University

50 South Cohort Finalists

Abdulmalik Abdulraheem
Graduate Student, Boston University

Halle Aberhm
Graduate Student, The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

Ola Ajayi
Graduate Student, The Johns Hopkins University — Carey Business School

Carlton Amoo*
Graduate Student, Northwestern University

Ayodeji Babatunde
Graduate Student, Georgia State University — J. Mack Robinson College of Business

Tannvi Banerjee
Freshman, University of California Irvine

Brandon Best
Graduate Student, Columbia Business School

Mathieu Davis
Graduate Student, Harvard Business School

Kavya Davuluri
Graduate Student, University of Michigan

Anthony Doe
Undergraduate Alumnus, The University of Texas at Austin

Amin Elamin
Graduate Student, University of Maryland

Rose Espiritu
Graduate Student, Louisiana State University

Reuben Frank
Graduate Student, Cornell University

Arsene Frederic Jr.
Graduate Student, American University

Patricia Garcia
Graduate Alumna, University of Southern California

Diamonde Henderson
Undergraduate Alumna, University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School

Javon Jones
Undergraduate Alumnus, Georgia State University — J. Mack Robinson College of Business

Rose Fadjia Leila Joseph
Graduate Student, Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs

Ericka Kamanou-Tenta
Senior, New York University

Ashutosh Kumar
Graduate Student, Harvard University

Aliya Lakhani
Graduate Student, University of California Los Angeles

Arlene Lopez
Graduate Student, Harvard University

Hugo Mkhize
Graduate Student, University of California San Diego

Sunga Mkwezalamba
Graduate Alumnus, University of Illinois College of Law

Elias Mufarech
Graduate Student; University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business

Chris Musoke
Senior, Purdue University College of Engineering

Julie Negussie
Graduate Alumna, Columbia University

Natalie Neptune
Senior, Penn State Harrisburg

Seun Odun-Ayo
Undergraduate Alumnus, University of Notre Dame

Ria Panjwani
Senior, Brown University

Soukeyna Djahira Pitroipa
Sophomore, Furman University

Joseph Roberts
Junior, University of Connecticut School of Business

Raina Safitri
Graduate Student, University of Virginia Darden School of Business

Grace Sanders
Senior, University of Michigan — Stephen M. Ross School of Business

Matthew Seifu
Undergraduate Alumnus, Carnegie Mellon University

Brenda Su
Graduate Student, The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

Masoud Talebi
Graduate Student, Duke University — The Fuqua School of Business

Rutvij Thakkar
Sophomore, The University of Texas at Austin

Madison Webb
Sophomore, Harvard University

Micah Wimmer
Undergraduate Alumnus, Brigham Young University

Malc Wright
Graduate Student, Georgia Institute of Technology

Ximena Zhang
Junior, Bates College

2023 HBCUvc Rising Talent Leaders was originally published in HBCUvc on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

More than two years ago, after George Floyd’s murder, big-name corporations made audacious vows to advance racial equity and social justice, breaking out their checkbooks and launching initiatives to address century-old broken systems. Yet, now in 2023, corporate philanthropy, sustained action, and vows of support have lost their fuel, leaving Black and Brown-led nonprofits whose work centers of access and equity to feel the brunt of the impact. What’s even more unfortunate is that February—the month designated for celebrating Black History Month—has become a signal for ad-hoc, last-minute attempts to assuage, overcompensate (and even underwhelm), all in the name of recognizing racial justice.

In contrast to companies’ mad scramble to secure star-studded speakers and attract fanfare and favoritism before February 28, we’re giving some leading VCs some shine, as they speak truth to power and inspire change all year long. Living — and making — Black history every day of the year are several Black venture capital leaders whose impacts to the industry are moving the needle and challenging the status quo beyond any platform, press event, or podium. Bigger than buzzy cultural panels and conversations confined to DEI, Black excellence and struggle, and race relations, these changemakers’ voices and perspectives are just a few of whom should receive more acclaim.

Here are a few Black VCs who corporations should tap on — and compensate — for topically expansive conversations all year long:

Melissa Bradley | Managing Partner, 1863 Ventures

Bradley is founder of 1863 Ventures, a business development program that accelerates entrepreneurs from high potential to high growth. She serves as general partner of 1863 Venture Fund, venture partner at NextGen Ventures, and venture advisor to Reign Ventures, New Voices Foundation, and the Halcyon Fund. She is also a member of the Milken Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Asset Management Initiative, Goldman Sachs’ One Million Black Women Advisory Council, Launch with GS Advisory Council, National Advisory Council on Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Fast Company Executive Board, Square & Forbes Small Business Advisory Team, as well as the Target Accelerators Entrepreneurs Advisory Council.

Nasir C. Qadree | Founder and Manager Partner, Zeal Capital Partners

Qadree is the founder and managing Partner at Zeal Capital Partners, an inclusive investment vehicle partnering with entrepreneurs to bridge America’s wealth and skills gaps. In his role, he defines the fund’s focus, leads investment activities, and manages post-value creation strategies and support mechanisms for portfolio companies. He also serves on the board of LearnFresh Education, the official education nonprofit for the NBA.

Kai Bond | Partner, Courtside Ventures

Bond is a Partner at Courtside Ventures, the leading venture capital fund focused on early-stage sports, fitness, and gaming companies. Kai is a repeat founder with deep expertise in gaming and interactive media. He was the co-founder of SwitchGames, a marketplace for used video games. His second startup was incubated at Hatch Labs, where he held the dual role of General Manager for Hatch and was CEO of CashPlay Games. Most recently, he was an investor at Comcast Ventures, leading the gaming/esports investments for their flagship fund, while also running their Catalyst Fund ($20M fund focused on underrepresented founders).

Lo Toney | Founding Managing Partner, Plexo Capital

Toney is the founder and managing partner of Plexo Capital, the firm he incubated inside of GV (Google Ventures) and spun out in 2018. Plexo Capital drives alpha through a unique model that “fosters diversity in venture capital” and invests in VC funds, led by women and people of color, and startups. Plexo Capital’s debut fund closed in 2019 at $42.5M, and the firm is currently investing out of Fund II. In fall 2021, Plexo Capital launched GPx, an open-source educational community supporting emerging fund managers.

Fallon Wilson, Ph.D. | Co-Founder & Principal Investigator, BlackTechFutures Research Institute

Dr. Fallon Wilson is the lead principal investigator/co-founder of #BlackTechFutures Research Institute and former Research Director of Black Tech Mecca. Recently, she was awarded a Kauffman Foundation’s Open Knowledge grant to launch #BlackTechFutures Research Institute. She is a member of the Federal Communications Commission’s Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment. Her research on first-generation black college students’ alternative tech pathways and tech ecosystems has garnered notable research grants from Kapor Center for Social Impact & Kauffman Foundation. Dr. Wilson chairs the Tennessee Higher Education Commission’s HBCU Success Board.

Marlon Nichols | Managing General Partner, MaC Venture Capital

Nichols is a founding managing partner at MaC Venture Capital (formerly Cross Culture Ventures), which finds entrepreneurs who are building the future for the rest of America. He’s a former Investment Director at Intel Capital, as well as a Kauffman Fellows board member and adjunct faculty in entrepreneurship and venture capital at the SC Johnson College of Business at Cornell University. Nichols’ unique eye for global trends and shifts in consumer behavior has helped him capture high-potential investments like Spill, Blavity, Fair, Faze Clan, Gimlet Media, LISNR, Mayvenn, MongoDB, Pipe, PlayVS, Thrive Market, Wonderschool and others. He’s been featured on TechCrunch, Fortune, Blavity, and NBC, and was recently honored as a member of the 2022 class of the LA500 list and as number 22 among top early-stage investors on Insider’s 2022 Seed 100 list.

Adeyemi Ajao | Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Base10 Partners

Ajao co-founded Base10 Partners in 2017, which has since grown to be the largest U.S., Black-led VC firm, with more than $630M in AUM. Under his leadership, Base10 raised a $250M fund in 2021 to grow HBCU endowments and catalyze wealth creation. He volunteers with CODE2040, an organization that creates access, awareness, and opportunities for gifted Black and Latin engineering talent. Before starting his own VC fund, Ajao was the cofounder and CEO of Tuenti (The “Spanish Facebook” which was acquired by Telefonica in 2010 for $100M), and launched Workday Ventures, the first fund focused on applied AI for enterprise software.

Jackson Cummings | Head of Wellington Access Ventures, Wellington Management

Cummings heads Wellington Access Ventures, the firm’s diversity-focused investing on its alternative platforms. Before taking on this role, he was an investor at Salesforce Ventures, where he led more than 30 investments and various equality initiatives, including a $100 million pool of capital to be deployed to Black and underrepresented founders. He also co-led the creation of the Black Venture Institute, a fellowship program designed to increase the number of Black check writers in the venture ecosystem through education and access.

Mac Conwell II | Founder & Managing Partner, Rarebreed Ventures

Conwell is the founder and managing partner at RareBreed Ventures, which launched in 2020 after he served as a fund manager at TEDCO (Maryland Technology Development Corporation). As a former software engineer and two-time founder, he leveraged the power of Twitter to raise $10M for his first fund, a pre-seed and early-stage fund that primarily invests outside Silicon Valley, New York, and Boston. Conwell has been a guest on Huffington Post Live several times, and his companies have been featured in many media outlets such as USA Today, Washington Post, BET, CNN Headline News, and Black Enterprise.

Brandon Brooks | Founding Partner, Overlooked Ventures

Brooks is a founding partner of Overlooked Ventures and founder of Stealth Startup. He has partnered with organizations such as the Pittsburgh Steelers and Players Coalition on various social justice initiatives and is an advocate for expanding access to people of all backgrounds to enter the startup ecosystem.

Candice Matthews Brackeen | General Partner, Lightship Capital

Matthews Brackeen co-launched Lightship Capital with a $50M debut fund to back underrepresented founders, including people of color, women, members of the LGBTQ+ community, those with disabilities, and all others who have been overlooked and underfunded in VC. Lightship focuses on CPG, e-commerce, sustainability, artificial intelligence, and health-tech. She also serves as executive director and founder of Lightship Foundation, an impact-driven organization enabling growth within the minority innovation economy through entrepreneur education and investment. Her dedication to moving inclusion in innovation forward is also reflected in her advisory roles across numerous organizations, including the Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium for NASA, where she leads diversity of thought as the United States of America harnesses and accelerates technology toward a sustainable return of humans to the Moon’s surface. Matthews Brackeen serves on the Cincinnati Innovation District Advisory Council, the Endeavor Northwest Arkansas Board of Directors, and is a University of Cincinnati Kautz Uible Fellow.

Mercedes Bent | Partner, Lightspeed

Bent is a member of Lightspeed’s consumer investing team, where she invests in sectors driving the economic empowerment of the individual, including crypto, fintech, career mobility, and the creator economy. She joined Lightspeed in 2019 after spending a decade working in finance and startups, including Goldman Sachs, The Federal Reserve, General Assembly, and starting two of her own businesses. She co-leads the LATAM region for Lightspeed as well as its Scout Fund, a pre-seed investment vehicle.

Aaron Holiday | Co-Founder & Managing Partner, 645 Ventures

Holiday is the co-founder and managing partner at 645 Ventures, where he oversees the firm’s investing approach, strategy, investor relations, and governance. Since founding 645 Ventures in 2014, Holiday has worked closely with portfolio company founders to strengthen, grow, and scale businesses. He led 645 Ventures early-stage investments in several breakout successes, including Goldbelly, Iterable, FiscalNote, Squire, Resident/Nectar Sleep, FLY Labs (acquired by Google), Source3 (acquired by Facebook), and several other category-defining companies. In 2021, Holiday made the Midas Brink List of VC investor up-and-comers to watch for his involvement and investments in startup companies that have scaled to hundreds of millions in revenues and unicorn status.

Arlan Hamilton | Founder & Managing Partner, Backstage Capital

Hamilton launched Backstage Capital in 2015 and has raised more than $20M and invested in more than 200 companies led by underestimated founders. The firm is dedicated to minimizing funding disparities in tech by investing in high-potential founders who are people of color, women, and/or LGBT. Hamilton and Backstage Capital have broken the traditional VC investing molds, pursuing creative, inclusive strategies like crowdfunding a portion of their fund. Hamilton is also an author, podcast producer of “Your First Million,” founder of Runner—and operations and and HR talent source for inclusive startups—and leads the educational program, Arlan’s Academy. She was featured on the cover of Fast Company magazine and became the first Black woman non-celebrity to do so.

Jackie Grant | Principal, Abingworth

With more than 10 years of scientific, research, and business development experience, Grant is a principal at Abingworth— a transatlantic life sciences venture capital firm based in Boston, where she evaluates new opportunities and supports existing venture investments. Previously, she was a senior associate at SV Health Investors. Grant was formerly in the Business Development Group at Genentech, primarily responsible for partnering activities in neuroscience. Her transactions span a broad spectrum of deal structures and therapeutic areas, including technology and platform in-licenses and research collaborations.

Candice Morgan | Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Partner; Google Ventures

Morgan is Google Ventures’ inaugural equity, diversity, and inclusion partner and has dedicated her career to helping companies attract and grow talent and global market segments of the coming generations. Within her role, she focuses on creating inclusive strategies for GV and its portfolio companies. Before joining GV, she was the first head of diversity efforts at Pinterest, where she built an inclusive product management strategy to increase diverse content and grow users globally. Morgan also served as a management consultant at Catalyst, advising CEO and leadership teams at Fortune 500 companies, including Boston Consulting Group, Deutsche Bank, The Coca-Cola Company, and Nestlé. She moved to Switzerland to grow Catalyst Europe and coach businesses across Europe, and upon return to North America, founded an annual D&I conference in Canada. Passionate about inclusion, Morgan is a board director for Women Who Code and a Steering Committee member of BLCK VC

Carmichael Roberts | Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Material Impact

Roberts has been a tech VC investor for more than 15 years. After serving as general partner of North Bridge Venture Partners for 10 years, he co-launched his own fund Material Impact in 2016, focused on the materials science sector. The firm closed its second fund in 2020 at $200M. He is also a member of Breakthrough Energy, a mission-oriented group committed to changing the world by creating and building companies that address the threat of climate change and long-term sustainability of the planet. Roberts is a former NVCA board member, where he served on the Diversity Task Force.

Sydney Thomas | Founder and General Partner, Impressionism Capital; Venture Partner, Precursor Ventures

Launching her career in venture in 2016 by building Precursor Ventures alongside Charles Hudson, Thomas now leads deals within the fund focused on her thesis — the long-tail. Prior to joining Precursor, she gained experience working in technology startups in business development and product marketing. She has also managed public-private partnerships for the NYC Government’s Department of Education and Office of Financial Empowerment. Thomas was selected for the prestigious Kauffman Fellowship (Class 26), sits on the board of Project Include, and serves as a Public Safety and Services Commissioner for the City of Oakland. She also co-created the SMB Syndicate alongside Tessa Flippin of Capitalize and Jennifer Richard at Bonfire.

Clearly, this list is not fully comprehensive of the brilliance and talent within tech and venture capital. However, as we count the final days of Black History Month 2023, our aim is to elevate these names (while inciting an interest to learn about others) and insist that institutions and companies reconsider their approaches to planning, positioning, and participating in Black History Month initiatives moving forward. Just as topics around Black disparity and Black excellence should not be constricted for discussion exclusively in February, Black thought leaders in tech and VC deserve to hold space and contribute to more dialogues than the plight and pitfalls of our communities. Besides, we hold much more weight and influence than anyone can try to squeeze into 28 days. #BlackHistory365

Sources: Venture Forward, LinkedIn, Crunchbase, Pitchbook

Black Venture Capital Speakers That Corporations Should Book (And Pay!) was originally published in HBCUvc on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The world of venture capital and tech entrepreneurship is often new — and even some would say foreign — terrain to members of Black and Brown communities. This is particularly true for emerging leaders and changemakers across the country’s 107 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), whose potential and passion are clear, but the knowledge and pathway to these industries have been systemically obstructed. Nevertheless, as HBCUvc continues its work to empower and educate tomorrow’s innovators and investors across HBCU and BIPOC communities, we are comforted in knowing that the success of our 250+ fellows signals a bright future for the expanding VC ecosystem.

HBCUvc recently checked in with Daryl Riley, who is Class 4 Senior Fellow—and a double HBCU alumnus of both Hampton University and North Carolina A&T State University—to learn more about his introduction to venture capital, his advice to up-and-coming founders and VCs, and how his entrepreneurial journey has unfolded since over the past four years.

HBCUvc: Tell us about your collegiate experiences at Hampton University and North Carolina A&T State University before joining the HBCUvc community.

Riley: My collegiate experience was one to remember! I was a first-generation student, so I was continuing my parents’ legacy and creating my own! I was very involved during my five years at Hampton and two years at A&T, because I saw college as the time to connect and have fun with future doctors, lawyers, engineers, and leaders from cities outside New York, such as Los Angeles, Washington, DC, and Atlanta. It wasn’t until HBCUvc that I got introduced to venture capital.

HBCUvc: What piqued your interest about venture capital? More specifically, how were you introduced to HBCUvc?

Riley: Since I was a kid, I have enjoyed watching the show Shark Tank, but I never knew that’s what venture capital meant back then. When I put two and two together, I saw my friend and Class 3 Fellow, Courtney Johnson, join HBCUvc, and from there, he introduced me to venture capital.

HBCUvc: Following your fellow experience, what is the greatest lesson (technical or figurative) you learned during that time?

Riley: I learned to stay connected with the people in the program! My cohort (Class 4) went through the program virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but since then, I’ve been able to meet up with several Fellow like Tobi Shannon, Kiante Bush, and Justice Sims-McCray, who I’m working with now for our nonprofit, GiveBLK. To this day, I keep in touch with as many Class Dior 4 Fellows as I can, because many of us are heavy hitters and can always utilize each other to elevate each other

Plus, from time to time, I speak with the former HBCUvc Fellowship Lead and fellow Hampton alum, Lavonya Jones. She recommended me for Hampton’s 2022 40 Under 40 Class, where I was a finalist!

HBCUvc: What does an average day looks like for you as Tech Arch Delivery Analyst with Accenture?

Riley: During my 9–5, I am a tech arch delivery analyst for Accenture. Right now, I have a hybrid work schedule, so while I mainly work remotely, I will go to the office if necessary. Sometimes I even do work within the Metaverse! My primary responsibilities consist of maintaining at-scale enterprise online web architectures, working with web applications from end-user interactions to backend, and overseeing performance monitoring, OS patching, and operational automations. When I’m not doing that, I’m focusing on my entrepreneurial priorities; I’m the founder of two businesses: Tendaji (fashion tech) and GiveBLK (non-profit).

HBCUvc: What skills did you gain through your HBCUvc experience that you continue to use today?

Riley: As an entrepreneur, I owe it to HBCUvc for enhancing my entrepreneurial mindset and giving me the mindset of a venture capitalist. Learning about how companies go through different investors across different seed stages has helped me look at the industry in a new way. Their VC Fellowship program has put me 4–5 steps ahead of other startups when applying for pitch competitions!

HBCUvc: We often see that Black and Brown professionals are sorely under-recruited and minimally supported in tech and VC. Has that been true for you since getting your start in the industry?

Riley: Thankfully, I can’t say that I’ve had those experiences; ever since I founded my fashion tech business, Tendaji, I was fortunate to walk into opportunities that were for us, by us! Accelerators like HBCUFI [Founders Initiative] or programs like the Black Girl Ventures x NBA Foundation NextGen Program molded me into becoming a better entrepreneur and having an ecosystem to support my entrepreneurial journey.

HBCUvc: What would you say is most unique about HBCUs that most people don’t know?

Riley: The thing is once you go to an HBCU, you’re connected with ALL HBCUs! Even though I went to Hampton and A&T, I made lifelong friendships with people who went to my HBCU rival schools, like Howard, Norfolk State, and North Carolina Central. All the jokes we had about our HBCUs led to us having a tighter bond. Even when I hear that someone else went to one of the other 107 HBCUs, I get excited and share my HBCU experience with them!

HBCUvc: If you could offer guidance to other HBCU students, especially at your alma maters, who are interested in entering the VC and tech industry, what would you share?

Riley: The first advice that I would give is to know that the “no’s” are just a redirection to your purpose. I’d also tell them not to feed into self-doubt — whatever room you walk in, you belong there. Finally, I’d say to stay humble but stay hungry; the top of every mountain is the bottom of the next so KEEP CLIMBING!

HBCUvc: Outside of work, what do you enjoy doing?

Riley: I love traveling, relaxing, listening to music, eating, and spending time with family and close friends.

HBCUvc: What’s in heavy rotation on your playlist? (e.g. music, podcasts, audiobooks)

Riley: I have a playlist called “Hussle & Motivate” with all the songs (from my childhood to now) that get me revved up to make things happen. One song that I listen to on repeat lately is “I Can Have It All” by HER (featuring DJ Khaled & Bryson Tiller).

HBCUvc: What is a mantra/motto/quote/scripture you live by? Why?

A quote that has stuck with me is from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, who said, “If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.” I saw this quote about five years when I visited his birth home. It resonates because life will always throw you curveballs, but as long as you keep swinging and control what you can, everything will work out in your favor, no matter the circumstances. Plus, one of my go-to scriptures is Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thine own understanding.” I always try to remember that God’s Plan will forever be more significant than my own, so trust HIS process!

With his clear hopes to elevate the industry and inspire those along the way, we can’t wait to see how his bright future unfolds. To follow Riley’s journey and connect with him, you can follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

HBCUvc Spotlight: Class 4 Fellow Daryl “DJ” Riley was originally published in HBCUvc on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.