Fierce Foundry’s Post

In the dynamic world of startups, diversity remains an underutilized but essential resource. Despite progress in entrepreneurial landscapes, startups led by women and minorities continue to face significant disparities in funding. These gaps not only hinder business innovation but also limit potential economic growth. To tap into the true potential of diversity, it's crucial to recognize both the challenges and solutions within the startup ecosystem. The Funding Disparity: A Persistent Barrier Startups led by minorities and women are often subject to systemic barriers in securing venture capital (VC) funding. For instance, Black entrepreneurs receive less than 1% of VC funding in the U.S., with Black women receiving even less, often a mere fraction of that figure. This staggering disparity is a reflection of deep-rooted biases and a lack of representation in decision-making roles across investment firms. Many minority and female founders face challenges such as…. Read full article here(https://shorturl.at/WdwMB)

🌟 Celebrating Trailblazers: Black Women Leading Startup Success 🌟 Meet the visionary women who are redefining entrepreneurship. These leaders have not only pioneered innovative businesses but also achieved remarkable exits, setting a new standard for success in diverse industries. From Mielle Organics' groundbreaking beauty breakthroughs to Partpic's tech revolution, these women are carving paths and setting examples for future generations. Their journeys highlight the creativity and resilience required to scale a business and navigate the complexities of acquisition. Despite facing a venture capital environment where Black women historically receive less than 1% of funding, their successes illuminate the powerful impact of persistence and vision. These entrepreneurs are also building more than companies; they're cultivating opportunities and communities that reflect their commitment to inclusivity and empowerment. As we celebrate their achievements, let's amplify the call for more support and recognition of Black women in entrepreneurship. Their leadership not only shapes industries but also inspires countless others to pursue their dreams and break barriers. Join us in honoring these pioneers! https://lnkd.in/gC9kpcXM #blackwomenleaders #startups #entrepreneurs #investinwomen

Black women are the fastest-growing demographic of entrepreneurs in the U.S. With nearly 2.7 million businesses nationwide. Despite their growing presence in business, they are more likely than other demographic group to self-fund their ventures. With Black women receiving a mere 1% in venture funding, only a fraction end up running mature high-growth businesses. Lets see more recognition (and ffs funding) for black women business owners. #blackhistorymonth

When Rich Griset first contacted me about this article in Virginia Business on the trouble that #femalefounders have getting funding, I hadn't formally started our first raise for Sherah, but I'd already been talking to potential investors before we even had our first customer. He was kind enough to include a quote from me, but I want to publicly share part of my email back to him that didn't make the editorial cut because I think it's important. And if I'd never quit my stable job to pursue this idea I had to solve a burning problem, I never would have known this about my own city. If you're a woman out there thinking of quitting your job and pursuing your crazy genius startup idea, you need to know this: "The female investor community in #Richmond is pretty freaking phenomenal and supportive in many ways - financially and more." Is it hard? Yes. Is it harder when you're a female? Yes. Is it worth it? Yes. Are you alone? No. No. No. No. No. If you're considering your own startup idea, hit me up if you want to talk. Our female founder community and female investor community in Richmond and in #Virginia kick some serious a*s and are here for you. #startup #founder #femalefounder #minorityfounder #femaleinvestor #minorityinvestor #swam #smb #founderlife #vc #seedround #angel #venturecapital #rva #richmondva

Every tax season, as April 15th rolls around, I find myself doing more than just crunching numbers. It's a moment of reflection on just how far I've come, bootstrapping my way through the tech world. As a Black woman in this space, the journey hasn’t been easy—securing funding feels like moving mountains, especially when you're passionate about lifting up marginalized communities. Going through the finances, I see the story of resilience, of stretching every dollar to make an impact where it's needed most. It's tough, but then I remember why I started: to make a difference, to challenge the status quo, and to build something that truly matters. This isn’t just about overcoming financial hurdles. It’s about breaking barriers, creating opportunities, and proving that with enough grit, anything is possible. Each year, this ritual reminds me that while the road to funding for Black women in tech is steep, our strength and determination light the way for those who follow.To anyone out there on a similar path: I see you, I admire your courage, and I'm cheering for every step you take. We're more than just entrepreneurs; we're pioneers reshaping the world, one bootstrapped project at a time. #InThisTogether #WomenInTech #BlacksonTech #Stem #Entrepreneurship #Bootstrapping

At The Source, our mission is to uplift women and minority-owned businesses in tech. According to 2020 research from Crunchbase, Black women receive less than 0.35% of VC funding, and companies led by people of color continue to be vastly underfunded. However, we are encouraged by the remarkable leaders who are actively working to close this funding gap. Today, we're proud to highlight five outstanding Black women VC founders and partners who are committed to empowering and investing in diverse-owned startups: - Serena Williams of Serena Ventures - Arian Simone of Fearless Fund - Candice Matthews of Lightship Capital - Stacy Brown-Philpot of Cherryrock Capital - Kathryn Finney of Genius Guild These change-makers are leading the charge for greater inclusivity and access to funding across industries, especially in tech. #TheSource #WomenFounders #VCFunding

Did you know that Black founders are consistently raising less than 2% of all venture capital in any given year? Choosing the path of entrepreneurship can prove to be challenging for anyone, but even more so for underrepresented communities. Trailblazers like Kimberly Bryant are dedicated to supporting these communities through their work. In our newest addition to our “Influential Women in Technology” blog series, we highlight Black Innovation Lab founder Kimberly Bryant - visit our blog tomorrow at sednacg.com/blog to learn about her story. #WomeninTech #WomeninTechnology #WomeninSTEM #WomenEntrepreneurs #Entrepreneurship #WomenFounders #WomenLeaders #Blog

The inequities of VC funding are well known, with Black founders receiving 1.2% of venture dollars. Professor Emmanuel Yimfor has spent the last three years analyzing this persistent funding gap for Black founders, a disparity that is known but had never been carefully researched.  Professor Yimfor’s article finds evidence that there are systemic barriers both to opportunities to secure funding and to capitalizing on these opportunities for Black founders. His research also identified an actionable solution to close this funding gap: get Black investors in the room. Learn more about his research at: https://lnkd.in/edBXH8Ge While there is still much work to be done to close the funding gap, we're proud of the work members of our alumni community are doing to address the funding gap: - Michelle Dhansinghani '22  co-founded VC Unleashed, a global community of BIPOC MBA investors. - Elliott Robinson '12 is a founding board member of BLCK VC, an organization that works to empower, advance, and increase the number of Black venture investors. You can read about Elliot’s work in this feature article from Columbia Business School published in 2020: https://lnkd.in/eD7S3fJs - Kelly Ifill ’17 founded Guava,  a neo-bank and community platform designed to serve Black entrepreneurs and small business owners. - Nikoa Milton '14 and Jenny Tolan '14 co-founded Level, a powerful multiracial community of women tackling the racial wealth gap by investing in Black women.  Are you aware of other members of the Columbia Entrepreneurship community who are helping to #closethegap? Help celebrate them and their work by shouting them out in the comments below! #companyculture #research #blackhistorymonth #venturecapital #founders

During Techsgiving, I found myself in front of Glenn Ligon’s “Untitled (America)” at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts — a bold, upside-down neon sign that speaks to the ongoing struggles for justice and equity in this country. Observing the artwork, I overheard Beyoncé’s lyrics playing nearby—“write my name in ice… and my mama was a savage”— and it hit me how deeply this piece resonated with my own journey. Reclaiming space in an America that hasn’t always been for people like me isn’t just a professional challenge; it’s a personal one. This year, I’ve been stepping into rooms that once felt closed off. Redefining what it means to belong in tech and entrepreneurship. Showing up fully as Marlena: 🔥 A Black woman in spaces where we’ve historically been underrepresented. 🔥 An entrepreneur owning my confidence and shedding imposter syndrome. 🔥 A person who’s done playing small to fit into spaces never designed for people like me! Ligon’s work reminds us that the aftershocks of history—of slavery, exclusion, and inequity—are still with us. But as I stood in front of this piece, I felt something else, too: resilience. Power. And the freedom to take up space unapologetically. For anyone rebranding, rebuilding, or just reclaiming your place in a world that doesn’t always feel built for you: keep going! The spaces you’re stepping into need your voice, your presence, your light. Here’s to owning who we are and building the future we deserve. XO, MARLENARIELLEE #TGSUMMIT24 #Entrepreneurship #DiversityinTech #DEI #impostersyndrome #rebranding

Black women who are organizational founders or social entrepreneurs face a lot of challenges, but they can also be supported and empowered by resilient mutual networks of excellence. Building generational wealth, for many, is about more than a single avenue of progress or justice, it is about the multi-dimensional networks, relationships, and support systems that allow people to succeed. Thanks Teneshia Carr via Inc. Magazine. #BlackLeadership #Csuite #SocialEntrepreneurship #blackwomen