a16z Cultural Leadership Fund

CLF is often asked by founders how exactly athletes, entertainers, or executives can be a game-changing asset for their companies. On the flip side, cultural leaders also ask what they should expect when investing in tech startups and working with founders. We've seen firsthand that these partnerships can produce new ideas, new opportunities, and new shifts in culture faster than operating in silos. Dig into some of the most important must-knows and to-dos for building together! ✍: Megan Holston-Alexander, Derek Dolin, Deborah Embaie, MPA https://lnkd.in/gjQbMyCE

Basketball, tech, and culture came together in full force in the Bay for NBA All-Star Weekend! It was incredible to connect with so many leaders shaping the future at the intersection of these spaces. Here were some of the CLF team's favorite moments: 🔸 The Supper Club - Shoutout to Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwyane Wade for hosting an unforgettable evening benefiting their work at the Social Change Fund United. 🔸 Megan Holston-Alexander representing CLF at Sphere of Sports's insightful panel on the growth of women's sports creating new leadership paths and opportunities for athletes to use their influence and reach. 🔸 Thought-provoking conversations at the 2nd Annual Sports Business Career Workshop hosted by Anthony Edwards's Dont Follow The Wave (DFTW) Foundation and Sports and Entertainment Equity Network (SEEN), an incredible opportunity for high school and college students to explore career paths in the sports industry. 🔸 Deborah Embaie, MPA representing CLF at PlayMakeHer's All-Star Brunch, celebrating female leaders breaking barriers, redefining the game, and paving the way for future generations. 🔸 Catching All the Smoke Productions with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson live at Club Thirty, hosted by Thirty Ink. 🔸 Reconnecting with friends at the Boardroom + Coinbase All-Star Brunch. Grateful for these opportunities to engage with our CLF community—already counting down to NBA All-Star 2026 in LA!

Super Bowl LIX in NOLA! 🔥 We’re honored to take part in many impactful moments recognizing excellence and impact in sports. A big thank you to the Players Coalition for hosting us at an important conversation with Kelvin B., Malcolm Jenkins, Judene Small Jean-Louis and Louisiana Appleseed on Heirs Property legislation and financial protections. From celebrating trailblazing women at the Sports Power Brunch to facilitating an insightful conversation with Leonard Fournette on the 10 Million Names Project, we're grateful to contribute to these meaningful discussions and movements! And huge congrats to Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley & the entire Philadelphia Eagles team for bringing it home on Sunday! 🏆 👏🏾

Congratulations, Robin Washington! An incredible achievement and so well deserved. Can't wait to see all that you accomplish! 🎉 👏🏾

What a night at the Fifteen Percent Pledge Gala ✨ On February 1st, I had the honor of attending on behalf of a16z Cultural Leadership Fund sharing the evening with some of the most exceptionally talented humans and friends. The beauty of melanin in the room was nothing short of refreshing—a true celebration of Black excellence across fashion, art, beauty, and design. That’s why I’m especially proud of our official partnership with Fifteen Percent Pledge to launch the AI Illumination Grant, designed to empower Black designers and creatives with AI tools to scale their businesses. AI has the potential to unlock new levels of growth, and this grant ensures that Black entrepreneurs in creative industries have access to the technology that will help them compete, innovate, and thrive. This gala wasn’t just a celebration; it was a call to action. Let’s keep showing up, investing, and building the future we want—one where equity, innovation, and economic opportunity are the norm, not the exception. 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

Function Health, a revolutionary health management platform, today announced it has become the official Biomarker Partner of the NBPA. This strategic partnership marks a significant milestone in athlete health, providing active and retired NBA players access to advanced testing and data-driven insights that promote long-term health. Learn more about this first-of-its-kind health tech collaboration: https://lnkd.in/eXTbDU7g

Exciting to see this partnership come to life—health is the future! 👏🏾 Function Health, Mark Hyman, MD, National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), Chris Paul

✨ About TWO weeks ago in Davos, Switzerland - I had the privilege of joining global leaders, innovators, and changemakers in Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum to engage in transformative conversations about leadership, technology, and impact. The highlight was representing the a16z Cultural Leadership Fund and hosting the Power Table: Women Shaping Leadership Dinner.This gathering brought together trailblazing leaders reshaping industries and redefining what inclusive leadership looks like. At the dinner, I posed a thought-provoking question to spark the evening’s dialogue: ✨ "In a world where the macroeconomic climate challenges us to rethink resource allocation and innovation, how can we as leaders leverage our positions of power to not only catalyze technological advancements but also ensure equitable access to these innovations? How do we balance the urgency to build with the responsibility to uplift, creating a future where opportunity is not just scaled but shared?" ✨ The responses were inspiring and sparked reflections on leadership's role in shaping a more equitable, innovative world. Thank you to all who participated (My Forver sisters & friends): Jennair Rennie, MBA, Brittany Crawford, Yassmin Ghandehari, Susan Boster (my forever sister), Julieta Moradei, Ashumi Sanghvi, Valerie Mosley, CFA, Stephanie Hart, Afrodet Zuri, Candace Montgomery, Daniella Helayel, Lona Alia, noelle reno and more. Beyond the Power Table—which was ICONIC—my Davos experience was transformative: USA House Davos: explored AI's role in reimagining supply chains. Bloomberg House: MISTY COPELAND. 💃🏾 Equality Lounge by The Female Quotient: Jam-packed as always; FQ feels like home. Financial Times x IMAGINE Event: Paul Polman and Valerie Keller created magic—I’m inspired by the IMAGINE Community! A heartfelt sit-down with Elisabeth Carpenter and Clara Tsao to discuss decentralized finance, crypto, and my first coffee in months! ☕ An unforgettable Michelin-star meal with FT CEO John Ridding (now music brother), thanks to my sister Daniella Helayel. 🍽️ Witnessing groundbreaking tech pitches at Litestream Ventures hosted by Cassandra H.—thank you, Noelle Reno 🫂! 💡 🔺To be a Delta Girl, the finest in the world! My Sorors Valerie Mosley, CFA & Stephanie Hart. Profound moments with Mother Ocean WhiteHawk, bringing clarity and life-changing reflection. 🌊 Davos is more than a hub for big ideas—it’s where connections spark collaborations, innovation meets responsibility, and community reminds us why we do what we do. I’m still reflecting on the Power Table's opening question and would love to hear your thoughts: How can we, as leaders, ensure technological advancements drive progress while fostering equity and opportunity for all? Special Love to Jonathan Yaffe, Daniel Yaffe, Yossi Goldsmith, Clare Wills, Yvonne Bajela, Josef Murad, John Cronin, Dr. Plamen Russev, Frank Meehan, Emma Vos, Edward Jean-Louis, Mei +++

What a night at the Fifteen Percent Pledge Gala! ✨ An unforgettable evening celebrating Black brands across fashion, art, beauty, and design! We're so honored to officially partner with Fifteen Percent Pledge on building the AI Illumination Grant to help these brands use AI to supercharge their businesses. Be sure to check it out—link in the comments below. 🔗

Last night’s Fifteen Percent Pledge Gala was nothing short of magical. I met many incredible Black creatives who are shaping the future of fashion, arts, and design. The energy, the passion, the vision—it was all next level. Raspberry AI is officially one of two AI partners for the Fifteen Percent Pledge x a16z Cultural Leadership Fund x HartBeat Ventures first ever AI Illumination Grant, supporting Black creatives and business owners to create beautiful designs and marketing campaigns. Can’t wait for the official kickoff in March! Let’s put ai to work. ✨ #15PercentPledge #AIforCreativity #BlackCreatives