Celebrating MLK day last week we had many opportunities to hear those famous words “I have a dream” once again. They are as inspiring today as they were when Dr. King first uttered them. It is in keeping with that spirit that I want to share a dream, and I want to ask you all for help.
I have a dream for an investment fund that will be completely dedicated to BIPOC entrepreneurs. For those of you not familiar with this term, it stands for Black, Indigenous and People of Color. This group of entrepreneurs has been overlooked by the investment capital community and it is time we did something about it. Entrepreneurship represents the most viable pathway for escaping multigenerational poverty in America and everyone should have a seat at that table.
Our first-generation college graduates, immigrants and refugees have every right to participate in the American dream, but without access to capital they are shut out and left to toil for minimum wage at companies run by entrepreneurs of more privileged backgrounds.
Raising a $25 million fund is not going to be easy, but if we can demonstrate that BIPOC entrepreneurs are just as capable of delivering compelling financial returns to investors as their white counterparts, we can begin the process of diverting more start up capital to these underserved entrepreneurs and we can help to create a more just society in America.
If you can help us increase our outreach to BIPOC entrepreneurs message us on our Contact page!