A $4 million fund for Europe's Black founders; Burger King goes vegan; Queering VC for LBGTIQ+
A weekly newsletter for Black and Brown women (and our allies) highlighting entrepreneurship and venture capital in the tech ecosystem.
Welcome to Issue #84 of For Colored Girls Who Tech, a weekly newsletter for Black and Brown women (and our allies) highlighting entrepreneurship and venture capital in the tech ecosystem. Feel free to reach out if you’d like to partner with us or share stories, tips, or questions. If you enjoy our content, we encourage you to like this post above and share it with your community!
INSIGHTS
Why Marketplaces Are Vital for Combating the Climate Crisis
-Mathias Ockenfels/ SpeedInvest
The Metaverse and NFT Boom Is About to Go Bust
-Stephen Moore
“I bought a one-way ticket”: Inside Russia’s sudden tech exodus
-Masha Borak / Rest of the World
Do VC Industry Specialists Outperform?
-PitchBook Analyst Note
A Decade of Deep Learning: How the AI Startup Experience Has Evolved
-Richard Socher, Derrick Harris / A16z
Women’s Healthtech Has A Policy Problem
-Crunchbase
The Benefits Of Venture Capital In Web3
-Fred Wilson / Union Square Ventures
OPPORTUNITIES, FUNDING & COMPETITIONS
The new global ‘Play for All’ accelerator (from The LEGO Foundation )is granting each successful startup up to $1M - EQUITY FREE - and giving free access to world-leading Autism and ADHD specialists to build and scale concepts that will make a meaningful difference to Autistic children and/or those with ADHD. Apply by March 24, 2022.
IFundWomen of Color Women's History Month Pitch Competition. A live virtual pitch event which will include audience voting, feedback from a judges panel, and a chance at over $30,000 in grants and prizing. March 24, 2022.
The International Screenwriters’ Association’s Diversity Initiative launchpad for diverse writer. The initiative strives to elevate writers from underrepresented and marginalized communities. International applicants are welcome. Apply by March 24, 2022.
Founders’ Lab: a virtual office hour event connecting female and minority founders with venture investors. Sign up now for one-on-one meetings. April 6, 2022.
SVB x theBoardlist Board Readiness Series 2022 presented by SVB Access to Innovation. A 3-part series focused on increasing representation in the board room, March 24, March 31 and April 7, 2022.
Orange Silicon Valley launches "Deep Tech for Decarbonization Challenge," an opportunity for startups to connect with corporations and investors seeking climate solutions. Orange Silicon Valley will accelerate the matchmaking process between startups, the Orange Group, and the broader ecosystem of corporations and investors. Apply by April 7, 2022.
Academy for Women Entrepreneurs 2022. Are you a female entrepreneur seeking knowledge, network, and access to successfully run and scale your business? This opportunity is for you. Selected applicants will receive intensive training and learn practical skills needed to scale and sustain their businesses. Deadline April 7, 2022.
Elemental Excelerator 11th Cohort. Funding climate tech companies at the intersection of climate change and social equity. Supporting entrepreneurs as they tackle system-wide challenges and filling two key gaps for companies: capital for first-of-their-kind projects with the potential to change the world and investment into companies growth strategies as they’re about to hit key inflection points. Applications close April 8, 2022.
UPCOMING (VIRTUAL) EVENTS
Ladies Who Launch: Pathways to Capital, a Free Virtual Summit will elevate varying pathways to public and private funding. Alongside leading funders and fellow small business owners, learn more about how to find and successfully navigate a variety of opportunities. March 24, 2022.
African Diaspora Fintech Meetup with QED Investors. Join for an evening with the African fintech diaspora in London. Founders, investors, and other players, please help us continue to cultivate this thriving community over drinks and great conversation. March 24, 2022.
Entrepreneur First-EUR17 DEMO DAY. The unveiling of the teams who completed a 6-month program in London, Paris and Berlin, building the next generation of globally ambitious startups in various industries including Crypto, Media, Bio, Health, and many others. March 24, 2022.
Sista x Breega Inclusive Hours: Build a killer pitchdeck to secure that first VC meeting. In-person in Paris, March 24, 2022.
Playful (virtual) Meetings for Meeting Leaders. Easy to implement 5-minute activities to help your group or team connect, collaborate, and play in a virtual kind of way. March 24, 2022.
Transparent Collective Startup Showcase - Batch 8. Hear 9 early-stage, underrepresented founders with promising tech products & traction from across the country. The startups will have spent the week participating in virtual founder education workshops, receiving 1:1 mentorship, and fine-tuning their pitches — taking the knowledge they've learned to pitch to you at the startup showcase. March 25, 2022.
Gaingels NYC Fireside Chat - Powerful Women in the Venture Capital ecosystem: Investor, Marcy Simon and Venture Backed CEO, Rania Nasis, moderated by Gaingels CEO, Jennifer Jeronimo, March 29, 2022.
Own Your Raise-Demo Day for Female Founder Fellows hosted by The Capital Network. Connect to female founder fellows leading the way in MedTech, BioTech, The Future Of Work, FinTech, EdTech, FemTech & More. March 30, 2022.
Plug and Play Health: The Rise of the "Payvider" a discussion on the pressure healthcare systems and payers are under to provide cost-effective care and manage risk, and the increased use of digital solutions to access, interact with and improve outcomes for patients. April 6, 2022.
ON OUR RADAR
EU gives initial agreement to board quotas for women.
Recycled plastic bottles leach more chemicals into drinks, review finds.
London’s Biggest Burger King Restaurant Is Going Fully Vegan For One Month.
PEOPLE / ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mandela Schumacher-Hodge Dixon has just landed the role of Chief Executive Officer of All Raise.
Sokowatch secures $125M Series B Round, launches in West Africa, and rebrands to Wasoko.
Colin Kaepernick has joined the board of directors for Naomi Osaka's skincare line KINLÒ.
Diébédo Francis Kéré receives the 2022 Pritzker Architecture Prize, the first time architecture's top award goes to a Black architect.
Slack raised a $100 million for a third fund focused on collaboration to mental health and wellness, coaching, hardware and beyond.
A heartfelt thank you for reading and see you next week!
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