A Black-led cryptocurrency Venture Fund; The ascent of African entertainment; HBCUvc’s $1 Million Lab Fund.
A weekly newsletter for Black and Brown women highlighting entrepreneurship and venture capital in the tech ecosystem.
Welcome to Issue #56 of For Colored Girls Who Tech, a weekly newsletter for Black and Brown women highlighting entrepreneurship and venture capital in the tech ecosystem. We are a community-centric newsletter so 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!
Happy Father’s Day to those of our readers celebrating. This is going to be short and sweet this week as I’m spending the day with family and heading to Nairobi on a flight tomorrow. Know of any startups I should meet? Send me a message.
INSIGHTS
The Clubby World of Venture Capital Finds a New Bet: Black Entrepreneurs
-The Wall Street Journal
The ascent of African entertainment: A global audience and increased investment are driving booming African film, TV, and music industries
-Quartz
What happens in an IPO? - Part 1
-Vivek Raju
The economic state of Black America: What is and what could be
-McKinsey Global Institute
“Fantasy Hollywood” — Crypto and Community-Owned Characters
-Cuy Sheffield/ Future A16
Scale-Up Europe: How to build global tech leaders in Europe
-Sifted
OPPORTUNITIES, FUNDING & COMPETITIONS
Applications for HBCUvc’s $1 Million Lab Fund are now open. The fund, which is managed and operated by HBCUvc fellows, offers first-hand investment experience while financially supporting Black, Indigenous, and Latinx founders of early-stage, tech-based businesses.
Forbes 2021 Next Billion-Dollar Startups List: Nominations Are Open. Deadline June 25, 2021.
Last MileMoney program (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation x IDEO partnership) has launched a fintech accelerator program with $50k grants and hands-on product design in emerging markets! Apply by July 11, 2021.
Win Hustle Fund swag and a one-hour pitch workshop with Hustle Fund general partners Elizabeth Yin and Eric Bahn. Apply by June 25, 2021.
Social & Inclusive Business Camp 2021 is an acceleration and capacity building programme dedicated to entrepreneurs with an impact project on the African continent and with a desire to scale up. Apply by July 3, 2021.
Black Founders Fund-Accelerated with Google. A 10-week digital accelerator program for high potential Seed to Series A tech startups based in North America. Apply by July 9, 2021.
UPCOMING (VIRTUAL) EVENTS
Breaking the Series A Barrier w/ SoCal Venture Pipeline in partnership with Silicon Valley Bank, June 22, 2021.
Founders Fund Pitch Competition Finale. 10 finalists will pitch for a chance to receive non-repayable funding & resources exclusive to women entrepreneurs! June 23, 2021.
Black Entrepreneurship & Fundraising in 2021- Have We Made Any Progress? by TechStars, June 24, 2021.
Campfire Presents: Women in Tech - Champions of Innovation, June 24, 2021.
VC Lab Info Session: Learn how VC Lab helps new managers launch VC funds, June 24, 2021.
A Conversation with Dr. Dambisa Moyo on How Boards (Should) Work, June 25, 2021.
"No One Succeeds Alone" with Robert Reffkin, Compass CEO by Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center, June 29, 2021.
King’s 20 Accelerator Demo Day 2021, June 30, 2021.
Africa Next E-Pitch Session-July 7, 2021.
ON OUR RADAR
Surprise: Women and Minorities Are Still Underrepresented in Corporate Boardrooms.
Accent bias is an unchecked signal of racism in the workplace.
‘A Family Like Ours’: Portraits of Gay Fatherhood
PEOPLE / ANNOUNCEMENTS
Erikan Obotetukudo launches Audacity Fund, a cryptocurrency Venture Fund to Focus on Black Startups.
Harry Stebbings, podcaster turned tech investor raises $140m fund.
Anré Williams named Chief Executive Officer of American Express National Bank (AENB) and Group President, Enterprise Services.
Forbes Next 1000 2021 List: The Upstart entrepreneurs redefining the American Dream.
The EU has introduced a new ‘digital’ ID. Here’s what it means for you.
A heartfelt thank you for reading and see you next week!
You can follow us on Twitter @veliza9 and @4Cgirlswhotech for updates throughout the week.
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