Darius Clair

✨ Breaking: Halogen Ventures Announces New Fund.- Halogen Ventures Halogen Ventures focuses on early-stage consumer technology startups with at least one woman on the founding team. The fund announced a $10 million investment to support female founders in Alabama. https://halogenvc.com/ Please share to let other #Founders know For the ❤️ of Startups #Fusion42 #Startups #Venturecapital

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If you're building a fintech startup, you likely know of this investor, but just in case... This week's findfunding.vc spotlight is on Neil Kapur from TTV Capital. He: 🛫 Is based in SF & Atlanta 💲 Has spent time at Google in consumer-facing payments & at two fintech startups  🏔️ Loves alpine mountaineering and has climbed Kilimanjaro, Denali, Rainier, and more!! Amongst founders, Neil and the team at TTV Capital , including Gardiner Garrard, Mark Johnson, Sean Banks, Lizzie Guynn, and Laney Lewis are known for saying “lift, not lean.” They believe that their job as investors is not to create work for founders, but instead ask the right questions and help navigate to the best outcomes. Knowing Neil well personally, he's not only my go-to person for anything related to fintech but I can also highly recommend having him on your cap table - he's the kind of human you want to have in your corner during both good times and bad. Make sure to: ✉️ Pitch him at nkapur@ttvcapital.com ➡️ Follow TTV Capital on LinkedIn For more, check out our funder spotlight card below along with TTV Capital's profile on findfunding.vc (link in comments).

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📢 Mayor Bowser Introduces $26 Million DC Venture Capital Fund to Support Early-Stage Tech Startups 🚀 Exciting news for the Washington D.C. tech scene! Mayor Bowser has launched a $26 million venture capital fund aimed at nurturing early-stage tech startups. This initiative is set to drive innovation, create jobs, and accelerate economic growth in the region. Discover how this fund can empower your startup and strengthen the local tech ecosystem. 👉 https://buff.ly/3VLbuu5 #VentureCapital #TechStartups #Innovation #EconomicGrowth #WashingtonDC #MayorBowser #StartupFunding #TechEcosystem #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #StartupSupport #DCTech

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✨ Breaking: BFM Fund Announces New Fund.- BFM Fund A seed-stage fund focusing on founders who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color, promoting diversity in venture capital. https://www.bfm.fund Please share to let other #Founders know For the ❤️ of Startups #Fusion42 #Startups#Venturecapital

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🚨 This is it – The Final Push! 🚨 We’re down to the wire, and your vote could be the one that helps Ferna Tech take the stage at SXSW London 2025! Our panel, “A $16M Blueprint: How Black Founders Can Raise Smart Capital, Drive Culture & Go from Founder to Funded,” is more than a conversation—it’s a movement. It’s about reshaping the narrative, opening doors, and creating actionable pathways for underrepresented founders to thrive. This is your chance to make a statement: → That representation matters → That excellence against all odds deserves a global stage → That community-driven progress is the future 🔗 Vote here: https://lnkd.in/dHQzFMav 👇🏽 How to vote: 📹 #fernatech #sxsw #voteferna #fernafounders #blacktech #founders #venturestudio #AfroTech #Community #innovation

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Michael Seibel, Y Combinator's first Black partner (2013) and first Black president (2016), is number #5 on MyCofoundr.AI's Black Vanguard List (https://lnkd.in/ekAbZ7cG). 🎉 Michael is a trailblazing founder, investor, and board member, who has redefined what excellence and leadership looks like in tech and venture capital. From co-founding Justin.tv (which became Twitch and was acquired by Amazon for $970 million), to leading Socialcam (acquired by Autodesk for $60 million just 15 months after its launch), Michael’s entrepreneurial track record is impeccable. Now serving as Group Partner and Managing Director, Early Stage at YC, Michael has been pivotal in shaping YC’s global reputation and empowering founders from under-networked communities. Since its inception, YC has backed over 5,000 startups with a combined valuation of more than $600 billion, and Michael has personally guided hundreds of these companies to success. He also serves on the boards of companies like Reddit, Inc. and Dropbox, driving innovation and championing diversity at the highest levels. For anyone seeking inspiration and actionable insights, check out this must-watch video where Michael shares “What I’ve Learned After 10 Years at YC”: https://lnkd.in/eCJjeSmZ. For founders, Michael’s decade of insights at YC is invaluable: ➡️ Solve real problems: Focus on underserved markets you understand deeply, turning challenges into opportunities. ➡️ Show traction: Metrics like retention and revenue can open funding doors and overcome systemic biases. ➡️ Tell a clear, compelling story: Clarity and vision in your pitch are essential for standing out. ➡️ Bootstrap early: Prove your concept and resilience before seeking external capital. YC itself actively invests in diverse founders: -- AUM: Over $80 billion -- Average Check Size: $500,000 for a 7% equity stake -- Diversity Investments (as of 2023): 15% female-founded startups (~644), 10% Hispanic/Latino-founded (~424), and 6% Black-founded (~246). -- Focus Areas: Pre-seed and seed-stage startups in software, biotech, education, consumer products, and more -- Success Stories: Airbnb, Dropbox, Stripe, Reddit, Inc., Instacart, DoorDash, Coinbase, Brex, PagerDuty, etc. Michael’s leadership has significantly influenced YC’s commitment to inclusivity, proving that innovation and inclusion go hand in hand. Thank you, Michael, for your exceptional contributions to the entrepreneurial ecosystem and for paving the way for a new generation of founders and investors to thrive. #BlackExcellence #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #YCombinator #Startups

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Big Opportunities for Emerging Venture Funds The venture capital world is changing fast. Emerging fund managers face tough competition, opening up some great opportunities. Highlights: - More Competition: With over 10,000 funds, emerging managers must stand out. - Smart Strategies: Many are cutting their fund targets and teaming up with big firms to stay in the game. - Niche Focus: Specializing in specific sectors can give emerging funds a big advantage. - Strong Networks: Building relationships with larger VCs is crucial for finding great deals and growing. Even with the challenges, emerging managers can thrive by being innovative and leveraging their unique strengths. This could reshape the venture capital scene for the better. #VentureCapital #EmergingFunds #Investment #Startups #Entrepreneurship #Funding #Opportunity

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I really enjoyed recording this episode of The Digital Industrial Podcast with Ty Findley. We talked about common misconceptions for deep tech, the "Why Now" for the category, and differences between investor diligence for deep tech and traditional tech. https://lnkd.in/eKtwjauu

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Excited to join Blackout Tuesday # 18 at LocalGlobe this coming Tuesday centered around the theme: 'Increasing Venture-backed Black Founders: Journey from Seed to Series A and Beyond'. This event will focus on the challenges Black founders face when scaling startups and provide insights on navigating growth stages from Pre-seed to Series A. After a panel of founders sharing their experiences, the breakout session will dive into practical strategies for scaling. ✏ Register here: https://lnkd.in/eHZpMDN2 Launched in 2020, Blackout Tuesday aims to: 1. Increase Black representation in VCs 2. Boost venture funding for Black founders 3. Elevate Black employees in venture-backed companies 4. Support Black GPs 5. Increase Black or Black-aligned LP representation Balderton Capital Phoenix Court Blackout Tuesday

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Our BankTech Ventures ecosystem at work! Kaitlyn Shevlin getting perspective from a bank-enabling company, ZSuite Tech, a partner, Ncontracts, and our banks on how they do 3rd party risk management and vendor due diligence better with tech companies and service providers. I love these productive conversations with multiple perspectives. So many insights and actionable suggestions. And it’s so cool to see my teammate organizing and leading this discussion! #banktechsummit #makingbanksbetter

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Fundraising trends for underepresented founders 1) Black founders saw record funding in 2021, but funding has since declined, indicating lack of sustained support from investors. 2) Women founders have seen consistent funding in recent years, but funding for solo women founders remains a challenge. 3) Other marginalized groups, such as Latino and LGBTQ+ founders, also face difficulties in securing venture capital funding. #founders #dei #vc #venture #startups #venturecapital

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The NAACP has just launched a $200 million Fund of Funds to back fund managers and startups focused on issues that impact people of color. Conceptualized in partnership with Kapor Center & Kapor Capital. #Legacy: As the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization (founded in 1909), the NAACP continues its mission to advance racial justice with major initiatives. NAACP Capital will target a portfolio of over 20 diverse funds, with a specific focus on #fintech, #healthtech, #edtech, and #climatetech. Derrick Johnson, President and CEO, highlights the potential: “Investment is the backbone of impact, and impact investing will shape socioeconomics for generations to come. It's time to invest in fund managers who share a forward-looking vision that invests in innovation and technology, ensuring the economy works for everybody, not just a select few." ➡️ And the need is obvious: Black founders raised less than 1% of VC capital last year. [Crunchbase] Jay Lundy, Managing Director, leads this bold venture: "Our investment strategy will target the intersection of generational impact and tech innovation and we believe that this holistic approach will allow us to drive both impact at scale and generate top returns on investment." 🌟 Very excited to see this. An issue I care deeply about. Congratulations to all involved. 🌟 https://lnkd.in/e9ybTuV9 #VentureCapital #VC #KeepAdvancing #ImpactInvesting #EmergingManager #FundofFunds

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New Year, New Opportunities: Meet the Top 5 Investors Supporting Black Founders As 2025 begins, let’s celebrate the trailblazers breaking barriers and creating opportunities for under-networked founders. These visionary investors inspire us at MyCofoundr.AI to dream bigger and aim higher: 🌟 5. Michael Seibel – The Startup Sage -- Firm: Y Combinator I $600B Portfolio Valuation -- Thesis: Mentoring over 1,700 startups, including Airbnb. Y Combinator’s first Black partner and first Black president. -- Notable Successes: Co-founded Twitch (sold to Amazon for $970M) and Socialcam Inc. (sold to Autodesk for $60M). 🔥 4. Marlon C. Nichols & Charles D. King – The MaC Mavericks -- Firm: MaC Venture Capital | AUM: $200M+ -- Thesis: Building a venture capital ecosystem that prioritizes diverse leadership and innovative ideas. -- Notable Successes: Backed Gimlet Media, MongoDB, and Blavity Inc. . Their portfolio boasts 69% Black and Latino founders, proving diversity is a business advantage. 🌱 3. Arian Simone – The Fearless Phenom -- Firm: Fearless Fund | AUM: $25M Fund -- Thesis: Creating opportunities for women of color through transformative investments. -- Notable Successes: Over 40 investments and partnerships with JPMorganChase and Mastercard. Despite legal challenges leading to the closure of their grant program for Black women entrepreneurs, the Fearless Fund remains unwavering in its mission. Arian has stated that the organization continues to support under-resourced entrepreneurs, demonstrating the resilience and commitment that we all need. 💡 2. Adeyemi Ajao (“Ade”) – The Billion-Dollar Visionary -- Firm: Base10 Partners | AUM: $1B+ -- Thesis: Driving investments in startups serving the “99%” while transforming inclusion into exponential growth. -- Notable Successes: Co-founded Tuenti (sold to Telefonica for $100M) and identified (acquired by Workday). Backed unicorns like Figma (acquired by Adobe) and Cabify, showcasing the power of global innovation. 🔥 1. Charles Hudson – The Precursor Pioneer -- Firm: Precursor Ventures | AUM: $200M+ -- Thesis: Championing early-stage founders and reshaping the future of inclusive investing. -- Notable Successes: Backed over 400 startups, including AnyRoad and VoiceOps. Charles is redefining early-stage investment by focusing on untapped talent and under-networked founders. These trailblazers show us that when we set bold goals and invest in diversity, we create a world where everyone wins. That's what's driving us at MyCofoundr.AI; we’re committed to using AI to help under-networked founders connect with the resources, investors, and tools they need to thrive. If you’re looking for your unfair advantage this year, let’s make 2025 the year you level up. Who’s inspiring your New Year’s resolutions? Who do you should have been on the list that we might have missed? Let's celebrate them! Drop your thoughts below!

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Funding down dramatically to Black founders in 2023 across early stages - Sign the Community Development Investment Tax Credit Act and Expanding American Entrepreneurship Act before 5 PM TODAY. Peter Walker of Carta shared this on the state of funding to Black Founders -"2023 was the lowest share of fundraising for Black founders in our Carta dataset since 2020. The declines were consistent across pre-priced, Seed, and Series A rounds. One underreported thesis is that as VCs sought to reduce risk in the venture downturn of the last year or two, they funded repeat founders to an even larger degree than in prior timeframes. And Black founders are less represented among repeat founders (who would have had to found their companies in a less diverse VC ecosystem) than they are among founders as a whole." This is critical and all hands are required to advocate for Black Founders and reverse the anemic numbers around funding. The Center for American Entrepreneurship & Engine | Advocacy & Foundation are asking founders and ecosystem builders of color to sign a letter urging US Congress to pass: Community Development Investment Tax Credit Act: Boosts investment in Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). "The legislation would create a new tax credit for private sector investors that make hashtag equity or equity equivalent investments in, or that provide long-term patient capital (i.e., loans with a minimum term of at least 10 years) to CDFIs." Expanding American Entrepreneurship Act: "The legislation would raise the cap on funds organized under a 2018 sub-category of section 3(c)(1) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 from $10 million to $50 million, and double the number of permitted investors from 250 to 500. Together, these changes will enable emerging fundmanagers to raise larger funds." Thanks to John Dearie for your tireless efforts and advocacy. Please add your your name to this letter before 5pm ET Today 🔗https://lnkd.in/grrzAeWG Samantha Katz Dominic-Madori Davis

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Last week’s conversation with John T. Perrone, CEO of BitWallet™, was a deep dive into the world of cryptocurrency and fintech. If you haven’t listened yet, now’s the time! John’s insights on making digital finance accessible and secure are not to be missed. Join us as we explore how BitWallet is revolutionizing the crypto world right here in Houston. 🚀 🎙️ Check out full the episode: https://lnkd.in/effjYP_A

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I exercised my right to vote and encourage everyone to do the same. In today’s presidential election, we have a unique opportunity to influence both the political landscape and the future of entrepreneurship. Today's decisions will impact policies that affect startups, innovation, and economic growth. The worst outcome is a future shaped without your voice. Every vote counts; together, we can create an environment where entrepreneurs thrive. Join me in making your voice heard—let’s shape a future that supports innovation and growth! #vote #voting #election #politics #votingmatters #Election2024 #Nov5th #GetOutAndVote

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TOMORROW! Black Dog Venture Partners and VC Fast Pitch present, "How to find and pitch investors for your startup". Date: Thursday, Oct 17, 1:00 PM Eastern Time via zoom. Register FREE at: https://lnkd.in/eRpB9xJS #Pitch #investors #Venturecapital #angelinvestors #startup #founders #funding #financing #fundraising

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