Black women drive culture, are early adopters and set trends, accounting for 14 percent of all U.S. women.
Yet the venture capital industry is largely exclusive of Black women. The industry is 70 percent white and 82 percent male.
Black representation in VC climbed slightly from 2 percent in 2016 to 3 percent in 2018. Black women made the difference in the 1 percent change — they were at 0 percent in 2016 — according to Richard Kerby, a Silicon Valley venture capitalist. Kerby analyzed the racial breakdown in VC in 2016 and did a 2018 update. He polled 1,500 venture capitalists and shared the data.
Listen to GHOGH with Jamarlin Martin | Episode 03: Arlan Hamilton
Jamarlin talks to Arlan Hamilton about Backstage Capital, the venture capital fund she dreamed up while she was homeless, and how she made it a reality.
Here’s a list of 39 Black women in venture capital who are blazing new trails, beating the odds, and making it look like magic. This list was compiled by Crunchbase.
Managing Director, Golden Seeds
Notable investments: BentoBox, BriteHub, CabinetM
Founding Partner and Managing Director, DiverseCity Ventures
Notable investments: ProPlanr, MultiCultural Press, Fanalyze
CEO and Founder, HBCUvc
Investment Principal, Anthemis Group
Notable investments: Betterment, Flux, Carta
Early Stage Investor
Notable investments: Blavity, Mented Cosmetics
Managing Partner, Reign Ventures
Notable investments: Zeel, Appy Couple, Villageluxe
Co-founder and Managing Director, Twenty65 Fund
General Partner, Reach Capital
Notable investments: Atlas, ClassDojo, Handshake
Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Fairview Capital
Co-Founder and Executive Director, Hillman Accelerator
Recent cohort: Excited, The Home Team, Viaggi
Partner, Venture Capital – Healthcare
Baird Capital
Notable investments: Hireology, FullContact, SnagAJob
Venture Investor, Canaan Partners
Notable investments: Kabam, LendingClub, Match.com
Principal, Abingworth
Notable investments: Attenua, Gynesonics, Avedro
Managing Partner, GenNx 360 Capital Partners
Notable investments: CRS Temporary Housing, GenServe, Salford Group
Senior Vice President Talent and Services, IVP
Notable investments: Adroll, AddThis, App Dynamics
Partner, GingerBread Capital
Notable investments: Brandless, GoldieBlox, Platejoy
Partner, Camden Partners
Notable investments: Network for Good, Cage Pharma, eNeura
Executive Managing Director, GE Ventures
Notable investments: Virgin Hyperloop One, The Hive, Alchemist Accelerator
Impact Venture Investor, Impact America Fund
Venture Partner and Investor, Portfolia
Managing Director, Enterprise Software, GE Ventures
New York Chair, TIGER 21
Investment Partner, Portfolia
Founder and Managing Partner, The 22 Fund
Principal, Rethink Education Management
Associate Partner, NewSchools Venture Fund
Principal, GV
Notable investments: Uber, Medium, Blue Bottle
Technology Angel Investor, Rogue Capital Collective
Notable investments: Mogul, Financial Gym, Rent Logic
Founder and Managing Partner, Backstage Capital
Notable investments: CapWay, Healthy Roots, Tinsel
Associate, NextEquity Partners
Notable investments: Airbnb, Facebook, Lyft
General Partner, Impact America Fund
Notable investments: HandUp, Schoolzilla, Mayvenn
Investment Partner at XFactor Ventures
Notable investments: Athena, Apostrophe Health, The Beans
Entrepreneur in Residence, Cross Culture VC
Notable investments: Wonderschool, Gimlet, Blavity
Associate, General Catalyst
Notable investments: Airbnb, ClassPass, Gusto
Partner and Founder, Kupanda Capital
Notable investments: Mavin, Nithio, Fraym
Partner, Kapor Capital
Notable investments: AngelList, Asana, Bitly
Chief Technology and Innovation Officer, National Grid
Founder and President, National Grid Partners
Notable investments: Aporeto, Pixeom, Leap
Senior Program Officer, Tech Investments, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Senior Associate, Precursor Ventures
Notable investments: Fuse, Envested, Special Guest App
Founding Partner, 1000 Angels and Reign Ventures
Notable investments: Bespoke Post, Snowball, Solo Funds
Co-Founder, Co-Chair, BLCK VC