VC MKE returning for a second yr of connecting founders of colour to capital
VC MKE is returning this yr for its second in-person occasion, to be held along side Summerfest Tech, from June 28 via June 29.
The group was based by Milwaukee-area professionals Dana Guthrie, Que El-Amin, Tarik Moody, Ed Javier and Maggie Fernandes. The group hopes to assist Midwest founders of colour by connecting them with enterprise capitalists. VC MKE goals to develop an equity-focused startup group.
Final yr’s occasion drew 14 completely different enterprise capital companies and 20 founders. Fernandes, co-founder of VC MKE, stated the inaugural occasion was “very nicely obtained” and the group seems to be ahead to persevering with the work began in 2022.
“Founders within the area already discover it tough to attach with VCs generally, whenever you have a look at founders of colour, that is even a larger downside,” stated Fernandes. “This occasion is a begin at making an attempt to unravel that discrepancy.”
A 2020 Kauffman Fellows report confirmed that various startup groups have bother initially gaining investments, however as soon as they do, they increase extra capital and have higher monetary outcomes by 30% when in comparison with non-diverse startups.
“VC MKE will present alternatives for founders of colour to achieve beneficial expertise networking and connecting with VCs,” stated Moody, of 88Nine RadioMilwaukee. He’s additionally a co-founder of VC MKE. “We’re excited to host this occasion in Milwaukee together with our buddies at Summerfest Tech.”
For VCs, the occasion will provide an opportunity to satisfy one-on-one with founders of colour, in addition to join and community with different traders with comparable pursuits. VCs and founders of colour can register to attend the occasion, which might be held at Potawatomi On line casino Lodge together with this yr’s slate of Summerfest Tech programming, on-line.
