#LATechWeek with XRC Ventures & Black Women Talk Tech | Investing in Identity: Underrepresented Founders' Consumer Brands

​Despite accounting for 10% of the US GDP, or $7 Trillion dollars of spend every year, consumer remains out of fashion with most institutional investors. Only 7.1% of venture capital (VC) investment in the US went to consumer companies in 2023, this is more exacerbated when you consider investment into brands that are founded by people of color and underrepresented groups. 

​According to McKinsey, it’s a gap that persists through each stage of growth. Looking at the total funding received (across stages) for the highest-funded start-ups at the time of exit reveals that the average start-up of a White male founder received over $210M in total funding, while the average start-up of an underrepresented founder received 43% of that—$91.1M.

​This LA #TechWeek panel will feature institutional investors sharing what they look for in a consumer founder at each stage of financing, from early stage to growth to exit. Moderated by Esosa Ighobaro Johnson, Founder at Black Women Talk Tech, this panel will feature consumer investors who not only see the value in consumer brands, but also believe in diversifying the face of funded startup founders. 

​This event is a part of #TechWeek - a week of events hosted by VCs and startups to bring together the tech ecosystem.