Black Founders and Funders Group

​Our upcoming monthly meeting of the BFF is on April 24th, and we're excited to have Dan Kihanya, REI Co-op's Director of Path Ahead Ventures, join the fireside chat with Jamar this time around.

​REI Co-op's Path Ahead Ventures offers full-spectrum support to startups owned and led by Black, Indigenous, Latina/o/x and Asian American and Pacific Islander people. Their goal: to accelerate the success of founders of color, whether you're growing a business or just starting out. 

​RSVP now, this is one you don't want to miss!

​Dan Kihanya has a passion for mentoring the early entrepreneur. He leverages his varied perspectives of the start-up ecosystem: as co-founder, early executive, investor, and advisor. Dan's specialties include: early stage start-up strategies, fundraising, lean startup process, product-market fit, customer growth. Here are a just few highlights to share about Dan:

• ​Helping to build more equity in the outdoor industry through REI Co-op Path Ahead Ventures and work with diverse founders.

• ​Podcast host @foundersunfound
  Investor/Co-Founder, helped build 1M+ userbase for Wizely, a leading fintech app built for the India market.

• ​Co-founding Managing Director of Impact Hub Bellevue, coworking and incubation community for start-ups and social entrepreneurs

• ​Co-founder for MyPoints.com, Inc., a leading provider of Internet direct marketing and consumer rewards; helped lead to IPO

• ​Oversaw award-winning mobile coupon product at Cellfire; launched brand and service; acquired first 2 million consumers; now owned by Catalina Marketing Corporation

• ​Built a loyalty services company-LSC; focused on solutions and infrastructure for customer rewards programs; co-developed India's first coalition loyalty program, i-mint – now owned by America Express Payback

• ​Venture Partner at Stockton Ventures, a private equity firm that focuses on early-stage, high growth opportunities in interactive media and biosciences

​In addition to Dan's keynote address we will enjoy a presentation from Yolanda Barton about her startup, Revere XR, which has been making some huge waves lately. For example, Yolanda recently presented an AI-enabled Jimi Hendrix avatar, highlighting Seattle's Black history, at the Nvidia GTC AI conference. Prepare to don the goggles for an immersive 3D experience at her demo table after the stage portion of the meeting. 

​Our good friend Dr. Traci Harrell will be presenting some information on upcoming events from the National Black MBA Association, among other local events that our members will want to hear about. 

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​Venture Mechanics is proud to be partnering with WTIA and others supporting organizations to sponsor the Black Founders and Funders even here at the Venture Mechanics Startup Launchpad in Bellevue.

​​Meetings are generally held on the 4th Wednesday of every month. Join us for a night of networking and empowerment for black founders in the Pacific Northwest. Light food and beverages will be served; free and convenient parking.

Learn all about the group and how to sign up as a member here.