Introducing VENWIRE 💰✨: Vencapital's Monthly Newsletter!
Fall 2022 Program Wraps 🍂
This fall has been full of surprises and so much uncertainty. For fellows that joined the program, it's been a time of soul searching and real hustle and we are excited about what they will accomplish in venture as they journey ahead.
Congratulations Class of fall 2022 ! 💼💸
This fall, we welcomed 34 fellows, and placed some of them across a number of venture capital firms. Here are some highlights from the fall 2022 program.
Diversity
The racial make up of the cohort includes; 34.4% Black, 27.3% Asian, 12.1 Hispanic, 12.1% two or more races, 9.09% white, and 3.03% American Indian/Alaskan Native. Plus a new record on gender diversity, with 66% of the class identifying as women.
Placements
Four placements was done across these firms: Clear Ventures, One Way Ventures, Coyote Ventures. Other firms in the pipeline for accepting our fellows this fall/summer 2023; General Catalyst, MPM Capital, and Valia Ventures. Firms looking to hire diverse talent through the program can sign up with this form.
Deal flow
The verticals in the fall 2022 program included: Edtech 🍎, Consumer Tech 🛍, Fintech , Healthtech, SaaS, Proptech, and a new Climate Tech vertical. Some of the companies reviewed includes; Ticr, PayAngel, Sencilia, MyLÙA Health, Find Commerce, Brave Up, Immersed Games, Out Of The Box, bekome, Lyfe Health
Vencapital 💰 📉 Opportunities Digest 📍
We are grateful to all who have expressed interest in our fellowship opportunities. Our Venture Capital Foundations Course is available on Thinkific, for FREE!. If you're interested in accessing the course, email us at programs@vencapital.org. Applications for Summer 2023 ☀️ is ongoing! You can apply to join the Summer 2023 cohort here.
Fellow Spotlight 🔦
Introducing Brittni Abiolou. An entrepreneur, investor, and the founder and managing director of VentureHue. Read ahead to discover what she's up to.
Breaking into VC is not for the faint of hearts, tell us, how are you navigating the space?
I have been working to break into the VC industry by joining various fellowship programs such as Black Venture Institute and Vencapital. These fellowships have enabled me to deepen my knowledge of the industry and connect with other VCs already in the industry. I have also started angel investing and mentoring founders that are participating in accelerator programs like VentureWell and TechStars.
Since you are now angel investing, what are some of the companies in your radar?
I really believe in PayAngel, an African fintech company. It's a global fintech platform that empowers African migrants to shape the economic realities of their families and home regions, whilst enabling local businesses access new cross-border markets. They provide a multi-currency, cross-border payments, and remittance platform designed to make and receive international payments without the risk of fund diversion.
A Big shoutouts to our mentors 🎉❤️👏✨🎀📢
Christopher M. Mirable, Taylor Chapman, Jack Knellinger, Maria Pienaar, Sarah Fay, Leonardo Arango, Jessica Karr, Mercedes Chatfield-Taylor, Will Weddleton, Payal Agrawal Divakaran, Marian Nakada, Ph.D., Miguel Armaza, Mathilde Beniflah, Rich Grant, Lucas Turner-Owens, Tony Cueva Bravo, Payal Agrawal Divakaran, Lindsey Nicholson, Jennifer Goldstein, Amber Quiñones, Erik Bullen, Olivia O'sullivan, Danielle Brewin Graham, Christopher M. Mirable, Darrel Frater, Jesus Salas, Ali Mahmoud, Joanna Lichter, Lisa Mikkelsen, Steph Hay, Angela Outlaw-Matheny, Pascal Unger, Jim Marshall, Mary Tobin, Brian Devaney, Greg Adkin, Kelli N. Jones, and many more. We could not have done this without you, we appreciate and thank you all for your incredible support.
For others out there who care about diversity and would like to support the program by mentoring future venture fellows, please use this form to sign up.
Investors To Watch 💰📈
Each month we want to spotlight mentors that help make this program successful. For the month of November, we are celebrating the following mentors;
Mac Conwell, Rarebreed Ventures
Leonardo Arango, One WayVentures
Olivia O'Sullivan, Forum Ventures
Riley Rodgers, Valia Ventures
Companies to watch ⚡🚀👀🔥💸🎉
Here are some of the companies we are watching and deals we help syndicate;
Fly & Fetch - Tech enable platform making international & domestic shipping cheaper, faster, and friendlier
Manna - A social community platform that makes online recipes instantly shoppable.
Out of the Box - A classroom-in-a-box that brings learning experiences to children everywhere.
Dresos - AI powered retail solution that delivers personalized shopping experience
Wala - On-demand beauty service delivery platform for the African market
If you would like to co-invest with us on any of this deals, you can sign up here
Where our fellows go post program ?🎓🚀💼
Since launching the program in 2019, we have graduated more than 120 fellows and close to 50% of them now work in VC as principals, associates, analysts etc.
If you would like to recruit exceptional talent through the program, please reach out.
Looking to break into VC and not sure where to start? Happy to help, let's connect. If you would like to support this newsletter & get featured, please reach out!