Working Towards an Equitable Future
Resources for Investors, Entrepreneurs, and Corporates
In 2020, we saw an influx of companies pledging to increase Diversity and Inclusion, with statements made by investors, entrepreneurs, and corporations. Almost a year later and we wanted to follow up on the topic, to continue the conversation and provide a list of organizations and networks that are dedicated to increasing diversity in 2021 and beyond, so that D&I pledges do not stay in the current moment, but amount to real structural change.
The list of resources we have put together is organized into a section for investors, one for entrepreneurs, and one for corporations, as well as a list of organizations working to provide the next generation of underrepresented talent. The goal of this list is to facilitate an increase in diversity across all sectors by providing investors and corporations with diverse talent, as well as support networks and funding opportunities for BIPOC entrepreneurs.
Resources for Investors
The six resources we put together for investors include Kapor Capital, Transparent Collective, Next Wave Impact, WOCstar, HBCUvc, and How Women Invest. With a whole range of objectives surrounding the investor and founder space, these organizations are helpful for investors looking to diversify their portfolios and for BIPOC investors looking to gain a seat at the table.
As an example of how these organizations are helping to diversify the investing space, Kapor Capital is an Oakland-based fund that invests in seed stage startups that are committed to closing gaps to access and expanding economic opportunities. The fund is particularly focused on serving African-American and Latinx communities through investing across all sectors, including education, work, finance, justice, food, and health.
Resources for Entrepreneurs
In addition to the six resources for investors, we have a list of twelve organizations aimed at helping entrepreneurs. These groups include, the Kapor Center, Real People’s Fund, Transparent Collective, Oakland Startup Network, New Voices Foundation/Fund, Concrete Rose Capital, Devcolor, Camelback Ventures, Colorwave, Goodie Nation, HBCUvc, and How Women Invest.
Having explained the work being done by the VC firm Kapor Capital, the Kapor Center is the broader organization that is working to diversify the tech industry through breaking down barriers and fostering inclusion. For BIPOC entrepreneurs, the Kapor Center is a valuable community that provides resources and opportunities for entrepreneurs of diverse backgrounds.
Resources for Corporations
For corporations, we have put together a list of five organizations helping to diversify talent in the corporate space. This list includes ColorStack, Techqueria, MLT, Year Up, LaborX, and Turning Basin Labs. In conjunction with these resources, we also found several companies dedicated to both increasing diversity in the corporate world and providing the next generation of talent through inclusive training programs. These resources include The Hidden Genius Project, as well as Colorstack and MLT, once again.
The corporate resources are particularly helpful, given the pledges made by high level companies to diversify their hiring practices. Given this, MLT is the leading source of diverse talent, dedicated to developing leaders that are Black, Latinx, and indigenous through college prep, early career guidance, and mid-career advancement.
For more information on the work being done by each of these organizations, please follow the links to their websites.
Additionally, if you know of any other resources that should be included on our list, please let us know via info@oneworld.training.