Black Angel Investors: Building Equity One Minority Investment at a Time

Author

Posted Oct 17, 2024

Reads 829

A Group of Women Standing Together while Wearing Blazers and Pants in Different Colors
Credit: pexels.com, A Group of Women Standing Together while Wearing Blazers and Pants in Different Colors

Black angel investors are a crucial part of building equity in minority-led businesses. They provide critical funding and expertise to entrepreneurs who are often overlooked by traditional investors.

These investors are not just limited to writing checks, they also bring valuable connections and industry knowledge to the table. For instance, a black angel investor may have a network of contacts that can help a startup secure a key partnership or distribution deal.

One notable example is the Harlem Capital Partners, a black-led venture capital firm that has invested in over 50 startups. They've made a significant impact in the industry and are changing the game for minority entrepreneurs.

By investing in black-led businesses, these angel investors are helping to create a more equitable and diverse economy.

Black Angel Investors

Black Angel Investors are making a significant impact in the investment world.

William (Tré) Clayton, a 26-year-old investment banking professional, has made it his personal mission to invest in minority-owned companies, starting with his first investment in NeuroVice, a medtech startup founded by Black female founder Ashlyn Sanders.

Credit: youtube.com, FOR BLACKS | 20 Black Angel Investors That Invest in Black #startup

Clayton's investment journey began with watching "Shark Tank" as a high school freshman and later learning about venture capital while working at an investment banking firm in New York City.

He's now a venture fellow and limited partner at Collab Capital, a $50 million fund dedicated to Black founders, and is looking to have another investment under his belt by the end of the year.

Ensuring a successful exit is top of mind for Clayton, but he's also driven by a personal goal of transforming humanity through financial literacy and equitable opportunities for people of color.

Building Equity One Minority Investment At A Time

Building equity one minority investment at a time is a mission-driven approach that's gaining traction in the venture capital space. This approach is driven by individuals who are passionate about creating a more inclusive and equitable ecosystem.

William (Tré) Clayton, a 26-year-old vice president at Siebert Williams Shank, is a great example of someone who's making a difference through his personal investments. He's a venture fellow and limited partner at Collab Capital, a $50 million fund dedicated to Black founders.

Credit: youtube.com, How to Start Angel Investing with Lauren Washington

Tré's personal mission is to "transform humanity through financial literacy and equitable opportunities for people of color — one minority investment at a time." He's already made a significant impact by investing in Cary medtech startup NeuroVice, founded by Black female founder Ashlyn Sanders.

Black Girl Ventures is another organization that's working towards building equity one minority investment at a time. Their mission is to provide Black/Brown woman-identifying founders with access to community, capital, and capacity building.

By investing in Black and Latinx women-led tech companies, digitalundivided is also championing the cause of building equity one minority investment at a time. They've already invested in over 52 companies and distributed $25 million in investments.

Evals Equity is a new women-focused VC fund that provides grants and funding to women of color and minority-owned businesses. Founded by Dr. Rashae Barnes, Evals Equity provides grants in the amount of $5K to $50K and helps entrepreneurs navigate the fundraising process.

The impact of these individuals and organizations is significant, and it's a testament to the power of building equity one minority investment at a time. By investing in underrepresented founders, they're not only creating a more inclusive ecosystem but also generating returns that are in line with or even outperforming traditional venture capital funds.

Explore further: Time Sunset Los Angeles

Notable Black Angel Investors

Credit: youtube.com, Black Angel Investors on Raising Your First Round

Tré Clayton, a 26-year-old angel investor, is driven by a personal mission to transform humanity through financial literacy and equitable opportunities for people of color. He's working towards this goal by investing in minority-led startups.

As a venture fellow and limited partner at Collab Capital, a $50 million fund dedicated to Black founders, Clayton is committed to creating a more inclusive investment environment. He recently invested in NeuroVice, a medtech startup founded by Black female founder Ashlyn Sanders.

Clayton's approach to angel investing is guided by a desire to ensure a successful exit and make another investment before the end of the year.

Rare Breed

Rare Breed Ventures is a pre-seed fund that invests in exceptional founders outside of large tech ecosystems, earlier than everyone else. They take a concentrated portfolio approach by writing checks of up to $250K as the first or one of the first investors.

Their top verticals include Consumer, Wellness, and Medical. They're not limited to investing in minority-led startups, but they do reserve capital for investments in minority and women founders.

Rare Breed Ventures is unique in that they invest in companies with a tight product-customer fit that expect to accelerate quickly. They call this acceleration capital (post-seed to growth).

Discover more: Black Seed Oil

Innovation

Credit: youtube.com, Angel Investors: How to Find Investors [in 2023]

Innovation is thriving in the hands of black angel investors who are dedicated to backing promising founders in the tech space. Black Innovation Capital, based in Canada, was built on the success of Dream Maker Ventures, with a clear objective to invest in black founders.

Black Innovation Capital is a prime example of how innovation can be fueled by a commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Philosophy and Approach

Black angel investors are changing the game by focusing on good business deals, not just philanthropy. Bill Spruill is a great example of this approach.

Resilient Ventures is dedicated to disrupting systemic economic injustice by expanding access to capital, networks, and opportunity to companies. They focus on consumer, tech, and healthcare companies.

Bill Spruill knows firsthand the hardships of raising capital as a person of color, having bootstrapped his global identity verification platform in 2011. He's since raised $3.5 million and is scaling quickly.

Spruill's strategy is to invest in deals that will "make me money and generate a return", not just because they're led by African Americans. He wants to invest in good business deals, period.

A fresh viewpoint: Good Black Tea

Sources

  1. The 22 Fund (the22fund.com)
  2. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/the-22-fund (crunchbase.com)
  3. 645 Ventures (645ventures.com)
  4. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/645-ventures (crunchbase.com)
  5. 1863 Fund (1863ventures.net)
  6. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/1863-ventures (crunchbase.com)
  7. Accion Venture Lab (accion.org)
  8. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/venture-lab (crunchbase.com)
  9. AIN Ventures (ainventures.com)
  10. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/academy-investor-network (crunchbase.com)
  11. Aperture Venture Capital (aperturevc.com)
  12. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/aperture-venture-capital (crunchbase.com)
  13. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/authentic-ventures-2 (crunchbase.com)
  14. Backstage Capital (backstagecapital.com)
  15. https://backstagecapital.com/ (backstagecapital.com)
  16. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/backstage-capital (crunchbase.com)
  17. Base10 Partners (base10.vc)
  18. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/base10-partners (crunchbase.com)
  19. Black Founders Matter (blackfoundersmatter.org)
  20. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/black-founders-matter (crunchbase.com)
  21. Black Girl Ventures (brv.com)
  22. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/black-girl-ventures (crunchbase.com)
  23. Black Innovation Capital (blackinnovation.capital)
  24. Black Operator Ventures (blackopsvc.com)
  25. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/black-ops-ventures (crunchbase.com)
  26. Black Star Fund (blackstar.fund)
  27. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/black-star-fund (crunchbase.com)
  28. Black Tech Nation Ventures (btn.vc)
  29. Cake Ventures (cake.vc)
  30. Camelback Ventures (camelbackventures.org)
  31. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/camelback-ventures (crunchbase.com)
  32. Celesta Capital (celesta.vc)
  33. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/wrvi-capital (crunchbase.com)
  34. Cleo Capital (cleocap.com)
  35. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/cleo-capital (crunchbase.com)
  36. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/cleveland-avenue (crunchbase.com)
  37. Collab Capital (collab.capital)
  38. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/collab-capital (crunchbase.com)
  39. Concrete Rose (concreterosecapital.com)
  40. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/concrete-rose-capital (crunchbase.com)
  41. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/connectivity-capital (crunchbase.com)
  42. Debut Capital (debutcapital.com)
  43. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/debut-capital (crunchbase.com)
  44. DigitalUndivided (digitalundivided.com)
  45. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/digitalundivided (crunchbase.com)
  46. EchoVC Partners (echovc.com)
  47. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/echovc-partners (crunchbase.com)
  48. Elevate Capital (elevate.vc)
  49. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/elevate-capital (crunchbase.com)
  50. Fearless Fund (fearless.fund)
  51. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/fearless-fund (crunchbase.com)
  52. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/fifth-star-funds (crunchbase.com)
  53. Founders First Capital Partners (foundersfirstcapitalpartners.com)
  54. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/founders-first-capital (crunchbase.com)
  55. Gateway Capital Partners (gwaycapital.com)
  56. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/gateway-capital-partners (crunchbase.com)
  57. GV (gv.com)
  58. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/google-ventures (crunchbase.com)
  59. Harlem Capital (harlem.capital)
  60. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/harlem-capital-partners (crunchbase.com)
  61. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/high-street-equity-partners (crunchbase.com)
  62. Impact America Fund (impactamericafund.com)
  63. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/impact-america-fund (crunchbase.com)
  64. Kapor Capital (kaporcapital.com)
  65. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/kapor-capital (crunchbase.com)
  66. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/kindred-ventures-2 (crunchbase.com)
  67. Lightship Capital (lightship.capital)
  68. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/lightship-capital (crunchbase.com)
  69. Lockstep Ventures (lockstepventures.com)
  70. MaC Venture Capital (macventurecapital.com)
  71. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/mac-venture-capital (crunchbase.com)
  72. Matrix Partners (matrixpartners.com)
  73. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/matrix-partners (crunchbase.com)
  74. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/new-age-capital (crunchbase.com)
  75. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/new-voices-fund (crunchbase.com)
  76. NOEMIS Ventures (noemisventures.com)
  77. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/noemis-ventures (crunchbase.com)
  78. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/ocv (crunchbase.com)
  79. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/overlooked-ventures (crunchbase.com)
  80. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/panoramic-ventures (crunchbase.com)
  81. Precursor Ventures (precursorvc.com)
  82. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/precursor-ventures (crunchbase.com)
  83. PS27 Ventures (ps27ventures.com)
  84. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/ps27-ventures (crunchbase.com)
  85. RareBreed Ventures (rarebreed.webflow.io)
  86. Reach Capital (reachcapital.com)
  87. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/realist-ventures (crunchbase.com)
  88. Reign Ventures (reignvc.com)
  89. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/reign-ventures (crunchbase.com)
  90. http://reinventurecapital.com/ (reinventurecapital.com)
  91. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/reinventure-capital (crunchbase.com)
  92. Resilient Ventures (resilientventures.org)
  93. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/resilient-ventures (crunchbase.com)
  94. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/rough-draft-ventures (crunchbase.com)
  95. Serena Ventures (serenaventures.com)
  96. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/serena-ventures (crunchbase.com)
  97. Sixty8 Capital (sixty8.capital)
  98. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/sixty8-capital (crunchbase.com)
  99. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/slauson-co (crunchbase.com)
  100. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/stellation-capital (crunchbase.com)
  101. Swanlaab USA Ventures (swanlaabusa.com)
  102. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/swanlaab-usa-ventures (crunchbase.com)
  103. Unseen Capital (unseen.capital)
  104. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/unseen-capital/recent_investments (crunchbase.com)
  105. Upfront Ventures (upfront.com)
  106. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/upfront-ventures (crunchbase.com)
  107. Village Capital (vilcap.com)
  108. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/village-capital (crunchbase.com)
  109. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/visible-hands (crunchbase.com)
  110. Zane Venture Fund (zane.vc)
  111. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/zane-venture-fund (crunchbase.com)
  112. Zeal Capital Partners (zealvc.co)
  113. https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/zeal-capital-partners (crunchbase.com)
  114. Black Angel Tech Fund (blackangeltechfund.com)
  115. EchoVC Partners (echovc.com)
  116. Harlem Capital Partners (harlem.capital)
  117. Base Ventures (base.ventures)
  118. New Voices Fund (newvoicesfund.com)
  119. The Fearless Fund (fearless.fund)
  120. Backstage Capital (backstagecapital.com)
  121. DiverseCity Ventures (diversecityv.com)
  122. Precursor Ventures (precursorvc.com)
  123. Hadiyah Mujhid x HBCU.vc (hbcu.vc)
  124. digitalundivided (digitalundivided.com)
  125. Impact America Fund (impactamericafund.com)
  126. Reach Capital (reachcapital.com)
  127. GenNX360 Capital Partners (gennx360.com)
  128. Authentic Ventures (authentic-ventures.com)
  129. Collab Capital (collab.capital)
  130. Lightship Capital (lightship.capital)
  131. PS27 Ventures (ps27ventures.com)
  132. Evals Equity (evalsequity.com)
  133. Collab Capital (collab.capital)
  134. Black Star Fund (blackstar.fund)
  135. Serena Ventures (serenaventures.com)
  136. GenNx360 Capital Partners (gennx360.com)
  137. Authentic Ventures (authentic-ventures.com)
  138. Impact America Fund (impactamericafund.com)
  139. 645 Ventures (645ventures.com)
  140. Backstage Capital (backstagecapital.com)
  141. Harlem Capital Partners (harlem.capital)
  142. Precursor Ventures (precursorvc.com)
  143. Fairview Capital Partners (fairviewcapital.com)
  144. DiverseCity Ventures (diversecityv.com)
  145. Cross Culture Ventures (crossculturevc.com)
  146. Base Ventures (base.ventures)
  147. Reinventure Capital (reinventurecapital.com)
  148. Syncom Venture Partners (syncom.com)
  149. Plexo Capital (plexocap.com)
  150. Pinterest (pinterest.com)
  151. Twitter (twitter.com)
  152. Greycroft (greycroft.com)
  153. Toyota Ventures (toyota.ventures)
  154. Reign Ventures (reignvc.com)
  155. Capitalize VC (capitalizevc.com)
  156. Flare Capital Partners (flarecapital.com)
  157. Kapor Capital (kaporcapital.com)
  158. Insight Partners (insightpartners.com)
  159. Bill Spruill (linkedin.com)
  160. William (Tré) Clayton (linkedin.com)

Harold Raynor

Writer

Harold Raynor is a seasoned writer with a keen eye for detail and a passion for sharing knowledge with others. With a background in business and finance, he brings a unique perspective to his writing, tackling complex topics with clarity and ease. Harold's writing portfolio spans a range of article categories, including angel investing, angel investors, and the Los Angeles venture capital scene.