Meet 1863 Ventures: The Black-Owned Accelerator Funding The “New Majority”

Black-owned investment accelerator, 1863, has unveiled its investment strategy for “New Majority” entrepreneurs, a term that they use to describe Black and Brown business owners who have been historically marginalized. The investment funding will go towards helping early-stage entrepreneurs develop their businesses to achieve generational wealth and hit their target goals.

1863, founded by Melissa Bradley in 2020, is a business development program designed to bridge the gap between entrepreneurship and equity. The platform works with marginalized entrepreneurs to help accelerate them from high potential to high growth. The firm also provides several programs to support these businesses at various stages of their development, including their early and growth stages.

“Our thesis is that entrepreneurship is becoming an increasingly viable pathway for the New Majority to build wealth; however, this is not achieved without historical headwinds,” said Melissa Bradly, founder and managing partner of 1863 Ventures.

“It costs at least a quarter of a million more for a Black founder to create the same business as their white peers. It is unrealistic to expect a New Majority company to have the same trajectory and growth as their white counterparts.”

The 1863 Fund is working to undo the structural racism and economic deprivation that marginalized people have endured for decades. The investment fund has helped several businesses across various sectors, including fintech, software hair care, beauty, healthcare, and baked goods. Not only has the fund provided a much-needed cash flow to the businesses, but it has also helped them maintain their profitability.

One of 1863’s portfolio companies, Trade Street Jam Co, has produced over 4,000 gallons of jam this year and grown to $1 million in revenue through the team’s help.

“1863’s investment has allowed me to say afloat during these tumultuous times,” said Ashley Marie Rouse, founder of the vegan brand Trade Street Jam Co.

“We have a product-based business and cannot make money without product! Investment dollars enable us to secure raw materials that are now at a higher cost, that we would not traditionally be able to afford.”

The 1863 Fund, a component of 1863 Ventures’ business development initiative, aims to generate $100 billion wealth for the New Majority by 2030.