TJ Taylor, who previously helped shape popular platforms like Raya and Dispo, has entered the venture capital world with the launch of Hobart Ventures, an $8 million fund dedicated to consumer-focused startups. Built from Taylor’s experience in consumer tech, Hobart Ventures will focus on early-stage investments in a sector often overshadowed in traditional VC circles. Hobart Ventures Aims to Support Early-Stage Consumer Tech Taylor’s pivot to venture capital comes after years in the tech industry, where he not only co-founded a stock app but also played a key role in
Research Grid, an AI-driven company dedicated to automating clinical trial administration, has raised $6.5 million in seed funding to streamline trial workflows and reduce costly delays. The funding round, led by Fuel Ventures and including backers like Ada Ventures, Morgan Stanley Inclusive Ventures Lab, and Arāya Ventures, will help Research Grid expand its engineering, R&D, and marketing efforts, with a focus on US and Asian markets. This investment supports Research Grid’s mission to cut down on the labor-intensive administrative tasks that can hinder the speed and success of medical research.
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), SoFi has launched the Give Her Credit campaign. The digital financial services platform has teamed up with tennis icon Venus Williams and Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink to spotlight progress in women’s financial rights and inspire ongoing change. The campaign will provide $500,000 in grants, distributing $10,000 each to 50 selected individuals or groups to boost projects promoting women’s financial independence. 50 years of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act Passed in 1974, the ECOA marked a
Former NASA aerospace engineer and future Blue Origin astronaut Aisha Bowe has raised $2.5 million for LINGO, her EdTech company focused on enhancing STEM education. This funding round, led by Pinnacle Private Ventures LLC, is a step towards a venture capital aimed at supporting women and minority-led startups. Expanding Access to STEM Education LINGO offers project-based coding kits and curricula designed for students aged 13 and up, covering subjects such as artificial intelligence, space systems, and environmental monitoring. The funding will enable LINGO to expand its reach, scaling programs that
BBG Ventures, the New York-based venture capital firm known for supporting female founders, has raised a new $60 million fund. Co-founders Susan Lyne and Nisha Dua, who launched BBG Ventures in 2014 with a vision of investing in women-led startups, announced that the fund’s focus now includes founders from diverse backgrounds across race, income, and age. Meeting Market Needs in a Challenging Economy Amid a significant decline in venture funding for underrepresented groups, BBG Ventures’ decision to diversify its founder support comes at a critical time. In the first half
MaC Venture Capital, a venture capital firm known for its focus on seed-stage investments, has successfully raised $150 million for its third fund, as first reported by Fortune. This latest fundraising round brings the firm’s total assets under management to $600 million, a remarkable achievement for the five-year-old firm founded by Marlon Nichols, Adrian Fenty, and Mike Palank. Strategic Growth and Investment Focus The infusion of $150 million allows MaC to increase its initial investment size to $2-3 million per startup, up from its previous average of $1.5 million in
Earthbond, a Nigerian startup that helps small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) go solar, has raised $200,000 in pre-seed funding from Madica, an Africa-focused investment firm. The funding will help Earthbond expand its solar services to more businesses, offering a cleaner and more affordable energy option as Nigeria faces rising fuel prices. Making Solar Power More Accessible Founded in 2023 by Chidalu Onyenso, Earthbond connects businesses with solar power providers, including installers and loan options, to make adopting solar energy easier and more affordable. Onyenso, a Harvard MBA and experienced product
The NAACP has announced the launch of NAACP Capital, a new fund of funds aimed at empowering fund managers and startups focused on closing gaps facing communities of color. Developed in collaboration with Kapor Capital, Kapor Center, and nine venture fund managers, the fund seeks to raise $200 million to reshape the innovation and investment landscape. Driving Impact Through Inclusive Investing The initiative is part of the #KeepAdvancing campaign, a modernized approach to civic engagement aimed at building a more inclusive economy. “Investment is the backbone of impact, and impact
Emmy-winning actress Kerry Washington has invested in Spill, a Black-owned social media platform that aims to create safer spaces for historically marginalized groups, including LGBTQIA+ and people of color. Founded by two former Twitter employees, Alphonzo “Phonz” Terrell and DeVaris Brown, Spill positions itself as a next-generation social platform that puts culture first. Kerry Washington Backs Spill With Spill, Washington is not only an investor but also an enthusiastic user. “In a digital world where marginalized groups, especially Black, Brown, and LGBTQIA folks, rarely feel prioritized, Spill stands out,” she shared
Southwest Michigan has seen the debut of its first Black-owned venture capital firm, Kalamazoo Forward Ventures (KZFV). With a $50 million commitment from limited partners, KZFV aims to empower underrepresented founders, startups, and innovators in Kalamazoo and beyond. The firm, led by a group of seven influential men from Michigan, focuses on bridging gaps for those who have traditionally lacked access to capital. A Mission to Uplift Marginalized Entrepreneurs Kalamazoo Forward Ventures’ founding members are Eric L. Wimbley, CEO of First Line Risk Management; Jamauri A. Bogan, CEO of Bogan