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
Conducive Capital, a newly formed South African venture capital firm, has launched a $50 million fund for early- and growth-stage tech startups across Africa. Meet The Team The fund is headed by Clive Butkow and Mitchan Adams. Butkow is the founder and former CEO of Kalon Venture Partner and former COO of Accenture South Africa. Alongside Adams, the co-founder of Ozow and current CEO of Aions, the two have collectively invested over R300 million, with an internal rate of return of more than 30% over the past seven years. Their combined expertise is set to invigorate the African
Latina-led venture capital firm Supply Change Capital has announced the close of its inaugural $40 million fund to invest in the future of food. Investing in food, culture, and tech Supply Change Capital, one of the largest Latina-led funds, invests at the intersection of food, culture, and technology to catalyze early-stage sustainable businesses that modernize the food system. The firm has deployed over $13 million across 15 early-stage food and agriculture technology companies since June 2021, with Latine, Black, and/or women founders and CEOs comprising 80% of the portfolio. Limited