Rapper and producer Pharrell Williams released "Entrepreneur" with Jay-Z earlier this summer, a song that became an anthem for Black ambition. Now, Williams is launching an incubator to put money behind his message.
Called Black Ambition, the nonprofit aims to invest in Black and Latino startup founders, and it's beginning by creating two prize competitions set to close in July 2021. The effort is backed by Adidas, Chanel and philanthropic organizations including The Rockefeller Foundation and the Chan Zuckerberg Foundation. Silicon Valley startup investor Ron Conway and Buzzfeed founder and CEO Jonah Peretti also contributed.
On this week's episode of the LA Venture podcast, hear from Lightspeed Ventures' partner Nicole Quinn. The iconic Silicon Valley fund has $10 billion in assets under management. Quinn focuses on early-stage consumer internet and fintech companies, with a portfolio that includes Calm, Goop, Lady Gaga's House, Rothy's, Zola and Girl Boss.
Quinn says "you can't be called Lightspeed and move slowly" and explains how they can get a term sheet done in two to three days. She also shares lots of insights on building an enduring brand that are applicable whether you're in the consumer space or creating an insurance company.
- Vamos Ventures' Marcos Gonzalez on Investing in LA's Future - dot.LA ›
- lightspeed-venture-partners - dot.LA ›
- Two LA Funds Focusing on Diversity Get PayPal Infusion - dot.LA ›
- LA Venture Podcast: Jim Andelman of Bonfire Ventures ›
- LA Venture Podcast: A Conversation With Alex Gurevich of Javelin ... ›
Vamos Ventures' Marcos Gonzalez on Investing in Latino and Under-represented Founders in LA
On this week's episode of LA Venture, hear from Marcos Gonzalez, the managing partner at Vamos Ventures, a seed-stage venture fund which invests in Latino and diverse founders. Over half of L.A. County is Latino. A relatively new fund, investments are in the range of $100,000 to $500,000. Seems like a great time to be investing in this community! And, Vamos is hiring...
- Two LA Funds Focusing on Diversity Get PayPal Infusion - dot.LA ›
- LA Venture Podcast: Jim Andelman of Bonfire Ventures ›
- LA Venture Podcast: A Conversation With Alex Gurevich of Javelin ... ›
- Vamos Ventures' Marcos Gonzalez on Investing in LA's Future - dot.LA ›