How We’re Helping Black Founders Raise Capital to Build Successful Businesses | Himalaya Rao
Season 3, Episode 22, Apr 18, 2023, 03:57 PM
NEW EPISODE ALERT | BLACK FOUNDERS MATTER (BFM)
I'm honored to bring Himalaya Rao-Potlapally - Managing Director of The BFM Fund - to the podcast! She's a unicorn if I've ever seen one.
She has a passion for bringing that knowledge to BIPOC communities with the goal of creating access and empowerment. Her interest and passion has led her to many different roles and industries including #BFM which is a seed-stage venture fund focused on Black and innovative entrepreneurs.
She started her career as a Social Worker in Hunts Point. She
launched several businesses, including CarBar. Over the last few years, her
passion has led her to be one of the Managing Directors and General Partners of the Black Founders Matter Fund which is a $10mm seed-stage fund focused on highly scalable Black-led deal flow within the United States. Prior to becoming a GP, she got an MBA and specialized training in Venture Finance and worked in seven different firms as an Associate, Deal Lead, and eventually Fund Manager.
She was an adjunct professor at Portland State University teaching MBA and MSF students about venture investing. She’s also excited about co-launching Venture Partners, an educational non-profit, in partnership with VertueLab and NVCA’s Venture Forward/VC University.
In this episode you'll hear me and Himalaya talk about the
following and more:
1 - What is the BFM Fund
2 - Fundraising for Women of Color
3 - The Pathway to Economic Development
4 - No Generational Wealth 00:07
00:07 - Guest intro
00:25 - How Shauna met Himalaya
02:05 - Shauna Talks about Himalaya’s achievements
3:40 - What is Black Founders Matter (BFM)?
05:01 - Breaking into the VC spaces as a woman of color
07:40 - Other Venture Capital initiatives
15:34 - BFM and the Bank Of America equity investment
20:10 - BFM Portfolio
26:09 - Alison Felix’s Story
29:15 - Himalaya’s Evolution
35:47 - Lack of Diversity in Portland Oregon
40:23 - Going against “the system”
47:28 - How Companies & individuals can get involved
52:19 - Wrap up
Special thanks to my dear friends at POV Agency for recommending and introducing me to Himalaya. Pilaar Terry, Kyndall L. Echols, M.A. Echols and Michael (MCB) Chavez Booth – thank you for your continued support and for your commitment to creating positive impact and leading authentically.
Continued thanks to Founding Partners Felicia Hall Allen
& Associates, CMD Agency, Hijinx Agency and Influence Media Agency.
#podcast #THIS #leadership #entrepreneur #BFM
#blackfoundersmatter #vc #equity #BIPOC #AI #impact #evolving #slgimpact
I'm honored to bring Himalaya Rao-Potlapally - Managing Director of The BFM Fund - to the podcast! She's a unicorn if I've ever seen one.
She has a passion for bringing that knowledge to BIPOC communities with the goal of creating access and empowerment. Her interest and passion has led her to many different roles and industries including #BFM which is a seed-stage venture fund focused on Black and innovative entrepreneurs.
She started her career as a Social Worker in Hunts Point. She
launched several businesses, including CarBar. Over the last few years, her
passion has led her to be one of the Managing Directors and General Partners of the Black Founders Matter Fund which is a $10mm seed-stage fund focused on highly scalable Black-led deal flow within the United States. Prior to becoming a GP, she got an MBA and specialized training in Venture Finance and worked in seven different firms as an Associate, Deal Lead, and eventually Fund Manager.
She was an adjunct professor at Portland State University teaching MBA and MSF students about venture investing. She’s also excited about co-launching Venture Partners, an educational non-profit, in partnership with VertueLab and NVCA’s Venture Forward/VC University.
In this episode you'll hear me and Himalaya talk about the
following and more:
1 - What is the BFM Fund
2 - Fundraising for Women of Color
3 - The Pathway to Economic Development
4 - No Generational Wealth 00:07
00:07 - Guest intro
00:25 - How Shauna met Himalaya
02:05 - Shauna Talks about Himalaya’s achievements
3:40 - What is Black Founders Matter (BFM)?
05:01 - Breaking into the VC spaces as a woman of color
07:40 - Other Venture Capital initiatives
15:34 - BFM and the Bank Of America equity investment
20:10 - BFM Portfolio
26:09 - Alison Felix’s Story
29:15 - Himalaya’s Evolution
35:47 - Lack of Diversity in Portland Oregon
40:23 - Going against “the system”
47:28 - How Companies & individuals can get involved
52:19 - Wrap up
Special thanks to my dear friends at POV Agency for recommending and introducing me to Himalaya. Pilaar Terry, Kyndall L. Echols, M.A. Echols and Michael (MCB) Chavez Booth – thank you for your continued support and for your commitment to creating positive impact and leading authentically.
Continued thanks to Founding Partners Felicia Hall Allen
& Associates, CMD Agency, Hijinx Agency and Influence Media Agency.
#podcast #THIS #leadership #entrepreneur #BFM
#blackfoundersmatter #vc #equity #BIPOC #AI #impact #evolving #slgimpact