But why VC...? An open letter
But why VC...? This week, Thalia had the brilliant idea to promote Black Venture Capitalists and Funds on Black Chip Co. as a part of Black Owned Business month. As expected, her list of investors chosen to highlight was nothing short of inspiring, but as I looked at the post again later in the day it really hit me. These men and women are really the <1%. They are paving the way for women like myself, women like Thalia to have the dreams that we have and chase them without reservation. They make me think of my parents. A Black couple, Spelman and Morehouse graduates at that, who started an internet company from scratch with their classmates in the late nineties. Black men and women who traveled to Silicon Valley to raise millions of dollars (yes millions) before raising that was even thought of for most people let alone Black people. A couple who over seven years ago co-founded and now co-operate a successful lobbying firm in DC and celebrated 24 years of marriage this week (I know right...). So why is entrepreneurship and venture capital so important to me? Because it’s personal. Deeply personal. It fed me...literally. It put me through school and paid the bills. Because I think everyone, our people in particular, deserves a piece of the pie. I think that the Black community is the most creative, resilient, intelligent and versatile group on the planet capable of solving all of the world’s problems with the least amount of resources. History has proven that. But the future can prove even more. Imagine the possibilities. That while we engage in a capitalist society, imagine having a fair shot. Imagine if Jeff Bezos was a young Black man getting a $250,000 loan from his Black parents as he dreamed up an online book shop in his garage. Imagine if dreams weren’t detrimental for survival for Black people, because they didn’t cost more than food or rent. Imagine believing in something, in someone so much that you would write a check for them.
That you would take their call at any time of day. That you would risk complete failure on the faith of flying success. Imagine that privilege. The luxury to create as God intended us to. Imagine that. That is what I see when I see Sarah Kunst, Arlan Hamilton, Melissa Bradley, Kobie Fuller, Chris Lyons, Jessica Patton, Erik Moore, Adeyemi Ajao, Peter Boyce, Marlon Nichols, Charles Hudson, Jewel Burks Solomon, Barry Givens, Justin Dawkins, Henri Pierre-Jacques, Jarrid Tingle, Mandela SH Dixon, Arian Simone, Kimberly Marshall and so many more names that are doing good work, no....GREAT WORK...against the odds. So thank you. We at Black Chip Co. are hoping to do our part in furthering the movement, in closing the gap and being unapologetically loud about who we are and what we deserve. We’re still early in the game, but my dream is that one day you’ll swipe and see our names among the greats. The fearless ones destined to go first so we could go bigger. Imagine that....imagine that. Keep dreaming, keep grinding y’all. I know I’m not stopping and we’ll get there together. I’ve linked some organizations, programs and funds to help get you started, so let’s get at it.
Love you always,
Nina Simone
[Written :: 2020.08.13]
Founder Gym - Mandela SH Dixon
HBCU. VC - Hadiyah Mujhid
Fearless.Fund - Arian Simone
@fundblackfounders
@fgfclubs -Tagan Horton
Cultural Leadership Fund - Chris Lyons & Jessica Patton & Megan Holston-Alexander
Backstage Capital - Arlan Hamilton
Cleo Capital - Sarah Kunst
Base 10 - Adeyemi Ajao
Precursor Ventures - Charles Hudson
Harlem Capital - Henri Pierre-Jacques, Jarrid Tingle, John Henry Matos, Brandon Bryant
*Note* You can read more and follow Nina and Thalia @ Black Chip Co.