The Venture Equity Project

The Venture Equity Project is an initiative of the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center, and represents a global coalition of nonprofit and academic institutions supported by the JP Morgan Foundation. The Venture Equity Project aims to remove barriers for entrepreneurs and emerging venture capital fund managers of color.

Launched in 2021, this multi-year initiative builds innovative research, data-driven practice, and public policy to catalyze the flow of capital to entrepreneurs and investors of color.

I joined the project in its third year, to conduct research to identify U.S. localities leading the charge in unlocking equity in entrepreneurship and venture capital. By showcasing success stories, we’re creating a playbook for others to follow. Our research partners include Heartland Forward and Penn State University College of Health and Human Development. In this work, VEP aims to accelerate the capacity of policymakers, investors, and civic leaders nationally to advance toward inclusion.