Why is advancing the next era of venture capital important?
Venture capital is an American national treasure. It has fueled the advancement of innovation, economies, and people. It has created value, jobs, wealth, and life-changing products and services. Though venture capital as an industry may be young and as an asset class may be small, high-growth startups and their long-term investors have truly changed the world.
To continue the success of the industry’s past 50 years to the next 50 years and beyond, we must expand opportunities for people of all backgrounds to access the venture ecosystem and thrive. We must educate future leaders on best practices and help them learn from the industry’s rich history. We must help firms build strong, healthy cultures and values. We must keep the public and ecosystem informed through qualitative and quantitative insights.
By investing in tomorrow’s leaders today, we shape the next era of venture capital.
10,000+
high-growth startups—across all 50 states and DC—raised venture funding in 2019 to build and grow their businesses.
42%
of all U.S. IPOs from 1974 to 2015 were venture-backed companies, representing 63% of the market capitalization and 85% of R&D.
2.9 million
is the average net jobs created annually between 1980 and 2010 by high-growth startups, which account for ~50% of gross jobs created in the U.S.
1,300+
U.S. venture firms are active today, managing an aggregate of $444 billion in assets.
Recruiting for diversity in VC (TechCrunch)
/in Education, Human Capital Reading /by Rhianon AndersonIn this TechCrunch article, Dan Miller outlines common pitfalls he sees in talent searches with VC firms in particular, as well as some thoughts on how firms can improve their hiring processes, in order to work toward having more diverse representation within their investing teams.
The Startup Community Way: Evolving an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
/in Book Education Reading /by Rhianon AndersonIn their new book The Startup Community Way: Evolving an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem, Brad Feld and Ian Hathaway explore what makes startup communities thrive and how to improve collaboration in these rapidly evolving, complex environments. We are in the midst of a startup revolution. The growth and proliferation of innovation-driven startup activity is profound, unprecedented, and […]
VC OpenDoor
/in Education, Human Capital Community Resources Mentorship Opportunities /by Rhianon AndersonThough VC OpenDoor, investors are working to make the technology industry more inclusive and to help underrepresented groups gain access to venture capital and experienced tech mentors. VC OpenDoor volunteers commit to making 1 to 4 hours per week open for office hours to talk to anyone about technology, whether they’re an African American college […]