Readings - Venture Forward

Human Capital

Human Capital Readings

Advancing a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive ecosystem;

We’ve created this list of readings and educational materials that support your human capital goals. Click the links below to access the full materials:

Highlights

Report: Why New Black Venture Capital Will Generate Outsized Returns and Help Close the Racial Wealth Gap

March 10, 2021/in Human Capital, Research Reading /by Rhianon Anderson

A new report by Culture Shift Labs about Black venture capital funds and the racial wealth gap.

Report: Guidance and Best Practices for Investors on Diversity & Female Entrepreneurship

February 19, 2021/in Education, Human Capital, Research Reading /by Rhianon Anderson

Guidance and Best Practices for Investors on Diversity & Female Entrepreneurship is a report published by the British Venture Capital and Private Equity Association. It includes tactical guidance for investors to create an inclusive pipeline and portfolio.

Institutional Investors Must Help Close the Race and Gender Gaps in Venture Capital

August 27, 2020/in Human Capital Reading /by Rhianon Anderson

In this HBR article by Ilene H. Lang and Reggie Van Lee, the authors discuss the role of institutional investors in addressing the race and gender gaps in their investment portfolios.

Recruiting for diversity in VC (TechCrunch)

July 31, 2020/in Education, Human Capital Reading /by Rhianon Anderson

In 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 readings and educational resources listed here revolve around one of Venture Forward’s four areas of focus: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) – Advancing a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive VC ecosystem. In curating these materials, we prioritize resources that provide actionable guidance and strategies, rigorous data and analysis, or durable information, as opposed to opinion pieces or commentary on contemporaneous events.

This is not an exhaustive list of readings, commentary, or educational resources available on this topic, but rather, one focused on providing meaningful, long-term value.

If you have a suggestion for reading material or educational resources that meets our criteria, please reach out to Rhianon Anderson at rhianon@ventureforward.org.

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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.

Learn More

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.