Resources - Venture Forward

Human Capital Resources

Advancing a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive ecosystem

This is your go-to source for resources that support diversity, equity, and inclusion in the venture capital ecosystem. Explore what’s being done to move the industry forward, how you can contribute, and best practices to achieve your goals.

Programs & Services

2020 VC Human Capital Survey:

What does the venture capital (VC) industry workforce look like in terms of demographics? What is the current state of VC diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)? The VC Human Capital Survey, powered by Deloitte, National Venture Capital Association, and Venture Forward, answers these and other questions for VC firms seeking to expand the diversity of both their teams and portfolios.

The third edition of our VC Human Capital Survey assesses the state of the US VC industry workforce, with a special focus on DEI. Results from this edition were benchmarked against findings from the first and second editions, which were originally conducted in 2016 and 2018. Conducted in 2020, this third edition requested firm demographic information (e.g., investment stage focus) and demographic information for each employee (e.g., gender and race). Additionally, firms were asked to provide information regarding their talent management practices and DEI programs.

While there have been other industry assessments of VC diversity, this survey provides a more holistic perspective. We gathered data from VC firms of all types and sizes, examined DEI for a variety of groups across all types of positions, and assessed firm talent management strategies. (Learn more.)

LP Office Hours:

LP Office Hours (LPOH) are half-day events that connect emerging managers from historically underrepresented groups with LPs, experienced GPs, and each other.

Each LPOH event begins with an educational component, and then breaks out into several rounds of “office hours” – curated small-group and 1:1 conversations between the emerging managers and the experienced GPs and LPs. The event wraps up with informal networking over food and drink. Please note: this is not a pitching event. (Learn more.)

Sample Policies

NVCA’s Model Legal Documents include the following Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I)-related policies:

Model Investor’s Rights Agreement Language (Includes a DE&I Provision)
Sample H.R. Best Practices for Preventing and Addressing Sexual Harassment
Sample H.R. Policies for Addressing Harassment & Discrimination
Sample Code of Conduct Policy
Sample H.R. Policies for Attracting & Retaining Diverse Talent
Sample Diversity & Inclusion Policies — SF Family Friendly Workplace Policy
Sample Diversity & Inclusion Policies — SF Paid Parental Leave Policy
Sample Diversity Policies — NY Paid Family Leave Policy

Programs & Services

LP Office Hours: LP Office Hours (LPOH) are half-day, in-person events that connect emerging managers from historically underrepresented groups with LPs, experienced GPs, and each other.Each LPOH event starts off with an educational component, and then breaks out into several rounds of “office hours” – curated roundtables and 1:1 conversations, followed by informal networking over food and drink. Through these intimate conversations, emerging managers get to learn from LPs about the fundraising process, GP-LP relationship management, and other guidance for success as a VC from the LP’s perspective.
The event fosters open and collaborative dialogue, and provides a safe space for questions. Please note, this is not a pitching event. So far, we’ve held LPOH in Palo Alto, Boston, Washington, DC, and Los Angeles. In 2020, LPOH will be held in Chicago and Austin, with more details to come soon.

If you’re interested in participating in LPOH as an emerging manager, email hello@ventureforward.org. If you’re an experienced GP or LP interested in holding office hours, please email Maryam Haque at maryam@ventureforward.org.
NVCA-Deloitte Human Capital Survey: Through Venture Forward, NVCA is committed to expanding opportunities for people of all backgrounds to thrive in the venture ecosystem in a welcoming and safe work environment. As part of this commitment, NVCA conducts ongoing research on diversity and inclusion (D&I) in the venture ecosystem through the NVCA-Deloitte Human Capital Survey.The NVCA-Deloitte Human Capital Survey was designed to capture critical data on the workforce at venture capital firms, develop a baseline understanding of demographics within the VC industry, and uncover the current state of diversity and inclusion across the industry. The survey is intended to be an educational resource for venture capital firms to understand how to expand the diversity of their teams and portfolio companies. The first two surveys were conducted in 2016 and 2018, and the 2020 edition will be released in September.

Sample Policies

Commmunity Resources

We’ve created this list of organizations, programs, and resources that can help you reach your human capital goals.

Click the links below to learn more about these organizations, what services they provide, and how you or your firm can actively engage.

For more details about each category of services, mouse over the question marks at the top of the grid.

Community Resources	Deal Flow Opportunities ? Opportunity for VCs and founders to connect	Education & Best Practices ? VC PD events, opportunities, and materials, best practice guides	Hiring & Pipeline ? Opportunities for those seeking or offering VC jobs	Mentorship Opportunities ? Opportunities to connect with or volunteer as a mentor	Reporting Misconduct ? Resource to report misconduct	Research & Data ? Studies, research, data, white papers	Resource Collection ? Collections of VC-related resources that may cover a variety of topics	Specialized Networks ? Opportunity to connect with specific demographic group
#MovingForward		X			X
All Raise		X	X	X				X
BLCK VC			X					X
Catalyst		X	X			X
Girls Who Invest		X	X	X				X
HBCU.vc		X	X	X				X
LatinX VC			X	X				X
Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT)	X		X	X				X
Paradigm		X				X	X
PledgeLA			X	X				X
Project Include		X
Startout	X		X	X				X
The Vinetta Project			X	X
theBoardlist			X					X
Toigo			X	X				X
UPWARD			X	X				X
VC OpenDoor				X
VentureNext	X	X		X				X
Women Who Launch (WWL)		X	X	X				X

One of Venture Forward’s primary goals is to break down barriers to entry, participation, and success within the VC ecosystem. To that end, we curate the community resources we feature to prioritize those that are structured as nonprofits, B corporations, or that offer free or low-cost programs and services. We also particularly focus on organizations that support the participation and success of newcomers, or groups that are historically underrepresented within VC.

This is not an exhaustive list of the organizations or opportunities available within this industry, but rather, one focused on broadly expanding knowledge, accessibility and inclusion.

If you believe that your organization (or specific programs and services you offer) meets these criteria, please apply to be featured as a community resource and submit your information, here. If you have any questions about this process, please email Rhianon Anderson at rhianon@ventureforward.org.

Be the first to hear about upcoming initiatives.

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.