Black Founders

Black Founders was started in 2011 as an organization that would empower entrepreneurs and provide founders with access to advice, mentorship, and funding.

The Black Founders mission is to increase the number of successful black entrepreneurs in technology.

Our goal is to create an ecosystem that stimulates tech entrepreneurship and fosters economic growth in the community. Our vision for Black Founders is to develop global programs that equip entrepreneurs, inspire innovation, and allow us to share resources and knowledge.

Our organizational structure includes two separate organizations, each with a unique focus. Black Founders Startup Community is a 501c3 that operates our educational programs and conferences.

Why Black Founders?

In 2010, the black demographic entered entrepreneurship at a rate of 0.24% and comprised 9% of the total new entrepreneurship activity in the US.

Kauffman Foundation

Black entrepreneurs, however, remain underrepresented in the tech entrepreneurship space. Black entrepreneurs make up only 1% of VC-backed tech startup founders and during the period measured from January to June 2010, the median amount of funding secured by an all-black founding team was $1.3 million, compared to $2.2M for a racially mixed team, and $2.3M for an all-white team. (source: CB Insights)