Diversity Archives - Page 3 of 4 - National Venture Capital Association

Category: Diversity

Fostering Talent, Competitiveness and Diversity through Mentorship

blog, Corporate Venture, Diversity, VentureForward May 23, 2017/by Jessica Straus

A thriving innovation ecosystem depends on building diverse and competitive teams. Competing for top talent is one of the biggest challenges facing venture capital and corporate venture capital teams. These challenges beg the question: How can venture investors keep up with the increased demand for top talent? Mentorship programs are one of the proven ways to attract and retain top talent, which foster both individual talent development and team competitiveness, diversity, and development.

This year, the NVCA Corporate Venture Group (CVG) launched the Corporate Venture Mentorship Program in the first quarter of 2017 to build connections between experienced and new corporate venture investors. This pilot program helped forge new connections among corporate venture investors across the country to foster a more engaged innovation ecosystem. Read more

Having a Talent Strategy Makes a Difference

blog, Diversity, Events, VentureForward March 20, 2017/by Jessica Straus

Diversity is core to competitiveness. A 2014 Harvard Business School study, The Cost of Friendship, found that success rates of entrepreneurs diminish when co-investors have similar backgrounds and experiences. As an industry, we have a lot of work to do, and NVCA is committed to helping investors and entrepreneurs build diverse, competitive teams.

Last week, the NVCA team, our members, and partners Deloitte, Proskauer Rose, Silicon Valley Bank, Miller Law Group and the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center joined together to host Policies Driving Innovation in San Francisco to provide data, insights and resources. We also rolled out the new NVCA Sample H.R. Policies – a free resource to help venture firms build inclusive H.R. practices. Read more

NVCA-Deloitte Human Capital Survey: A New Approach to Diversity & Inclusion Research

blog, Diversity, Research, VentureForward December 19, 2016/by Jessica Straus & Maryam Haque

We just released our diversity study. Our study is different. We set out to survey all VC firms active in the U.S. to establish a benchmark of the current demographics of the industry and to take a closer look at firms’ talent management practices.

If you’ve spoken with a member of the NVCA staff over the past two years or one of our Board Members, the topic of diversity and inclusion (D&I) in the venture capital industry has likely come up. Since the launch of NVCA’s Diversity Task Force in December 2014, NVCA staff, its Board, and its members have focused on building a more inclusive innovation ecosystem. In our report Building a More Inclusive Entrepreneurial Ecosystem this summer, we outlined many proactive NVCA efforts and industry resources, highlighted a few firms who are leading the pack in terms of diversity initiatives, and referenced third-party data on D&I in VC. Read more

Highlighting the Importance of Diversity During National Entrepreneurship Month

blog, Diversity, VentureForward November 30, 2016/by Jessica Straus

This November is National Entrepreneurship Month, a month dedicated to celebrating and supporting the entrepreneurs who serve their communities and strengthen the U.S. economy. Supporting greater opportunity for more entrepreneurs to grow new ideas into companies is central to the mission of NVCA. In addition, we believe diversity and inclusion are core to the success and competitiveness of the industry.

In honor of National Entrepreneurship Month, NVCA is participating in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy National Entrepreneurship Month Fact Sheet to highlight how NVCA members are working together to support an inclusive, diverse and thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. Read the White House Fact Sheet. We also want to take the opportunity to provide an update on our work to support diversity and inclusion. Read more

Diversity is Core to Competitiveness: A Report On Actions Across The Ecosystem

blog, Diversity, VentureForward July 28, 2016/by Jessica Straus

This week we issued our first-ever report on diversity and inclusion in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Building a More Inclusive Entrepreneurial Ecosystem, showcases the efforts being made to improve diversity in the venture capital industry. There is still a great deal of work to be done to expand the number of women and underrepresented minorities in venture capital firms and startups. Our report focuses on the actions. By showcasing what NVCA members, entrepreneurs and nonprofits are doing in their firms and in their communities, we want to share and promote ideas that can inspire action. Read more

Believeland: How Collaboration and Inclusion Drive Innovation in Ohio

blog, Diversity, Venture Investment, VentureForward June 29, 2016/by Jessica Straus

“Welcome to Believeland!,” was the enthusiastic greeting from Ray Leach, CEO of JumpStart, Inc., to an audience of entrepreneurs, venture capital investors, nonprofits, foundations, government entities, universities, and corporations, who were among the hundreds gathered for JumpStart, Inc.’s Second Annual Startup ScaleUp event in Cleveland. Read more

From Entrepreneur to Founder to Funder: Monique Woodard Champions a Diverse Ecosystem

blog, Diversity, VentureForward March 30, 2016/by Hannah Eckstein

Monique Woodard personifies a healthy diverse entrepreneurial ecosystem.

As a Founding Partner of Black Founders, a network of African American entrepreneurs, an entrepreneur herself and a former Fellow in the San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Civic Innovation, Monique’s experience spans all areas of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Her continued efforts around diversity and inclusion tied into a robust work experience have marked her as a trailblazer in the technology and innovation sectors, a designation that landed her a role as 500 Startups newest Partner, and its first African American partner. Read more

New Industry Partner Spotlight: Heads Apart

blog, Diversity, VentureForward February 18, 2016/by Hannah Munizza

Since we launched our Industry Partner program in 2015 we have built a community of industry-leading service providers that work with venture capital investors to help startups reach the next milestone. Today we are featuring our newest Industry Partner, Heads Apart Group, a boutique executive search consulting firm that optimizes NVCA’s commitment to diversity.

NVCA, the venture capital industry and leaders across the entrepreneurial ecosystem are determined to develop solutions for expanding inclusion in the innovation ecosystem as a key pathway to greater competitiveness. Gary Bembridge, CEO and Founder of Heads Apart Group, has been laser-focused on building those solutions his entire career. We spoke with Bembridge to discuss the approach Heads Apart has taken to support a more diverse tech industry. Read more

5 Observations on The Gender Equation in Tech

blog, Diversity, VentureForward October 29, 2015/by nvc@dmin

By Thanasis Delistathis and John Backus, New Atlantic Ventures

Ask most in the venture capital ecosystem for their take on the issue of gender diversity and you’ll get a mixed reaction. Some men avoid the topic for fear of stepping on a land mine. Some women tell us it’s passé. We hear that the tech industry has a big problem. For us, the topic of diversity isn’t an issue to simply brush under the rug. The trouble is, the topic can be tough to talk about. But if we do, it opens up the chance to help everyone figure out why the gender balance is off and how to potentially change the ratio.

Advancing women in the entrepreneurial ecosystem

blog, Diversity, VentureForward October 23, 2015/by Claire Scott

NVCA is dedicated to advancing diversity throughout the entrepreneurial ecosystem. We believe in the value of public and private sector collaboration to develop and discuss solutions that promote the importance of diversity to the innovation ecosystem. Last week, we joined Empowered Women, a nonprofit focused on convening next-gen women leaders, for Hacking the New Economy, a discussion on public policies that can empower women in the new economy. Read more

NVCA Member Spotlight: Shasta Ventures

blog, Ecosystems February 6, 2020/by Cassie Ann Hodges

Welcome to our Member Spotlight series where we give a profile overview of our many diverse members. For this deep dive, we spoke to Jason Pressman, Managing Director at Shasta Ventures.

CFIUS & VC: 3 Takeaways from the Final Rules and What Investors Must Know

blog, Public Policy January 27, 2020/by Jeff Farrah

The Treasury Department recently released the long awaited final rules implementing the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act (FIRRMA), and they go into effect February 13, 2020. Through FIRRMA, Congress gave CFIUS significant new powers to police investments into certain U.S. companies and has made CFIUS highly relevant in the startup ecosystem. CFIUS’s power was […]