Diversity Archives - National Venture Capital Association

NVCA Launches Nonprofit Venture Forward to Shape the Future of Venture Capital

All Press Releases, Diversity, Venture Forward June 15, 2020/by Devin Miller

Venture Forward will focus on industry advancement initiatives around diversity, education, research, and history, while NVCA continues to advocate on behalf of the venture industry

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 16, 2020

Contact: Cassie Ann Kiggen
Phone: 202-864-5923
Email: ckiggen@nvca.org

WASHINGTON, DC – The National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) today launched Venture Forward, a 501(c)(3) non-profit to shape the future of venture capital and meet the growing needs of the venture capital (VC) industry that extend beyond public policy. Venture Forward will drive the human capital, culture, values, and narrative of venture capital, to promote a strong and inclusive community.

Second Edition of NVCA-Deloitte Human Capital Survey Uncovers Progress for Diversity & Inclusion at Venture Capital Firms

All Press Releases, Diversity, Research June 25, 2019/by actualize

More VCs recognize the need for adopting and improving D&I business strategies that give women and minorities a chance in leadership roles, but pace of change remains slow

WASHINGTON, DC – While much is still left to be done to boost diversity and inclusion (D&I) in the venture capital (VC) industry, the second edition of the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA)-Deloitte Human Capital Survey found that VC firms are beginning to make some important—albeit small—gains in implementing strategies to attract and retain top diverse talent. Read more

NVCA Unveils Resources to Help Address Sexual Harassment in Venture Ecosystem

All Press Releases, Diversity February 22, 2018/by actualize

WASHINGTON, DC – The National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) today released a set of model documents and resources to help address sexual harassment in the venture industry. Created with guidance from working groups consisting of legal, H.R., and employment experts as well as venture investors, the documents have been created for both venture firms and startups to reference and adopt. These industry resources include: 1) Sample H.R. Policies for Addressing Harassment & Discrimination; 2) Sample H.R. Best Practices for Addressing Harassment & Discrimination; and 3) Sample Code of Conduct Policy. They are available with the NVCA Model Legal Documents as well as on the VentureForward page of the NVCA website.

The H.R. resources come in response to the news reports last summer of incidents of sexual harassment involving venture investors. In the wake of these revelations, NVCA sprang to action, speaking with many of the victims, collecting recommendations via an online form, and organizing a workshop in San Francisco that convened more than 60 industry participants, including managing partners, H.R. professionals, entrepreneurs, limited partners, legal experts, and other stakeholders. Read more

NVCA Unveils Sample H.R. Policies to Build Inclusive Cultures at Venture Firms

All Press Releases, Diversity March 7, 2017/by actualize

Policies for Non-discrimination, Recruitment, Childcare Leave, Mentorship, Affinity Groups and Flexible Work Included in Model Document

WASHINGTON, DC – The National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) today unveiled sample human resources (“H.R.”) policies—titled “Sample H.R. Policies for Attracting and Retaining Diverse Talent” (“the Policies”)—to assist venture capital firms in fostering diverse and inclusive cultures. Prepared by Proskauer Rose and Miller Law Group with support from Silicon Valley Bank, the Policies are an extension of the work of the NVCA Diversity Task Force and will be made available on nvca.org with all the other model legal documents NVCA shares with the venture community.

Included in the document are sample policies for a firm mission statement, non-discrimination, recruitment, childcare leave, mentorship, participation in outside affinity groups and activities, and flexible work arrangements. Read more

NVCA Pledges to Collaborate with Trump Administration to Advance Women Entrepreneurship

All Press Releases, Diversity March 1, 2017/by actualize

WASHINGTON, DC – The National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) today pledge to work with President Trump to advance opportunities for women in entrepreneurship and business. Recently President Trump announced an initiative in partnership with Canada to support women in business through the “Canada-United States Council for Advancement of Women Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders.”

“America’s venture capitalists are ready, eager, and able to partner with your Administration on this important initiative. NVCA members, hundreds of U.S. venture capital and corporate venture capital groups, support entrepreneurs by investing capital and resources to build the next-generation of innovative companies,” wrote Bobby Franklin, President and CEO of NVCA, in a letter to President Trump. Read more

New Survey Reflects Lack of Women and Minorities in Senior Investment Roles at Venture Capital Firms

All Press Releases, Diversity December 15, 2016/by actualize

VC Firms with Human Capital Strategies More Likely to Have Diverse Teams

WASHINGTON, DC – Although women comprise nearly one-half (45 percent) of the total venture capital workforce, few are in investment decision-making positions, according to a new report released today by the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) and Deloitte. Based on the findings of the first ever NVCA-Deloitte Human Capital Survey conducted by the Deloitte University Leadership Center for Inclusion, women represent 11 percent of investment partners or equivalent on venture investment teams.

Racial minorities are also significantly underrepresented across the VC industry, according to the survey. By race, the report found that non-white employees comprise 22 percent of the venture capital workforce, including Black employees at 3 percent and Hispanic or Latino employees at 4 percent. Read more

NVCA Joins SBA and LinkedIn ONBOARD Initiative

All Press Releases, Diversity October 13, 2016/by actualize

WASHINGTON, DC – The National Venture Capital Association today joined as a supporting partner of the Open Network for Board Diversity (ONBOARD) Initiative. Spearheaded by the U.S. Small Business Administration and LinkedIn, the goal of the initiative is to increase the number of women and minority members of advisory boards and boards of directors of high growth small businesses, with special emphasis on those businesses supported by Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs).

“NVCA, our members and the companies they support all have a stake in creating a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem and a critical component to those efforts starts with the composition of company boards,” said Bobby Franklin, President and CEO of NVCA. Read more

New NVCA Report Showcases Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives

All Press Releases, Diversity July 27, 2016/by actualize

NVCA and Collaborators Working to Build a More Inclusive Ecosystem

WASHINGTON, DC – The National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) today issued a new report, Building a More Inclusive Entrepreneurial Ecosystem, showcasing the work of the NVCA Diversity Task Force and others over the past 18 months to advance a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem. The report features actions taken by NVCA and its member firms to directly address the lack of underrepresented groups participating in venture capital and entrepreneurship and provides an overview of diversity and inclusion initiatives led by collaborators across the U.S.

“Diversity is core to the competitiveness of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Diverse teams and inclusive approaches to building companies improve outcomes for society, individuals and the future of innovation,” said Bobby Franklin, President and CEO of NVCA. Read more

Leaders of the Venture Capital Industry Commit to Actions to Advance Inclusion in the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

All Press Releases, Diversity August 4, 2015/by actualize

Commitment from over 40 venture capital firms to support inclusive innovation announced at White House Demo Day

WASHINGTON, DC – Forty-five venture capital firms representing over $100 billion in assets under management invested in nearly 7,000 startups across 45 states today announced their commitment to advancing opportunity for women and underrepresented minorities in venture capital and the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Led by the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) Diversity Task Force, the commitments were announced in a letter to President Obama as part of the first-ever White House Demo Day, which is bringing together diverse entrepreneurs and other key stakeholders from across the ecosystem to convene and showcase the innovation economy. Read more

NVCA Diversity Task Force Joins Rainbow PUSH Wall Street Project Economic Summit

All Press Releases, Diversity January 13, 2015/by actualize

NVCA Board Member and CEO of JumpStart Inc. Ray Leach Will Drive Discussion on Diversity and Access to Venture Capital Today

WASHINGTON, DC – The National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) today announced that the NVCA Diversity Task Force will participate in the 18th Annual Rainbow PUSH Wall Street Project Economic Summit in New York, NY. Formed by current and past NVCA board members in 2014, the NVCA Diversity Task Force is focused on increasing inclusion in venture capital firms and venture capital-backed companies in collaboration with peers and communities across the ecosystem. Read more

Building Better: Ohio Innovation Fund & ScriptDrop

blog, Building Better October 1, 2020/by Cassie Ann Kiggen

Welcome to the NVCA Blog series, Building Better, where we celebrate the dynamic relationship between our VC members and their innovative portfolio companies around the nation. For today’s Building Better, we spoke with Bill Baumel, Managing Director at Ohio Innovation Fund (OIF), and with Amanda Epp, CEO of ScriptDrop, an OIF portfolio company. Learn about their […]

VC Policy Pulse: the Volcker Rule with Mark Kvamme

blog, Capital Formation & Regulation, Public Policy September 29, 2020/by Devin Miller

Welcome to the first blog in our VC Policy Pulse series, where we speak with a VC investor on a policy issue that is having a major impact on the VC and startup ecosystem. Today, we’re hearing from Mark Kvamme, Co-Founder & Partner at Drive Capital and former NVCA Board Member, about the effects of […]