Mendoza Ventures launches Mendoza Impact to close the diverse founder funding gap

Mendoza Ventures launches Mendoza Impact to close the diverse founder funding gap

Published: 28-08-2023 12:14:00 | By: Pie Kamau | hits: 3492 | Tags:
Artificial Intelligence
August 2023
Cybersecurity
Fintech
USA
Venture Capital & Private Equity

Mendoza Ventures, a female and Latinx-founded Fintech, AI, and Cybersecurity Venture Capital firm, has launched a new non-profit, Mendoza Impact, to help fund and build the next generation of diverse founders, funders, and VC/PE fund employees. Mendoza Impact builds cohorts of talented individuals to create micro-communities of innovation across the US. As part of the launch, Mendoza Impact hired Jen Hartnett-Bullen as the new Executive Director to build and drive programming, fundraising efforts, and build community across the startup ecosystem.

Jen Hartnett-Bullen, Executive Director, Mendoza Impact: "Mendoza Impact operates at the intersection of Impact and Venture capital. The goal is to use donated dollars towards investing in, growing, and developing the next generation of diverse founders, VC employees, and fund managers."

The inaugural diverse founder cohort includes Latino-led Straylight Systems, Black-led Goodfynd, Latina-led Wealthbuild, and Female-led EKOS.AI. This week kicked off with an in-person event at their Boston office. Mendoza Impact will kick off a funders cohort in early 2024 for diverse emerging managers, as they continue the successful diverse MBA fellows program started by Mendoza Ventures, that is now in its third year.

Senofer Mendoza, Founder, Mendoza Impact: "My goal is to change how capital is distributed across the tech ecosystem. Capital investment should match the make up of its community to start creating impact for those communities."

www.mendozaimpact.org