Access, insight, and community for Black operators looking to become angel, scout and venture investors.

ABOUT BLACK VENTURE INSTITUTE

Venture capital is an industry reliant upon access — access to the right network, access to the right knowledge, access to the right opportunity.

It is no secret that the technology industry, and specifically venture capital, has an extremely low representation of Black professionals in technical, leadership, and investing roles. Only 1% of venture-backed startups have a Black founder and fewer than 3% of venture capital investors are Black.  It is our mission to increase the number of Black check writers in venture capital by 5x in three years.

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Without intentional action, we are destined to fall into the same insular cycle that has delivered low representation in the past. BLCK VC, Operator Collective, and Salesforce Ventures believe that by making venture capital knowledge and networks more accessible, we can help empower the Black technology community and provide a path to accelerate innovation, opportunity, and access.

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Black Venture Institute is a curriculum-based program dedicated to teaching Black operators the foundational elements to become angel and venture investors. It is both a virtual course hosted by the Berkeley Haas School of Business in partnership with Berkeley Executive Education and an ongoing community. The program enables fellows to gain access to experienced, successful investors and learn the foundations of investing, including what investors look for, how to structure deals, and how to contribute as a board member or observer. As part of the Black Venture Institute community, fellows will be invited to ongoing sessions with investors, technology leaders, and LPs who will share actionable insights into their professional journeys as well as share deal flow, information, and relationships.

FAQs

• Who should apply?

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Established Black operators who are looking to better understand the venture industry or learn more details about how they can operate as angel investors. Black Venture Institute fellows will join a community of high-powered Black operators and technology executives who, together, will represent the future of black fund managers and angel investors across the country.

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• When is the program?

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The BVI Fall 2021 Cohort will begin on October 28 and end on November 12. Fellows will participate in educational sessions and speakers series each weekday from 2:00 pm PT to 5:00 pm PT. Attendance for all sessions is mandatory, if you're unable to attend the full program then we ask for you to defer until your schedule would allow full participation.

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• How can I apply?

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Submit your interest here.

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• What if I can't make all the sessions?

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If you are unable to make all the sessions for the Fall 2021 cohort, we ask that you reapply for a future cohort. Attendance is required and will be a deciding factor for selection. ​

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• Do I need to be an accredited investor?

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You do not need to be an accredited investor to take part in this program. However, you will need to be an accredited investor to invest in startups as an angel investor.

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• If I am a VC and want to participate in the program, how do I reach you?

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We all need to come together to make a difference. If you are interested in speaking, hiring a graduate, or sponsoring the program, please email us at BVI@blckvc.org.