A Familiar, Empty Promise: My Experience Seeking VC Funding As A Black, Female Founder
I want to spotlight the systemic problems that I faced up close so that others can learn from my firsthand experience.
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A couple of months ago, I was excited to read that several VC firms were supposedly rushing to support Black founders and investors.
Then I started reaching out.
With each nonresponse, quick dismissal and the general lack of anything resembling useful feedback, my excitement turned to frustration. So I decided to hold these VCs to account for their empty promises by describing my experience.
Since then, I continued to reach out to VCs, specifically those firms who had declared their support of underrepresented founders.
And unfortunately — with a few exceptions — my experience continued to mirror that of most Black founders in Silicon Valley. But, in addition to holding these VCs to account, I want to spotlight the systemic problems that I faced up close so that others can learn from my firsthand experience.