Our Mission
Venture For America supports the growth of diverse ecosystems across American cities by developing entrepreneurial talent and providing access through programs, networks, and resources.
Our
Approach
Access to programs, resources, and networks
By providing access to programs, resources, and networks, we’re able to generate support that is oftentimes unavailable or hard to navigate for early-career professionals or communities who face historic and persisting barriers in entrepreneurship.
A diverse entrepreneurial community
Successful entrepreneurs cannot exist without community. Our community represents a collection of ambitious and diverse individuals united by shared values and a belief in the power of entrepreneurship. This pairing ensures that we foster an inclusive entrepreneurial community that is changing the face of entrepreneurship.
Shared learned experiences
Our Fellowship is an opportunity for Fellows to push themselves, resulting in improved problem-solving and the acquisition of valuable skills like communication and collaboration. Additionally, going through these experiences together creates a connection across cohorts and a space for people to feel heard, supported, and celebrated.
Igniting innovation and problem-solving
Upon graduating from the Fellowship and becoming Alumni, Fellows are well-positioned to launch their own businesses, continue growing companies in VFA cities, or pursue advanced degrees. Regardless of their next step, Alumni are applying the skills they acquired and refined as Fellows to ignite innovation across the country.
The Power of Diversity
What we’ve created at VFA represents a unique community and opportunity. Our aim is to leave everything we touch better than we found it – with our Fellowship stronger and the entrepreneurship industry more diverse, inclusive, and welcoming.
Our Guiding Principles
At Venture For America, the commitment to advance values of diversity, inclusion, and equity is central to our work. We strive to be anti-racist in all our actions and intentionally promote – and expect – the inclusion of diverse representation in our leadership, our Fellowship, and amongst our organizational partners. We encourage Fellows’ intentional examination of their new communities with the express purpose of understanding the history of places where they live and how they can play a role in influencing positive change. We also commit to celebrating the dignity and contributions of those who are underrepresented.
Historically, and presently, access presents itself as being elusive for many. In partnership with our community partners and stakeholders, we support budding professionals – diverse across racial and ethnic, gender, sexual, and socioeconomic backgrounds – by providing access and resources to develop the entrepreneurial skills and exposure needed to thrive, contribute to, and found or lead companies.
Rise Groups
build21: an empowerment network for Fellows and Alumni of African-American, Afro-Caribbean, and African descent to directly connect personally and professionally with each other and experienced entrepreneurs of color in the high-growth entrepreneurial ecosystem, globally.
VentureFirst: provides those who identify as first-generation college graduates and/or low-income individuals within the community with professional and personal development opportunities through equitable access to mentorship, networks, and knowledge.
VFA Antha Prerna: intended for Fellows and Alumni who identify as South Asian or South Asian American to discuss race and identity in both professional and personal contexts. In sanskrit, Antha Prerna means “self-motivated” and “entrepreneurial”, which is where the word “entrepreneur” originated.
VFA MEDAN: a toolbox and community for Fellows who identify as Middle Eastern or North African committed to the professional and personal development of each other in entrepreneurial environments, empowering each other through a connected network, and creating a dialogue around identity.
VFAmilÍa: a resource group intended to connect Fellows who identify as Latino/Latina/Latinx in order to create space for dialogue on the intersection between identity and professional development.
VFA WMN: a community of women and allies who come together to provide resources, support, and space for conversation to empower women in Venture For America to meet their personal and professional goals.
VentureOut: as Venture For America’s community group for LGBTQ individuals and allies, VentureOut’s mission is to promote sexual orientation and gender identity diversity within Venture For America and the startup ecosystems in which it operates.
VFAsians: a forum for Fellows and Alumni who identify as Asian or Asian-American to discuss race and identity in both professional and personal contexts, and access resources and connections.
OyVeyFA: intends to build a professional network to help community members overcome anti-Semitic obstacles, facilitate cultural conversations and experiences among both VFA’s Jewish community and allies, and support the individual and collective needs of VFA’s Jewish community.
Our Impact
More than 1600 Current Fellows and Alumni
More than 950 Company Partners
24% of Fellows have started businesses
Fellows have raised more than $960 million of investment capital
