Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
The most valuable thing we’ve created at Venture For America is our community – made up of our Fellows and Alums, supporters, friends, and the VFA Team. We encourage each other to be authentic and strive to become better versions of ourselves by challenging assumptions and having everyone feel they belong.
Our Opportunity in Diversity
What we’ve created at VFA represents a unique community and opportunity. For our Company Partners, we connect them with talented and diverse recent graduates who are eager to build. For our Cities, we are a partner in their work of inclusive economic development. For our Team and Supporters, it’s an opportunity to make an impact and push our mission forward alongside committed professionals.
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.
From our Fellows and Alumni
Our DEI Journey
An Equitable Vision of Entrepreneurship
For our Fellows, we are an onramp into careers in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, particularly for communities that have been historically underrepresented in these industries.
Learn moreResources for and by Fellows
RISE is a coalition of diversity, equity, and inclusion resource groups for VFA Fellows and Alums. RISE exists to empower, provide opportunities, and create a formal community space for Fellows and Alums who identify as members of underrepresented groups in entrepreneurial and innovation communities. Fellows lead RISE groups with the support of the VFA Team and a yearly budget that funds educational and community building programs.
Learn moreCreating Onramps to Entrepreneurship
At the 2019 Social Innovation Summit, Venture For America announced its new initiative, Operation 3 to 300, to help 300 women and REMs become entrepreneurs over the next three years. Joined in this effort by UBS and Uber, VFA has set a goal to change the face of entrepreneurship.
Learn moreProviding Support for Fellow Founders
With access to VFA’s resources for entrepreneurs, our Fellow Founders are building companies that generate innovative solutions to challenges that different communities face.
Learn moreA Belief in the Power of Entrepreneurship
Many of these programmatic efforts are led by the VFA Team, who all come from different backgrounds and experiences. They lend their expertise to tackling many of the systemic challenges that overlooked entrepreneurs have faced.
Learn moreRepresentation of Class
An Equitable Vision of Entrepreneurship
For our Fellows, we are an onramp into careers in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship, particularly for communities that have been historically underrepresented in these industries.
Learn moreRISE
Resources for and by Fellows
RISE is a coalition of diversity, equity, and inclusion resource groups for VFA Fellows and Alums. RISE exists to empower, provide opportunities, and create a formal community space for Fellows and Alums who identify as members of underrepresented groups in entrepreneurial and innovation communities. Fellows lead RISE groups with the support of the VFA Team and a yearly budget that funds educational and community building programs.
Learn moreOperation 3 to 300
Creating Onramps to Entrepreneurship
At the 2019 Social Innovation Summit, Venture For America announced its new initiative, Operation 3 to 300, to help 300 women and REMs become entrepreneurs over the next three years. Joined in this effort by UBS and Uber, VFA has set a goal to change the face of entrepreneurship.
Learn moreOur Fellow Founders
Providing Support for Fellow Founders
With access to VFA’s resources for entrepreneurs, our Fellow Founders are building companies that generate innovative solutions to challenges that different communities face.
Learn moreOur Team
A Belief in the Power of Entrepreneurship
Many of these programmatic efforts are led by the VFA Team, who all come from different backgrounds and experiences. They lend their expertise to tackling many of the systemic challenges that overlooked entrepreneurs have faced.
Learn more