White VC Firm Claims to Fund Underrepresented Founders
But AAPI Founders Are Not Underrepresented in Technology
According to the website…
The Venture Collective (TVC) is an early-stage venture business that is on a mission to bridge the funding gap for underrepresented founders. According to their Crunchbase profile, Venture Collective believes diversity is not only good for business but necessary for societal advancement but then why is there only one Diversity Investment in their portfolio? Perhaps TVC believes they are doing good because they adopted the Diversity Term Sheet Rider.
It is important to remember that although members of the AAPI community (East Asians, Korean, Chinese, or Japanese ancestry) are different from those who live in the Asian-Pacific Islands (Southeast Asia such as Hmong, Vietnamese, Malay, Filipinos, Thai, etc) or Pacific Islands are not a monolith. However, they are also not underrepresented in technology or Silicon Valley. Members of the AAPI community are NOT underrepresented in technology. After researching the founders in the Venture Collective portfolio we’ve found their evidence of supporting underrepresented founders is limited at best.
View the portfolio for yourself.
1. Launch House
Building a full-stack community that helps founders and creators go further in their ventures.
2. Jefa — WOMAN FOUNDER
A digital bank designed for underbanked women, starting in Latin America.
3. Upside
Reimagining the $1.5T student debt problem by creating a new financial product that simultaneously builds wealth while decreasing debt.
4. BetterFish
The first company developing 100% plant-based tuna alternatives created with proteins from the sea.
5. Goalbased Investors
A digital platform that democratizes access to goal-based financial planning and advice.
6. DIG Labs — WOMEN FOUNDERS
Creating the future of individualized pet health tech.
7. Misfit Foods
First mover in the less meat market, blending humanely raised chicken and nutritional vegetables into delicious sausages.
8. Hale
Tackling nicotine addiction by creating a solution that automatically and gradually weans people off the substance, reducing withdrawal symptoms and increasing cessation success rates.
9. Helaxy
Automating library prep to bring next-gen sequencing to the point of care.
10. Builder.ai
An AI-powered platform allowing businesses to build software faster, cheaper, and without tech expertise.
11. Life Biosciences
A longevity company with a diversified portfolio of therapies to extend the healthy human lifespan.
12. Shilling
Enabling consumers and healthcare companies to exchange patient information seamlessly and safely.
13. HelixNano
Leveraging synthetic biology to develop mRNA therapeutics for the world’s most deadly cancers and diseases.
14. BlockFi
Dedicated to providing traditional financial products and services to crypto-asset holders.
15. Infogrid
Machine learning tools to make buildings smarter — quickly, affordably, and securely.
16. Axiom Space
Missions to the International Space Station today. The world’s first commercial space station tomorrow.
17. OnDeck
Where top talent goes to accelerate their ideas and careers, surrounded by a world-class community.
18. Violet
The healthcare industry’s first cultural competency credentialing system.
19. Vitro Labs Website
Creating slaughter-free, real leather at scale using tissue engineering.
20. LiftEd — BLACK FOUNDER
Providing tools and resources for the 1 in 5 who learn differently and the educators that support them.
21. Yuri — WOMEN FOUNDER
Unlocking the benefits of microgravity by providing labs and factories in space.
Read Other Stories
For more information visit www.biasrehabcenter.com.
Resources
The Venture Collective (TVC) website. Accessed: August 2021.