We use cookies. Do you accept them?
See more details in our Privacy Policy

Accept Reject
searchclose

Emerging VC funds targeting diverse founders need competitive / cost-effective way to offer platform services to portfolio companies

Suggested by WO Wendy Overton over 3 years ago

There's been a significant increase in the number of emerging funds, particularly those targeting diverse founders (such as female or BIPOC founders).

While there are a number of programs developed to support the emerging fund managers to help them launch their funds successfully (including this program), these emerging funds are too small to hire staff to support offering platform* services to their portfolio companies.

Thus,

  • the emerging funds are not as competitive as more established firms to compete for high quality startups who see platform services as a value-add
  • the funds' portfolio companies are at a disadvantage due to the lack of access to high quality platform services, which drag on these founders' potential velocity.


* "platform" as used in this Unmet Need is referring to the portfolio of services that a VC fund offers its portfolio companies, including creating a strong founder peer community, providing mentorship & training opportunities, making key introductions for founders, providing PR support, and providing discounted resources that reduce the administrative overhead for a startup, among other possible services.

Why Now?

The increase in number of these smaller, emerging funds is a growing trend that is in response to the historical disparity in funding for female, BIPOC, and other historically marginalized founders.

Providing cost-effective platform services to these founders is the next logical step to support these diverse founders' success.



Possible Solutions
lightbulb  Bianca Swidler proposed Antler • over 3 years ago
lightbulb  Shifat Rahman proposed Co-Founder Program • over 3 years ago
comment  Wendy Overton commented • over 3 years ago
lightbulb  Wendy Overton proposed 'Platform-as-a-Service' • over 3 years ago