OUR IMPACT

Expanding participation in private markets

When more perspectives shape investment decisions, more opportunity reaches the market. BWI works to widen access to capital and to the rooms where capital is allocated, building a stronger and more inclusive investment ecosystem.

THE MARKET OPPORTUNITY

Broader Perspectives Drive Stronger Returns

30%

higher returns generated by diverse founding teams, with a 3.26x median realized multiple on IPOs and acquisitions vs. 2.50x
Source: Knight Foundation
70%

of unicorns have founders who are immigrants, women, or people of color
Source: Crunchbase
~15%

of U.S. women are Black women, a market and talent pool that remains largely untapped by private capital
Source: U.S. Census

THE UNTAPPED OPPORTUNITY

Who Manages Capital Shapes Where it Goes

The perspectives of those who manage capital influence which markets, founders, and communities receive investment. Broadening the range of experience among investment decision-makers strengthens how opportunity is identified and expands participation across alternative investments. Today, Black women remain among the least represented as investors and among the least funded as founders, representing a meaningful and largely untapped opportunity for wealth creation and business growth.

REPRESENTATION VS. POPULATION

Black Americans are 12% of the U.S. population.

U.S. population 12%

PE deal team members 1-2%

Assets managed by women- or minority-owned firms 1.4%

VC funding to Black women founders <1%

1–2%

of U.S. private equity deal team members are Black professionals, compared with 12% of the population

McKinsey & Company

1.4%

of total assets are managed by women- or minority-owned firms

Knight Foundation

2.1%

of U.S. VC firms are founded by a woman of color; 5.6% are women-led

Crunchbase

<1%

of total venture capital funding has gone to Black women founders

Crunchbase

11.1%

of public pension fund commitments went to diverse-managed funds in 2022, up from 7.6% in 2012. Minority women-led funds face a 37.8% commitment gap.

NAIC

BWI BY THE NUMBERS

100+

Members across the network
$10M+

Capital raised by founders in our network
$20.4T+

Combined AUM represented across the network
44

Investment firms and institutions represented

Three women sitting closely together smiling, two wearing green and beige clothing, all with name tags.

LEADING THE CONVERSATION

Building a more inclusive investment ecosystem

BWI connects investors with emerging founders and builds pathways for a broader investor community. Through strategic partnerships, thought leadership, and community-driven programming, we are expanding access to capital across the investment landscape.