Our Impact
Why Investor Representation Matters
A McKinsey & Company study found that Black professionals made up just 1–2% of U.S. private equity deal teams in 2020, despite the Black population being 12% of the nation. As diversity decreases with seniority, investment strategies often lack perspectives from underrepresented communities—leading to disproportionate capital allocation. Black women, in particular, remain the most underrepresented among investors while also receiving the least venture capital funding, creating a significant barrier to wealth creation and business growth. Without diverse decision-makers, diverse founders remain significantly underfunded, stifling innovation and economic growth.
Closing this gap isn’t just equity—it’s smart investing
“5.6% of all VC firms in the US are women-led, and only 2.1% of VC firms are founded by a woman of color”
“Diverse founding teams generate 30% higher returns, with a 3.26x median realized multiple on IPOs and acquisitions, compared to 2.50x for non-diverse founding teams”
“Black women make up ~8% of the U.S. population and ~15% of all women, yet Black female startup founders have received less than 1% of total venture capital funding”
“70% of unicorns have “underdog founders” (immigrants, women, people of color)”
Driving the Conversation on Inclusive Investing
BWI is leading the movement on inclusive investing by bridging the gap between investors and underrepresented founders, and creating opportunities for a more diverse investor ecosystem. Through strategic partnerships, thought leadership, and community-driven initiatives, we’re reshaping the investment landscape to create more equitable access to capital.
Meet the Founders We Support
BWI is committed to supporting high-potential, emerging founders and businesses in underrepresented and underinvested industries
Explore the Data
Sources: Bridgespan, McKinsey & Company, Knight Foundation, Crunchbase
