The Technology 202: ‘Make the hire. Send the wire’ has emerged as a rallying cry for Silicon Valley’s black leaders

  • Date: 09-Jun-2020
  • Source: Washington Post
  • Sector:Technology
  • Country:Jordan
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The Technology 202: ‘Make the hire. Send the wire’ has emerged as a rallying cry for Silicon Valley’s black leaders

And 81 percent of venture capital firms didn't have a single black investor, according to a 2018 analysis by Equal Ventures partner Richard Kerby.. Black venture capitalists and their allies are responding to broad calls from venture capital firms aligning themselves with protesters against racial injustice.. But the venture capitalists want specific action, including hiring more black investors and funding more black founders.. BLCK VC is trying to seize the momentum surrounding the protests to make lasting changes in venture capital, Hollins tells me.. Monique Woodard, a venture capitalist, said when she first arrived in Silicon Valley in 2008, she was often the only black person at an event or start-up demo day.. Even as more work was done to build up an ecosystem of black founders, venture capitalists were not investing in them.. “¦ If you have the ability to write a check, but you will only offer mentorship to black founders, that is only helpful to your ego.". BLCK VC also called on venture capital firms last week to discuss within their own firms and with the companies they invest in the recent protests and police brutality, as well as to donate to charitable organizations fighting institutional