Host Weilyn Chong explores the ins and outs of getting funded as an entrepreneur of color - featuring the world’s brightest early stage entrepreneurs and those working to solve this complex issue. Each episode, Weilyn chats with an early stage entrepreneur to gain insight on everything from how we can increase access to capital for underrepresented entrepreneurs and tips on getting in front of VCs and angels ..read more

In this episode of The Venture Equity Project Podcast, Weilyn talks with D Marie, Founder of MyRA, about the ins and outs of fundraising as an entrepreneur of color. D Marie authentically shares her journey building MyRA and details the challenges and successes she faced during the ideation, fundraising, and building stages. Questions we explored on the podcast: What was the fundraising process like? What factors made fundraising challenging for you? What are your thoughts on the current state of capital flow? As a founder, what do you feel has been unexpectedly challenging? What has been une ..read more

In this episode, we are joined by Jill Johnson, Co-Founder of the Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership (IFEL) to explore the current state of capital flow. From tangible steps investors can take to build a more inclusive environment to why educational programs are not enough to solve the lack of capital to entrepreneurs of color, Jill engages with each of these topics through personal stories and her journey building IFEL. Questions we explored on the podcast: What are the current problems that face entrepreneurs of color and women entrepreneurs in the current landscape? What are the barr ..read more

In this episode of the Venture Equity Project Podcast, Emma Joy Obanye, Managing Director of Capital Enterprise’s ‘OneTech’, sheds light on the current state of entrepreneurship and venture capital flow in the UK. Through sharing her own experience as an entrepreneur and detailing the work and programs OneTech is doing to build a more equitable future in venture, Emma gives insight into the similarities and differences between the venture space in the UK and US. Emma and host Weilyn Chong also chat about the flaws with the mainstream narrative of entrepreneurship, bootstrapping your business ..read more

In this week’s episode of the Venture Equity Project Podcast, Banu Ozkazanc-Pan, a Professor of Practice at the School of Engineering and the founder of the Venture Capital Inclusion Lab, shares key qualitative and quantitative insights on the venture capital space. We dive into the differences between angel investors and LPs, the parallels between DEI and ESG, and the vision and mission of the Venture Capital Inclusion lab. Here are some questions we cover on the podcast: What have been some key findings the Venture Capital Inclusion Lab has discovered? What is the current landscape of inves ..read more

Host Weilyn Chong explores the ins and outs of getting funded as an entrepreneur of color - featuring the world’s brightest early stage entrepreneurs and those working to solve this complex issue. Each episode, Weilyn chats with an early stage entrepreneur to gain insight on everything from how we can increase access to capital for underrepresented entrepreneurs and tips on getting in front of VCs and angels ..read more

Over the last two years, many CEOs and business leaders have placed more importance on DEI and bias training within their company. But how do we know if the bias training works? What are the indicators of effective bias training programs? In this week’s episode of the Venture Equity Project Podcast, Richard Leong, an expert in the DEI space, talks with host Weilyn Chong about the key factors of an effective DEI programs, his perspective on unconscious bias training, and how business leaders can set up effective DEI training into their companies. Why is DEI and bias training important? Why is ..read more

In this week’s episode of The Venture Equity Project Podcast, James Oliver Jr, Founder of the ParentPreneur Foundation, co-host of his own podcast Parents Making Profits, CEO and Co-founder of Kabila, and Co-Founder of the world's cutest twins, Thaddeus and Zoe, shares his authentic journey as a founder and the role entrepreneurial storytelling played in building the Foundation. Questions we explore on the podcast: How have you been able to shape your story through media platforms? How has the news/media outlets portrayed your story as an entrepreneur? Have there been gaps between the way you ..read more

This week on the Venture Equity Project Podcast, TaChelle Lawson, Founder & President of FIG Strategy & Consulting, talks about the importance of intentionality when it comes to bias training and DEI initiatives. She explores tangible steps we can take to combat our own biases, shares her own journey in being vulnerable with her biases, and gives her insights on the hospitality industry through a DEI lens. More about the Venture Equity Project Podcast: The Venture Equity Project Podcast is a storytelling platform where we bring on the world’s most incredible entrepreneurs, forward thin ..read more

In this week’s episode of the Venture Equity Project Podcast, Max Crowley, Director of the Evidence-to-Impact Collaborative, dives into what it means to use data for good. Max shares what the Evidence-to-Impact Collaborative is all about, how we can use data to create a more equitable venture future for entrepreneurs of color, and how human development research relates to the entrepreneurial landscape. Questions we explored on the podcast: Could you give a brief overview of the Evidence-to-Impact Collaborative? What is the main mission and motivation behind the collaborative? What is the goal ..read more