Brown Venture Group
Minneapolis, MN · Invests in US · Website
Check size
$10K-$5M
Thesis
Underrepresented founders from Black, Latino, and Indigenous communities represent the best underactivated market for technology venture capital. Generations of adversity have made these entrepreneurs particularly resilient and innovative. We provide capital, operational support, training, and networks to help these founders build transformational technology companies.
Likely not a fit for
Discrimination-based exclusion. We exclusively back founders from underrepresented communities. We avoid ventures that exploit vulnerable communities.
How they invest
- Lead or follow
- Usually leads
- Typical decision
- ~2 weeks
- Warm intro
- Preferred
- Involvement
- Advisor
- Fund status
- Actively deploying
- Assets under mgmt
- $50M
- Decision process
- Partnership vote
Partners & team
5 contacts on file
Chris Dykstra
Partner · Primary contact
Eyerusalem Woldu
Partner
Dr. Paul Campbell
Managing Partner
Jerome Hamilton
Partner
Lara Dreier
Director of Operations
Portfolio
Ecolution Power Company supports the demand to move towards a net zero carbon footprint by capturing the ‘wasted’ kinetic energy of moving transportation, opening up the potential to eliminate more emissions and power cities across the globe with clean and efficient energy.
Big Navajo Energy is a Navajo-owned company focused on the development and deployment of efficient power generation technology, emphasizing sustainability and tribal community involvement in the energy transition.
Simpli-Fi Automation, Inc. leverages NASA's electronic nose technology to bring the sense of smell to artificial intelligence, enabling AI systems to detect, analyze, and interpret chemical signatures in the air. Their AeroVera product line includes solutions for health monitoring and environmental sensing.
Home Lending Pal is a technology-driven platform that aims to simplify the home lending process for consumers and lenders alike. The platform provides tools and resources to help users navigate the complexities of obtaining a mortgage.
Robocast is a pioneer in automated browsing systems, providing technology that allows users to seamlessly play content across various platforms. Their innovations include multimedia playlist engines and automated content delivery systems.
Warecorp helps enterprise companies with dataops for machine learning, enterprise integration, product development and support. We provide a variety of turn-key professional services, staff augmentation, and strategic consulting.
Go Moment uses IBM's Watson for its mobile app Rev1, enhancing guest engagement.
The Uptake is a nonprofit news organization focused on using community journalism as a tool to build racial and social justice. It emphasizes training individuals in reporting and covers a range of social issues.
Recent activity
- Feb 2024
Simpli-Fi Automation
Seed · Lead
- Aug 2023
Big Navajo Energy
Growth · Lead
- May 2022
Robocast
Series A · Participated
- Mar 2022
Nice Healthcare
Series A · Lead
- Nov 2020
Ecolution kWh
Seed · Lead
Brown Venture Group in the news
Business Insider
58 Black investors changing the venture capital industry with firms that fund diverse startup founders
Feb 2024
Tribal Business News
Venture funding boosts Big Navajo Energy's clean energy expansion
Sep 2023
Star Tribune
Startup that uses AI to perfect sales pitches and presentations nabs more funding
Feb 2023
The Business Journals
Black Leaders: Paul Campbell, Brown Venture Group
Feb 2023
PR Newswire
HOLLYWOOD UNLOCKED RAISES $1.7 MILLION IN SEED FUNDING
Jan 2023
Shoppe Black
Black Owned VC Firm Invests in an African American Owned Mining Company in Tanzania
Dec 2022
Business Insider
37 Black investors changing the VC industry with firms dedicated to funding diverse startup founders
Feb 2022
The Business Journals
2021 40 Under 40: Paul Campbell strives to bring equity to venture capital
Apr 2021
The Business Journals
Brown Venture Group sees economic potential of untapped entrepreneurs - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal
Mar 2021
Tribal Business News
Native entrepreneurs vie for attention as VC firms increasingly prioritize diversity
Feb 2021
The Business Journals
Brown Venture Group leads VC round for clean-energy startup Ecolution
Nov 2020
Bethel University
An Investment in Social and Economic Change
Apr 2020
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Research briefRead more
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