The BFM Fund

??Will you be in Portland on Monday 11/4??? ?? We'd love to see you at our year end celebration! ?? We fundamentally believe that people who are close to the problem are also in proximity to the solution. We also know that capital is oftentimes the catalyst, or hindrance, to what innovations become our reality. To change where and how capital is deployed, we need different people who represent the everyday American to be in decision-making roles that drive capital allocation. ?? Venture Partners Fund is toasting to three years of successfully training and placing the everyday American into capital allocation roles. We'd love to celebrate with you, and even more importantly- build with you! ??? Thank you to the countless supporters of our collective vision over the past three years! Here's to many more: Luis Balderas Villagrana, Madeline Atmore, MBA, Nathan Foos, Natasha Torres, Chris Maga?a, Xuan Cen Cheng, David Kenney, Jo Brickman, Robert Schneider, Kory Murphy, Maggie Finnerty, Melissa (Durham) Freeman, Thet Swe, MBA, MSF, Bonnie Vieira, Madeline Armitage, Ochuko Akpovbovbo, Maria Pope, Chidima S. Okorie, MA, PMP?, Stuart Read, Brian Vierra, Michael Ashley, Joshua Wylie, Ruchira Bhowmik, Devika Dhamija, Sokong Seng, Aurelia Flores, Arsh Haque, Kiante Bush, MBA, Shannon Collins, Andy Robbins, Kate Delhagen, Ralph Greene, Jr, Oregon Sports Angels, gener8tor, Ursula Arlauskas, Hazel Valdez, Marquita Jaramillo, Nathan Webster, Shaena Grim, MBA

We are still buzzing from the joy of yesterday’s event! The goal of The Black Wealth Summit was to bring together leaders from across the country to provide decentralized access to information and resources. This could not have been possible without our incredible community and partners that joined us in co-hosting the Black Wealth Summit. ? ????Thank you to all of our sponsors: Umpqua Bank, Fenwick & West, Oregon MBDA Business Center, Audible, The Catalyst Group, JPMorganChase, Perkins Coie, Prosper Portland, 1803 Fund, Wellington Management, Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership (IFEL), VIPC | Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation, CDC Small Business Finance, Citizens, Carta, Black Business Association of Oregon, Chris Maga?a GOOD COFFEE LLC, WealthMore, Mocktail Club, Breakside Brewery and, PSU Center for Entrepreneurship. ????Thank you to our 30+ speakers who traveled across the country from 10+ states, including our very special guests: Beatrice Dixon, terri j vaughn riley, and Allyson Felix! ? ?? We received feedback that this was the most punctually run and most diverse-led event folks have been to in a while. Hats off to our incredible Black-owned and led production company dreambloc for meticulously executing the summit with 250+ speakers, sponsors and attendees! ??Shout out to the team at xc design studio and all of their fabulous work on all marketing, photography and videography. This team can do it all! ??We can’t wait to make next year even better! If you know of an organization we should work with or a speaker who should be featured? Drop a ?? in the comments below. Rachel Wilson Himalaya Rao-Potlapally Xuan Cen Cheng Shaena Grim, MBA (Jake Kindrachuk ?? ) #BlackWealthSummit #Portland #GenerationalWealth

The Black Wealth Summit is happening TOMORROW, October 22nd, from 9 AM to 5 PM! We can’t wait to see all of you there. Join us for a day filled with insightful discussions, networking opportunities, and empowering strategies for building wealth in our communities. Check out this sneak peek from KGW-TV today to get a taste of what’s in store! ??? Rachel Wilson + Himalaya Rao-Potlapally Let’s come together to inspire and uplift each other on this journey towards financial empowerment. See you all soon! #BlackWealthSummit #FinancialEmpowerment #CommunityBuilding #GenerationalWealth #Portland https://lnkd.in/gQ_36TCN

Welcome to Portland! ?? ?? It was a delight to connect with everyone this evening and hear from the amazing Katya Suh of Kaya PDX, and Marsha Williams of KairosPDX. We are just two sleeps away from The Black Wealth Summit, and we can't wait to see everyone there! William Huston Winnie Sabbat, MBA Henry Pittman Melanie Seymour Mark Williams Rachel Wilson Himalaya Rao-Potlapally Tamika Tyson Jordan Zackery, CFP? Aurelia Flores Stephanie M. Fowler Shaena Grim, MBA

The inaugural Black Wealth Summit is just a few days away and we can't wait to share with you what we have in store! ? ??First up, our keynote speaker Beatrice Dixon on "Breaking Barriers: Generational Wealth & the Mindset of Money." ? ?? You also get to take advantage of all 5?? panel discussions with an incredible line up of speakers: https://lnkd.in/gE8nD97V ? ?? Check out our Resource Library comprised of sophisticated wealth-building tools and resources and sponsored by the Black Business Association of Oregon ? ?? Connect with Oregon-based business in our Business Showcase powered by the Oregon MBDA Business Center and Prosper Portland. Come sample, purchase, and meet these business owners. ? ?? Networking Happy Hour powered by Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership (IFEL) and JPMorganChase with our beverage sponsors Breakside Brewery and Chris Maga?a. #BWS2024 #BlackWealthSummit #Portland #Oregon #Generational #Wealth #Building Portland Metro Chamber Partners in Diversity 1803 Fund Venture Partners Fund Umpqua Bank Fenwick & West Audible The Catalyst Group Perkins Coie Wellington Management Citizens Private Bank Carta CDC Small Business Finance VIPC | Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation Black United Fund of Oregon Soul District Business Association NAMC Oregon

It’s t-minus two weeks to the inaugural Black Wealth Summit, and we cannot wait to see you all in Portland. This year is our first of many!? Grab your tickets here: https://lnkd.in/gW4V-guw ? #BWS2024 #Portland #GenerationalWealthBuilding

?? We are excited to share that the Oregonian Media Group article on the Black Wealth Summit is now live! ?? ? Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gVC68iaq #BlackWealthSummit #Entrepreneurship #Community #WealthBuilding #GenerationalWealth

We're building the wealth tech of the future. TechCrunch and Dominic-Madori Davis, thank you for telling our WealthMore story. It's especially meaningful to be recognized as technologists, innovators, and disruptors of the status quo. In over 100 years, not enough has been done to make wealth management more inclusive or meet the needs of a digital-mobile first world. We've solved for both, using technology to make wealth advice accessible to millions who have been left out. We also tapped into the importance of community. 70% of Americans don't have access to a wealth advisor due to high account minimums and high fees. Yet, those who do, grow 2X more wealth (source: Vanguard Alpha Advisor Study). We're changing that. Yes, my grandmother would be very proud. Rest in love ?? Join us. See you in the community. Find me at #womenwhowealth, #firstgenwealth, #collegeplanning, #retirementplanning Read more of our WealthMore journey here: https://lnkd.in/eq_qfrSM

?? CALLOUT FOR FUNDING OPPORTUNITY - ONLY ONE WEEK LEFT! ?? ?? We’re thrilled to announce that The BFM Fund, Venture Partners Fund, and EDCO - Economic Development for Central Oregon are partnering together to create the New Economy Track at Bend Venture Conference (BVC). ?? We’re inviting innovative companies NATIONWIDE to apply. We have at least $200k so please apply today! Finalists will also have an opportunity to present on the main stage at Bend Venture Conference in October. ?? This new track highlights companies fostering a future-oriented, inclusive economy. ?? Evaluation Criteria: 1. Founder Proximity: Founders with relevant lived experiences to their communities. 2. Participation for Marginalized/SEDI Communities: Technologies, services, or products enhancing participation and quality of life for marginalized/SEDI communities. 3. Internal Impact Metrics: Governance and operations with community-focused structures. 4. External Impact Metrics: Impact of products on the environment, wealth gaps, and consumption patterns. ?? Application Details: - Deadline: August 9 -?Apply Here: https://lnkd.in/eu6_npvB -?Requirements: Products enabling marginalized/SEDI community participation, founders proximity to communities served, demonstrated impact metrics, $100K-$900K in revenue over the past year, and seeking initial institutional funding. ?? Join us to support visionary companies shaping a more inclusive and sustainable future. ?? Apply now and spread this message to others who might benefit from funding! ?? Thank you to supporters and advocates of BFM and Venture Partners: Rachel Wilson, Shaena Grim, MBA, Luis Balderas Villagrana, Aurelia Flores, Melanie (Mel) Strong, Paige Hendrix Buckner, Cobi Lewis, Arsh Haque, Joshua Wylie, Ochuko Akpovbovbo, Claudius Taylor, PMP, Kenyatta Trice, Nathan Webster, Jennifer Hwang Bush, Jennifer O'Daniel, Adam Choe, Tim Ryan, Paul Nolde, Charles Corprew, Ph.D., Saras Sarasvathy, Maria Pope, Winnie Sabbat, MBA, Marquita Jaramillo, Ricardo López, Jenn Lynch, Ann McQuesten, Yvonne S., Elaine Hsieh, Hazel Valdez, Julius Valentine M., Desiree Frieson, Aaron D. Taylor, Charles Morgan, Lawrence Campbell, Cornelia P., Ruchira Bhowmik

We are just one week away from our next installment of the BIPOC Leaders Lunch series on June 17th! ??? We are thrilled to partner with our sister organization, Venture Partners Fund as well as our amazing sponsors: Prosper Portland and Stoel Rives LLP! If you’d like to join us, please RSVP and register here: https://lu.ma/y2qdf8ve We look forward to seeing you there!