BLCK VC

Looking forward to seeing everyone at #LATECHWEEK this week.

?? Los Angeles: We've touched down in your city for #techweek where we're hosting TWO additional activations, and we can’t wait to connect with the best and brightest in tech and venture! ?? Invest in LA – An Evening with BLCK VC, Funders, and Founders. Join us for an exclusive private dinner bringing together diverse funders, founders, and industry leaders. Sponsored by CapitalG, Silicon Valley Bank, and PledgeLA, this event will spark candid conversations and foster powerful connections that shape the future of tech and venture in LA. Please note: Capacity is very limited and requesting to attend does not guarantee entry. ?? Date: Thursday October 17th ?? Request Registration here: https://lu.ma/qsxl7q3a ?? Venture on the Green – Get ready to tee off with a purpose! Join us, PledgeLA, J.P. Morgan, Deloitte & Cap Table Coalition for a day of networking and 9 holes of friendly competition at our Golf Classic. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a newbie, it’s the perfect way to build relationships while enjoying LA’s beautiful sights and sounds. While we've reached capacity for golf, you can still join us for brunch, drinks, music, and community. ?? Date: Saturday October 19th ?? Register here: https://lnkd.in/g4q-amuD Don't miss these opportunities to engage with leaders driving innovation and impact in LA and beyond! Click the links to register, and we’ll see you there! #LATechWeek #BLCKVC #InvestInLA #VentureOnTheGreen #CapitalG #SVB #SiliconValleyBank #PledgeLA #TechWeek2024 #Innovation #VentureCapital

Yesterday morning, Drive Capital Collab Capital Slauson & Co. and BLCK VC hosted The AI Forum, a community conversation on the transformative role of AI in our lives. We gathered a great group of founders, investors, bankers, lawyers and corporate executives to explore the critical issues surrounding AI's impact on bias, ethics, data privacy, sustainability, and public safety. Unlike typical industry events with panel discussions or fireside chats—valuable as they are—I believe we sometimes miss the opportunity to tap into the wealth of knowledge that’s present in the room. So, inspired by Andrea Hoffman at Culture Shift Labs, we designed this event to allow attendees to engage in small group conversations before opening up discussions to the larger room, creating a richer exchange of insights and perspectives. The discussions were incredibly thought-provoking. We delved into everything from the rise in sophisticated deep fakes and the importance of protecting data privacy to debates over closed vs. open-source LLMs and how AI can optimize efficiencies across sectors. There were varying opinions on AI's impact on job creation vs. job displacement, highlighting both opportunities and challenges. Special thanks to Jonathan King , a key contributor to the Atlanta VC ecosystem and investor at Coinbase Ventures. Jonathan has been conducting deep research on AI and contributed some of his incredible thought leadership in the room. Thank you Jaisa Gooden at Silicon Valley Bank for sponsoring the event and Seth C. Pearson for hosting us at Bryan Cave LLP! Also, thank you to my little Spelman College sisters Christina Tillis and Solana Escoffery for volunteering at the event check in! Avoilan Bingham Brittany Crockett Jaisa Gooden it was a pleasure working with you to organize and facilitate this event!! Key highlights from the event: - The rise in sophistication of deep fakes: Who is solving this problem? How do we build trust with consumers and the public when implementing AI technologies, particularly around data privacy and safety? - Atlanta’s AI landscape: What does the city need to continue fostering the innovation that will make Atlanta the next major tech hub? - The future of AI efficiency: How long will it take for industries to adopt AI solutions? What does the rollout process look like? - The data dilemma: Companies across industries may soon need to share their proprietary datasets to maximize AI’s potential. - Closed vs. open-source LLMs: The debate on the use of small LLMs trained on proprietary data continues. Cc: Jewel Burks Solomon Barry Givens Sydney Holness Austin Clements #AI #Innovation #AtlantaTech #VentureCapital #EthicsInAI

A taste of Summertime Chi. ? BLCK VC's Midwest Chapter set sail for a night of connection and celebration at its 3rd Annual All White Boat Party. Founders and funders came together to enjoy the last few weeks of the season. A special thanks to our incredible partners Verizon, Lofty Ventures, Ten To One Rum, and Maison Perrier for making this a highlight of the summer! And a huge shoutout to the BLCK VC Midwest Chapter leadership team (Tessa Flippin, Nina Ohiku, Hylton Irons, and Christian McKenzie ????) for hosting another amazing event! ??: Obinna Onyeka ??: Mike Abrantie

The New Majority Summit is headed to Houston! ?? Join 1863? Ventures Ventures, alongside renowned entrepreneur and investor Melissa Bradley, for a one-day business conference that focuses on equipping New Majority Founders—entrepreneurs from historically marginalized groups—with tools and strategies to scale their businesses, emphasizing responsible entrepreneurship. Participants will benefit from hands-on workshops, insightful panels, and expert advice from thriving Houston entrepreneur Kim Roxie and other?impactful ecosystem?partners. New Majority Founders are reshaping the business landscape as the fastest-growing segment of entrepreneurs. If that sounds like you, secure your spot today!

BLCK VC, VamosVentures, SomosVC, Plug In Ventures, and YOU! ? Join us during #LATechWeek for an opportunity for founders and funders of color (and our allies) to come together for seamless networking to build meaningful connections. See you there?

?? Last day to apply!

Ever wondered what it's like to be part of the BVI family? ???Denise Smith (she/her/hers), a member of our founding cohort, had this to say about it:

Calling all BLCK VC members, program alumni, investors, LPs, founders, friends, and family—we’re back on the golf course, but this time in LA! Join us on October 19th during #LATechWeek for a little (or a lot of bit):? ? Golf ?? ? Brunch ?? ? Community Building ????, and ? Fun ? Register today to secure your spot! Trust - you won’t want to miss this.?

I’m at #ALC53 and just finished watching 2 investment panels. Lots of questions and knowledge share about how to get into venture. There are opportunities for you to learn how to invest. We’ve just opened applications for our December cohort of the Black Venture Institute, which offers Black operators and executives access, insight, and a supportive community to kickstart their journey as angel, scout, and venture investors. Apply now!