Latimer Ventures

Meet Luke Cooper. Luke is Founding General Partner and Managing Director at Latimer Ventures. Latimer Ventures is an enterprise-focused Venture Capital Firm dedicated to helping Black & Hispanic Founders build and exit the next RedHat, Datadog, or Tableau. Luke spends most of his time fundraising and nurturing a strong pipeline of early-stage enterprise SaaS companies.? Before Latimer, Luke is a 2x successfully exited enterprise software founder (Cybersecurity & Insurtech), both exits to Fortune 300 acquirers. In 2020, Luke sold his company, Fixt, an enterprise-focused third-party administration software, to Assurant (NYSE:AIZ), a Fortune 300 leader in insurance risk management. After raising a $6.5M Series A, he became 1 of 3 Black Founders to reach a profitable exit that year.?? His focus is primarily on data-related applications, cybersecurity, and cloud/infrastructure-related companies. He is always looking for new investment opportunities and keep to meet passionate technology entrepreneurs with great ideas for building new enterprise companies. Typically, he gets involved when companies have a handful of customers and $500,000 of annual recurring revenue - that's the stage at which I can help the most.? He is also the host of a Podcast channel called #SayITinTheRoom, where each episode, I tackle different aspects of leadership, culture, and strategy to help entrepreneurs and everyday people remove biases impeding their growth. Luke currently serves as the President's Distinguished Scholar at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. He has previously been a member of the Maryland TEDCO Board of Directors, and was the Entrepreneur in Residence at Georgetown University. Luke holds a JD from Syracuse University, an MBA from Babson College, an M&A Certificate from the University of Chicago, and a BASc from Adelphi University. What is your favorite thing about Latimer? Latimer Ventures represents a unique opportunity to create top decile returns for investors while simultaneously creating wealth in communities that have been historically disconnected from venture capital.? Lewis Howard Latimer was the rightful inventor of the light bulb. Though Edison eventually hired him onto the team when he couldn’t figure out carbon filaments, due to his upbringing and Black skin, he was never fully accepted as part of one of Edison’s elite Muckers. The office he operated out of was located on Whiting Street in Bridgeport, CT, steps away from Pequannock Apartments, the housing projects I grew up in.? Latimer Ventures presents the opportunity to ensure that Black and Brown genius not only gets the credit it deserves but also the financial reward they deserve in their day.? “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” - Theodore Roosevelt.

Would love to see my NC peeps! Come spend some time with us. Latimer Ventures + NC Rural Center + Provident1898

Durham, NC,??we're coming! #LatimerHouse's second cohort is coming to a close, and we want to show you all what we've been working on. ?? Event: Latimer House presents Cohort II’s Demo Day ?? Location: Provident1898, Durham, NC ?? Date: Tuesday, November 19 ?? Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM If you think this is just another "pitch, clap, and leave" kind of event, you're in for a wake-up call. Demo Day at Latimer House is where hustle meets execution, where bold visions turn into real-world impact, and where founders prove they're ready to win. With partnerships from Microsoft for Startups, Kaiser Permanente, University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) and the Abell Foundation Inc, we're taking ideas to the next level—and the countdown is almost over. This is where legacies are launched, and industries get rewritten. Don't miss the chance to witness the raw energy, grit, and game plans that'll shape tomorrow. Let's GO! The time for talking is over—it's time to see what these founders are made of. The RSVP link is in the comment.

Yesterday, we kicked off Cohort II of #LatimerHouse in Baltimore, and it was truly a sight to see. This isn’t just another accelerator. We’re here to build, scale, and make a REAL impact. ?? We started the day by setting a strong foundation for our entrepreneurs, working on culture, crafting powerful missions, visions, and values—and more importantly, focusing on the practical application of these principles. Because without a strong base, scaling becomes impossible. Big shoutout to the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) for the awesome swag bags, and a special thanks to John “Jack” Dwyer of CFG Bank, who dropped in to share some serious words of wisdom with our founders. When you’ve got mentors like that, you know you’re in good hands. Massive props to our partners Microsoft for Startups, Kaiser Permanente, and Abell Foundation Inc for backing this vision and helping us push these companies forward. We’re in for a wild ride! We’re just getting started. Time to roll up our sleeves, scale BIG, and show the world what these startups are made of. Let’s go! ?? #Startup #Entrepreneurship #CohortII #LatimerHouse #Baltimore #ScalingUp

We’re excited to announce Cohort II of #LatimerHouse. We kick off on?October 1st and are?ready to?put in the work to accelerate these startups to the next level. This?isn’t about playing?small—it’s about scaling BIG and creating real impact.?We're ready?to roll up our sleeves and get after it. Let’s go! Massive shoutout to?Microsoft for Startups,?Kaiser Permanente,?Abell Foundation Inc, and?the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) for backing this program. ?? Salynt Inc. - A teammate for creating AI-powered applications. ?? Paperade AI (Techstars '24) - Bridges the gap between raw research data and market success, utilizing explainable neurosymbolic AI to drive informed R&D decisions. ?? The Missing Piece App - Revolutionizing autism treatment through the first comprehensive software platform for diagnosis, treatment & community resources. ?? Ehelp Health - Provides mental health support for young people and families through a secure AI platform. ?? BeAware Deaf Assistant - Provides AI tools for deaf individuals and institutions that serve them. ?? WePair Health?- The first AI-enabled career marketplace, built by and for community health workers and doulas. ?? Guidepad - Reduces modern software development complexity by providing development teams with common, reusable tools and an automation framework. We’re ready to roll up our sleeves and get to work!

Calling All Visionaries: #LatimerHouse Cohort II Applications Now Open! We're at an exciting juncture as our first cohort at Latimer House wraps up, demonstrating the profound impact of our program on the lives and ventures of underrepresented founders. Now, we're gearing up for the next chapter and are thrilled to announce that applications for Cohort II, starting May 15th, are officially open! Our recent Demo Day in Tulsa, supported by our incredible partners at Build in Tulsa, was nothing short of inspirational. Witnessing our teams’ journey from ideation to securing early revenue, seed investments, and even potential Fortune 300 partnerships was a clear testament to what we set out to achieve: real results, real progress. Cohort Highlights: - Strategic pivots that sparked immediate revenue - New seed investments and opportunities for international growth - Future corporate collaborations taking shape At Latimer House, we're not just running an accelerator; we're creating a movement. We're redefining what support looks like for Black, Brown, and Female founders who've historically been sidelined by conventional accelerators. We’re on the lookout for more disruptors, dreamers, and diligent doers. If you want to be a part of this journey, either as a founder or a supporter, I’d love to connect. Reach out, apply, or simply show love to this post. Here’s the link to apply to Cohort II and stay updated on all things Latimer House:?https://lnkd.in/eh-85YbJ Let's keep pushing the boundaries of what's possible. Onward and upward!

The Syracuse University Innovation Law Center's recent symposium, "Venture to Victory," featured five distinguished alumni: Peter Alfano L’94, Partner at DLA Piper Luke Cooper L’01, Founding General Partner and Managing Director at Latimer Ventures James Kelly L’99, Partner and Chair, New York Private Equity at DLA Piper Lon Levin L’80, President at SkySevenVentures Kevin Whittaker L’02, Chief Legal & Compliance Officer at Ripcord They shared insights and advice on bringing high-tech companies from early-stage funding to exit strategies. Learn more about the event: https://bit.ly/3I79ntp

?? Happy Monday! ?? Johnnie and I are feeling grateful to be back home after an incredible whirlwind of events last week. Kicking off our first New York activation with Black Tech Saturdays was nothing short of amazing! Special thanks to Chief for hosting us. Also, special thank you to Esther Pan Sloane for partnering with us as well as Lenore Champagne Beirne, Founder of Bright Ventures, as well as Luke Cooper, GP of Latimer Ventures. Meeting so many of you in person for the first time, soaking in the energy of the city, and engaging in heartfelt conversations was truly special. Our journey didn't stop there as we headed to Baltimore, a place that's starting to feel like a second home, to kick off the first BTS Baltimore event of the year. Many thanks to our partners on the ground Angel St. Jean, Founder of the The Equity Brain Trust, and Luke Cooper. Connecting with familiar faces and hearing your Hero stories was incredibly inspiring. Now, we're back in Detroit and ready to hit the ground running! With our first Black History Month Celebration on the horizon, excitement levels are through the roof. Get ready for a Saturday filled with joy, community engagement, and celebration. Trust us, it's an event you won't want to miss! Don't forget to RSVP below to secure your spot. Let's make this celebration one to remember! Wishing you all a fantastic week ahead, and we can't wait to see you there! ?? ?? ?? ?? Black History Month Celebration RSVP: https://lnkd.in/dTB5tpjx

Tonight was beautiful, Tonight was bold, Tonight was the beginning! Nothing ventured, Nothing gained. They say you grow from facing your fears... I was afraid of New York... until now. #Detroit showed up BIG tonight, nothing like some love from home to help calm the anxiety. #Newyork welcomed us with open arms and relationships were built that are set to definitely "Rewrite History" I'm so grateful to each and everyone of you who came out and "Leaned in". It takes a village and we are especially grateful to Esther Pan Sloane, Luke Cooper, Founder & General Partner at Latimer Ventures, Lenore Champagne Beirne Founder and Managing Partner Bright Ventures.The powerful stories and wisdom from these three was invaluable! "If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be." - Maya Angelou Love Alexa Turnage & Johnnie Turnage #Newyork #Detroit #BlackTechSaturdays #togetherwecan #Thankyou #community Nicholas Bailey Ashley Renée Reid Omed Sharifi Marcus Webb Jason Torres Astrid Charleus Thorpe Omar Thorpe Lauren Uddyback Kailyn Uddyback Darel Scott Ope Runsewe Tinia P. Kofo Ojo George Nunez Cavaughn J. Noel, MBA Caleb Mims Jessica McGlory Leigh Marville Habibah M. Sasha Mack Akash Solankee Dr Bukky Kolawole Kange Kaneene Brandon Hightower Colette Ellis Joyce Duverce, MBA Cachet Colvard, MHSA, MBA Iyanda Channer-Newman Sydney Banks Kareemah A. Daniel Adeyanju Sheereen AbdulKabir

We are proud of NAIC's 24 Black-owned Venture Capital member firms who are making a significant impact on their industries and communities, and are playing an increasingly vital role in the U.S. economy. Eighty-nine percent of VC firms report they do not have any Black investment partners according to a recent study by National Venture Capital Association. These firms are key capital providers that help advance the broad spectrum of industries they invest in, especially in technology, healthcare, and media. Join us in recognizing these Black-owned Venture Capital firms, and their founders, for their exemplary leadership in the asset management industry and their communities. #diverseleadership?#venturecapital?#blackhistorymonth?#alternativeinvesting