VC Include

We have two upcoming #Fellowship information sessions! Have questions or want to learn more about the VC Include 2025 Fellowship? We are hosting virtual information sessions on: 🗓️ Tuesday, March 4, at 5pm EST 🗓️ Wednesday, March 12, at 1pm EST You can RSVP at: https://lnkd.in/eE8sEUi8 #emergingmanagers #fundmanagers #impactinvesting #venturecapital #privateequity #alternateinvestments #impactinaction #VC #VCI #VCIFellowship

This Q1 Newsletter starts on a personal, reflective note from our Executive Director and ends with a VCI alum celebration. In between, it covers the big announcement of our 2025 #Fellowship Application going LIVE, two info sessions to come, our community showing up for #BlackHistoryMonth event, and the in-person culmination of the inaugural #FundFundamentals cohort at Nasdaq HQ. As Milton noted, "Let’s keep going no matter what." #emergingmanagers #fundmanagers #impactinvesting #venturecapital #privateequity #alternateinvestments #impactinaction #VC #VCI

Celebrating Black History Month: Black Champions, GPs, and Allocators at Fordham Gabelli School of Business ✊ VC Include was honored to participate in the Black Champions, GPs, and Allocators event, hosted by the Family Stewardship Council at Fordham Gabelli School of Business last Friday. The morning brought together leading fund managers and capital allocators to discuss building trust with LPs, balancing returns with impact, and accelerating investment into diverse fund managers. Keynote speaker Christina Lewis shared the legacy of her father, Reginald Lewis, a pioneer in private equity whose impact continues to shape the industry. Today, Christina is the founder of multifamily office Beatrice Advisors. The Emerging Manager panel was moderated by VC Include Executive Director Milton Speid and featured VCI Fellowship alumni Lorine Pendleton (125 Ventures), Brian Hollins (Collide Capital), and Philip Reeves (Apis & Heritage). 🙌 This conversation is especially timely as we recognize #BlackHistoryMonth and reflect on the legacy of Black business leaders who paved the way. From Reginald Lewis to today’s emerging fund managers, access to capital and economic empowerment are as critical as ever to building generational wealth and fostering innovation. The Allocator Forum that followed featured Andrew Siwo (New York State Common Retirement Fund), Carlton Burrell (BlackRock), Lawrence Boseley (New York City Employee Retirement System), and Mervin Burton, CFA (Beatrice Advisors). It was expertly moderated by Kay Makishi (Lupoff/Stevens Family Office). 👏 We want to give a huge thank you to Peter Lupoff and everyone on the Fordham team who made this possible. Truly appreciate the opportunity to come together in this special time and place. 🙏 #emergingmanagers #fundmanagers #impactinvesting #venturecapital #privateequity #alternateinvestments #impactinaction #VC #VCI

🚨 Applications are NOW OPEN for our 2025 Fellowship Cohort 🚨 If you are an emerging VC or PE fund manager starting your first fund, apply for the VC Include Fellowship that has empowered 75+ GPs with the tools, knowledge, and networks needed to raise and manage institutional capital, expand investment portfolios, and create lasting impact in the venture ecosystem. ✨ VCI Fellows have received: 💡 Best-in-class education & training for institutional readiness 🙌 Mentorship from industry leaders 🚀 Professional development support to build and lead a strong team 📊 Strategy & framework for integrating key metrics into fund portfolio 🤝 Opportunities to build lifelong connections with aligned investors Learn more and apply at: https://lnkd.in/gnvVhHh #emergingmanagers #fundmanagers #impactinvesting #venturecapital #privateequity #alternateinvestments #impactinaction #VC #VCI

Something very exciting is happening next week 👀 On Monday, February 24, VC Include will be opening applications for our 2025 Fellowship! We couldn't be more excited to launch the next cohort of emerging fund managers ✨ This is for you if you are: 🚀 In the early stages of raising your first institutional-grade VC/PE fund 🙌 Passionate about creating meaningful impact through investments 💪 Looking to join a community of emerging managers who lift each other up 📍 Building your dreams right here in the U.S. Stay tuned – we'll be sharing application details next week! #emergingmanagers #fundmanagers #impactinvesting #venturecapital #privateequity #alternateinvestments #impactinaction #VC #VCI

Join the VC Include community and the Family Stewardship Council at Fordham Gabelli next Friday! RSVP at https://lnkd.in/euC47XTb Cheers to VCI alum Brian Hollins, Lorine Pendleton, and Philip Reeves for speaking on the panel with our Executive Director Milton Speid 👏

From Zoom screens to Nasdaq billboard: what a journey it has been for our inaugural Fund Fundamentals class!  Despite the freezing January temperatures, many of these incredible women traveled across the country to meet and participate in the culminating in-person programming. Their collective joy lit up Times Square and for a moment they outshined the lights! 🌟 Standing in the heart of the financial world, these pictures captured what we know: this inaugural class will help to create the future of VC. 🚀 Thank you again to the Nasdaq Foundation for celebrating these accomplished and daring women in such a memorable way. We're grateful for the lights you've shone on these bright stars. ✨ #emergingmanagers #fundmanagers #impactinvesting #venturecapital #privateequity #alternateinvestments #impactinaction #VC #VCI #womenintech #womeninVC #womeninfinance #Nasdaq #TimesSquare

Proud to announce my completion of the inaugural VC Include Emerging Managers Fund Fundamentals Program, supported by the Nasdaq Foundation! This program has been a transformative experience, designed to support women from historically underrepresented populations in VC as they prepare to launch their venture funds. Through this journey, I gained critical insights into fund formation, financial planning, building and managing LP relationships, being a good fiduciary of capital, and strategic networking—laying the foundation to navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead as an emerging fund manager. The program brought together a remarkable cohort of 25 future fund managers, each committed to reshaping the landscape of venture capital. I’m incredibly inspired by my peers and grateful for the supportive guidance that VC Include and Nasdaq provided to help us map out our next steps. This milestone isn’t just about fund building—it’s about creating a more inclusive, innovative, and impactful future for venture capital. A huge thank you to my cohort mates, VC Include and Nasdaq Foundation. Major thanks to Mahting Putelis, Mike Lightman, and Sarah Hubbard of Good & partners for the branding, marketing, and storytelling sessions conducted on our final day of the program. Thank you to all the speakers who shared their insights on building and managing a fund, being a great fiduciary of capital, and empowering founders creating innovative solutions to transform society. Let’s continue to open doors, build bridges, and chart new paths forward! Reshaping the future aka now. Nina Sharma, Milton Speid, Joy Jing, Ivy Binns, and Bahiyah Yasmeen Robinson - THANK YOU. #VentureCapital #EmergingManagers #WomenInFinance #FutureOfVC #nothingventurednothinggained

Kicking off 2025 with Growth and Gratitude! 🌟 I’m thrilled to start the year by completing Nasdaq and VC Include’s Fund Fundamentals program!! This experience has been invaluable, deepening my knowledge and equipping me with the tools to make an even greater impact in the venture capital space. As someone who believes in the power of lifelong learning, this journey has been a reminder that growth never stops. Whether you’re just starting out or have years of experience, there’s always room to evolve, refine your skills, and embrace new challenges. A huge thank you to the incredible teams at Nasdaq (Jailan Griffiths) and VC Include (Milton Speid, Nina Sharma, Ivy Binns, and Alia Einstein-Diez) for curating such a transformative program and for their commitment to advancing women in venture capital. Here’s to continuing the work of building meaningful change, learning from brilliant minds, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in 2025 and beyond. Let’s keep growing together! You can learn more about VC Include here: https://www.vcinclude.com #NeverStopLearning #FundFundamentalsProgram #VentureCapital #GrowthMindset #venturecapital #Privatequity #startups #entrepreneurship #art #artisanassetclass

After weeks of virtual connections, 25 future fund managers walked into NYC as classmates. They walked out as an unstoppable community of friends, collaborators, and champions for each other. ✨ Under the first full moon of 2025, our first IRL meeting had the energy of a college reunion as these emerging fund managers shared reflections and set intentions for the year. There was constant laughter, chatter, and applause spilling over from table to table. A full day of hands-on workshops followed as Sarah Hubbard led the class in crafting compelling brand stories and Mike Lightman helped us understand what make and break a powerful pitch deck. Then we had a surreal moment posing in front of the #NASDAQ billboard in Times Square with the whole Fund Fundamentals class - more to come on that! A special thank you to Jill Blackford and Jailan Griffiths at the Nasdaq Foundation for making this entire program possible. And thank you to Heading for Change for your continued support! 🙏 BIG shoutout to team members Nina Sharma, Milton Speid, Ivy Binns, Alia Einstein-Diez, Joy Jing for putting it together, and to photographer Mahting Putelis 🙌 To our inaugural Fund Fundamentals class: Your unique experiences, combined with the foundations built in this program, will reshape the future of venture capital. We can't wait to see what you'll build! 💪 #emergingmanagers #fundmanagers #impactinvesting #venturecapital #privateequity #alternateinvestments #impactinaction #VC #VCI #womenintech #womeninVC #womeninfinance