After running a successful coffee shop for 10 years and even expanding into a new location, Beyu Caffe’s Dorian Bolden decided it was time to expand even further. He decided to raise capital, and even though he was a Duke graduate with a long history of success, he knew that he was seen differently than…

When raising capital, sometimes a founder is tempted to take any money because…well, they need it to move the business forward.  But not all investors are the right fit. Today Shani Dowell joins us as she shares her story about how she built Possip from the ground up, then struggled (but ultimately succeeded) in finding…

Each year, less than 3% of venture capital funding is invested in startups led by founders of color and women. Today, we share the story of an underrepresented founder who did find investment – Denise Woodard, who has raised almost $10M for her company Partake Foods. Denise shares how she started her company and her…

Welcome to Equity Raise: Leveling the Landscape for Diverse Founders and their VCs. Each year, less than 3% of venture capital funding is invested in startups led by founders of color and women. On this podcast from the American Underground, we’ll learn from some of these entrepreneurs who have successfully raised venture capital, despite the…