Funding programs and investors focused on underrepresented minority entrepreneurs
Minority founders represent one of the fastest-growing segments of entrepreneurship in the United States, yet receive less than 2% of venture capital. This persistent gap has driven the creation of a substantial ecosystem of dedicated funding vehicles, government programs, and corporate initiatives targeting underrepresented founders. In 2024, funds explicitly focused on minority founders or diverse teams managed more than $3 billion in capital, including landmark vehicles from Harlem Capital Partners, Base10 Partners, Concrete Rose Capital, and others. Founders from underrepresented backgrounds now have more dedicated funding infrastructure than at any prior point — understanding how to navigate it efficiently is the critical skill.
Small Business Administration
Certification program for small businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Provides access to sole-source contracts up to $4.5M in services and $7M in manufacturing.
Minority Business Development Agency
MBDA funds business centers across the US that provide technical assistance and capital access specifically to minority-owned businesses.
Federal Agencies
Many SBIR programs explicitly prioritize minority-owned small businesses and those in underrepresented geographic areas for outreach and scoring preference.
Additional opportunities available in our full grants database.
Our VC database contains thousands of verified funds. Use the search below to find investors that match your specific profile.
Search All VC FundsDiverse founders, all industries
Education entrepreneurs of color
Underrepresented founders
Impact-focused, diverse founders
Black venture community
Browse our full accelerator database for more programs.
Morgan DeBaun
Morgan raised from investors including Comcast Ventures and SoftBank Opportunity Fund after demonstrating strong community engagement metrics.
Diishan Imira
Diishan built a hair distribution platform serving Black stylists and raised from Andreessen Horowitz after strong marketplace traction.
A step-by-step fundraising roadmap tailored for minority founders.
Free technical assistance and capital connections specifically designed for minority-owned businesses. Centers are in 40+ cities and can provide direct introductions to lenders and investors.
Certification takes 60-90 days but unlocks billions in federal contracting that can fund your business without diluting equity.
Harlem Capital, Base10 Partners, Concrete Rose, and Precursor Ventures all have explicit diversity commitments. These funds actively seek minority-led deal flow.
Peer networks provide warm introductions and shared intelligence on which investors are actually backing diverse founders versus those who claim to.
Companies like JPMorgan, Google, and Microsoft run accelerator and grant programs specifically for minority founders. These often provide non-dilutive capital plus commercial partnerships.
Most programs define minority as African American, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, or other groups underrepresented in business ownership. SBA 8(a) requires 51%+ ownership by a qualifying individual.
Yes. Harlem Capital Partners, Concrete Rose Capital, Fearless Fund, New Voices Fund, and several others have explicit mandates to invest in Black-led companies.
Yes. Applying for SBIR, general accelerators, and minority-specific programs simultaneously is a common and effective strategy. There is no requirement to choose between tracks.
Ask for portfolio company references from diverse founders. Review their public portfolio on their website or Crunchbase. Organizations like BLCK VC and All Raise publish data on which firms have strong diversity track records.
The Minority Business Development Agency is a federal agency with offices in 40+ cities. They provide free technical assistance, capital access support, and connections to federal contracting opportunities specifically for minority-owned businesses.