Launched in 2021, the Venture Equity Project is a multi-year initiative and coalition of nonprofit and academic institutions, supported by JPMorganChase and Nasdaq.
The Venture Equity Project explores models to expand venture capital access for underrepresented entrepreneurs through cutting-edge research and actionable policy recommendations. Our work identifies opportunities for ecosystem builders, policymakers, investors, and educators, by offering insights for those committed to advancing equity in entrepreneurship.
Now in its third year, the Venture Equity Project is focused on the role of the U.S. states in fostering equity within the venture ecosystem. This research is a collaboration among the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center, Heartland Forward, and Penn State University’s Evidence-to-Impact Collaborative.
Research Partners / Collaborators
Introducing Equity Innovation Leaders
The latest findings from the Venture Equity Project, highlighted in Revitalizing Innovation: Models of Equitable Entrepreneurship Across the United States report show the importance of geography as an ingredient in equity, evaluating how each U.S. state shapes opportunities for Black, Hispanic & Women founders. We identified seven states we call Equity Innovation Leaders, based on their commitment to driving systemic change and leading in building inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Penn State University analyzed state-level legislative activity and discourse; Heartland Forward evaluated business ownership among Black, Hispanic, and women entrepreneurs using U.S. Census data; and the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center provided qualitative insights from entrepreneurial models being implemented across the U.S. Together, these efforts provide a nuanced understanding of state-level impact on entrepreneurial equity.
Venture Equity Report – Early Findings
The Venture Equity Project united a coalition of 10 partners ranging across research, policy, and practice to inform interventions in support of increasing venture capital flow to entrepreneurs of color. This project unlocked new pathways to change and strengthened ecosystem connectivity.
Stakeholder Mapping in Venture Equity
In 2022, we explored funding challenges for entrepreneurs of color in the US and UK through Transition Design workshops, creating systems maps to visualize insights. Watch Terry Irwin, Professor of Design at Carnegie Mellon, explain the findings in these videos.
