Introducing Colorwave Fellows Cohort 2
Colorwave’s mission is to close the racial wealth gap by providing leaders of color access to VC-backed startups.
We deliver on this mission through our Colorwave Fellows Program, an 8-week virtual experience for Black, Latinx, and Native American professionals to help them navigate and thrive within the VC-backed sector. During the program, fellows gain a deeper understanding of the innovation economy through a variety of activities:
- Guided curriculum around understanding how high-growth startups are funded, what it’s like to work in and lead these businesses, and how to effectively network and transition into roles within the sector
- Small and large group conversations with founders, investors, civic leaders, and industry experts
- One-on-one meetings and group events with startup company partners committed to making the sector more equitable and inclusive
- Expansion of professional networks with peers, industry leaders, founders, executives, and investors
In January 2021, we launched our first cohort of the Colorwave Fellows Program with 22 fellows.
After a successful inaugural cohort, we have the pleasure to support an additional 50 Colorwave Fellows in this class.
The images below tell a deeper story of the unique and diverse composition of this group.
- Gender Distribution: 48% Female, 50% Male, 2% non-binary
- Racial Composition: 52% African-American, 42% Latinx, 6% African
- Average work experience: 5 years
- Major Functional Areas: Finance, Marketing, Sales, Operations, HR, Product Management, Consulting
- Northeast/Mid-Atlantic: 58%
- West: 30%
- South: 8%
- Midwest: 4%
- Notable Current Companies: Accenture, Bank of America, Deloitte, EY, Facebook, Google, JP Morgan Chase, Mass Mututal, Pinterest, TikTok, UBS
- Notable University Types: CUNY/SUNY systems, large public, small liberal arts, Elite/Ivies, HBCUs, Military academy
- 57% first-generation college grads
- 63% first-generation Americans
- 77% first-generation corporate professionals
This class illustrates there can be ‘diversity’ within diversity. They represent our vision to make the innovation economy more accessible, equitable, and inclusive for traditionally underestimated communities. As evidenced by the first-generation statistics, this group also represents a collection of trailblazing leaders for generations to come in their respective families.
We present to you the Spring 2021 Colorwave Cohort. We are thrilled to support this next wave of leaders within the innovation economy!
Want to Stay Connected?
Interested in joining our next class? Sign up here.
Interested in connecting with this group as a company partner? Sign up here.
Follow us on LinkedIn and subscribe at www.thecolorwave.org.
