Stories spotlighting founders that don’t fit the typical Silicon Valley pattern.
Soon, Kimmy Paluch, co-founder and managing partner of Beta Boom, will board a plane from Utah, returning to Jamaica for one of her family’s rare reunions — a gathering that draws relatives from across the globe. The youngest of five daughters, Kimmy was born and raised in Jamaica, surrounded by a sprawling extended family. Her … more
Spotlight: Meet Lee-Anne Reuber, Founder and CEO of Sekond Skin Society “Breaking barriers for people with disabilities, supporting all bodies with all abilities, reducing stigmas, and creating a truly inclusive community motivates me each day!” – Collabs.io Mag Interview As a thought leader and advocate for accessibility, Lee-Anne Reuber, founder and CEO of Sekond Skin … more
While every founder has their trials and tribulations, those who are disabled face even more obstacles than their peers. But through sheer will – and maybe even a little spite – these entrepreneurs want you to know they’re here to change the world, no matter who tries to stand in their way. Here are 6 … more
Creativity can be a transformative force — one that shapes not just innovation, but survival itself. For Jerrica Kirkley, M.D., Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Plume it has been the cornerstone of her success. “It’s just such a big part of every facet of my life,” she says. “We as physicians, as healers, have patients in … more
“Things are only impossible until they’re not.” – Captain Picard, Star Trek, The Next Generation. For Justin Ayars, founder and CEO of EqualityMD, this isn’t just a quote—it’s a way of life. “[Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry]’s dream was to see past the squabbles of humanity and show the world what a future could look … more
Since its inception, technology has fascinated the entrepreneurs of the world. In the 20th century, that obsession moved to the hardware powering the computers of the future. In the 21st century, the fight to out upgrade competitor artificial intelligence models has become the new space race. Many tech leaders have professed its potential for decades, … more
Founders’ Co-op Website | LinkedIn | Pitchbook Motto: “Built by founders, funded by founders, and designed to put founders first.” Founded in 2008, Founders’ Co-op is a venture capital investment firm based in Seattle, Washington. The firm seeks to invest in the Pacific Northwest-based companies operating in the software sector. This firm is a Registered … more
Kameale Terry, 35, grew up in South Central Los Angeles as the eldest of four children in a first-generation American family. Her parents immigrated from Belize, instilling an entrepreneurial spirit in their children. “I grew up just knowing that I could do anything, I could accomplish whatever I put my mind to,” she says. “We … more
No matter where you come from or where you’re going, every immigrant’s journey is unique. Sergio Paluch—co-founder and managing partner of Beta Boom, a pre-seed and seed fund investing in overlooked founders—is no exception. He has made it his life’s mission to dismantle inequity in venture capital and disrupt industry norms. For Sergio, where you’re … more
While tech history predominantly celebrates male innovators, women have been the foundational—yet often overlooked—architects of computing since its inception. From Ada Lovelace’s pioneering algorithm to Fei-Fei Li’s groundbreaking AI research, these women overcame systemic gender and racial barriers to create foundational technologies, including WiFi, programming languages, and search engines. Their stories expose the glaring gaps … more
At 37, Aneri Desai has spent decades on an extraordinary journey—from her roots in India to living out her American dream. A first-generation immigrant, Aneri now lives in Columbia, South Carolina, with her family. Growing up in a middle-class Indian household, she broke barriers as the first in her family to study abroad. After eight … more
The U.S. tech industry thrives on innovation and perseverance. While homegrown talent has created empires, the industry’s competitive edge has always been shaped by one defining force: a diverse immigrant workforce. While immigrants only make up about 14% of the U.S. population, they represent an astounding 20% of the self-employed individuals and 25% of startup … more
If you asked the average person how much they would research before moving across the world or launching a business, they’d likely say weeks or months or years. Sabari Raja is not one of those people. The startup founder and managing partner at JFFVentures ( an early stage venture fund investing in workforce innovations that … more
In his 30-plus years of experience, Nitin Rai has witnessed the venture capital market rise and fall and rise again. These same highs and lows applied to his journey within the industry, often involving challenges beyond funding. But the path to success in the U.S. was shaped by a challenging and impactful journey. Today, Nitin … more
The world is full of problems. Melanie Perkins, co-founder and CEO of Canva, found the perfect answer to one of them. The Australian entrepreneur built Canva to democratize accessibility to design platforms, which went on to rival the tech giants. Today, Canva has grown into one of the world’s most successful startups. It reached unicorn … more
Judy Faulkner, founder and CEO of Epic Systems, is a titan in the health tech industry. Her company, valued at $4.9 billion, provides electronic health records (EHR) for 325 million patients worldwide. Thanks to Faulkner’s technology, she helped transform how healthcare institutions all over the world manage patient files for healthcare institutions. In 2024, Faulkner … more
For Amir Dargulov, VP of Engineering of Abode, the journey to the United States was full of struggle and perseverance. When he arrived in California for college, it seemed he was poised to become one of the fortunate few to achieve the American Dream. Yet, navigating a foreign Wonderland can easily lead one astray. A … more
Tyler Bliha, 33, never thought he’d hold the title of founder. In fact, the CEO of Abode, a home finance manager, was earning the educational pedigree necessary to cement a career on Wall Street—a path that was “ingrained” into him and his peers at Notre Dame. According to Tyler, most classmates followed the 2+2+2 track: … more