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
Seattle is experiencing a revitalization – and a major factor is investor support for early-stage founders. Many venture capitalists here prioritize traction over pedigree, with even major players like Microsoft (M12) and Amazon quietly funding local entrepreneurs. But the true stars are the local investors: a tight-knit community dedicated to uplifting founders and paying it … more
If you were in the Chicago tech hub before the 2010s, you might have asked, “Where are all the businesswomen?” Today, these entrepreneurs and founders are celebrated for the innovation and growth they have brought to the city. In a victory for the tech hub’s progress, Startup Genome’s research named Chicago the top global ecosystem … more
The U.S. has become a hostile environment for advocates of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The opposition to DEI initiatives, which are designed to assist historically marginalized groups, can be summed up in one word: politics. Conservatives claim that DEI is “reverse racism” and are pursuing legal action. As a result, businesses are slashing funding … more
It can be difficult to leave your mark in the startup world. But occasionally, someone comes along who upends the system. In the modern age, that someone is Tope Awotona. Tope, founder and CEO of the scheduling automation platform Calendly, has become a hero to many. His journey resonates with so many underdog founders – … more
Emily Brown, co-founder and CEO of Attane Health, was born and raised with her siblings in Dallas, Texas. She had a great childhood and even better parents. Growing up, Emily, who now lives in Kansas City, Missouri with her family, describes herself as a go-getter, which is highlighted throughout her professional career. But her first … more
Since she was a child, Sydney Thomas, the founding general partner of Symphonic Capital, had an innate curiosity about what her legacy will be. The San Diego native became obsessed with building a legacy. But to find it, she had to leave home. Then, 20 years later, she found her way back to start Symphonic, … more
Growing up, Jowanza Joseph, 36, didn’t have the most stable home life. His parents immigrated from Saint Kitts to the United States before separating. He ended up living with his mother and three brothers. Joseph’s family spent his childhood jumping from borough to borough in New York – occasionally popping into Connecticut for brief stints. … more
While more women and founders of color are starting startups, investment in startups led by women, Black and Latinx founders continues to stay persistently low. Startup accelerators are often the first step on a founder’s investment journey, so it’s critical to see which startup accelerators are most likely to invest in underrepresented founders. We rank … more
We at Beta Boom are thrilled to announce our recent investment in HerHeadquarters, which enables women-led small businesses to grow through partnerships with other small businesses and bigger brands nationwide! There are over 11 million women-owned small businesses in the U.S. that generate $1.7 trillion in sales, according to the National Association of Women Business … more
When you think of startup founders, the people you picture may all be similar. Historically, the most prominent startup elites have been. Most have come from large tech hubs like San Francisco and New York, and many from wealthy backgrounds and prestigious universities. That’s starting to change. While the world’s eyes may linger on Silicon … more
Where is the greatest number of women-, Latinx-, and Black-led startups being minted? Which cities have the greatest access to early-stage capital for diverse founders? What regions have the greatest proportion of seed investors investing in underrepresented founders? Beta Boom is a pre-seed fund focusing on underrepresented founders outside of Silicon Valley, so naturally, we … more
We invest at the pre-seed and seed stages in passionate, tenacious founders solving big problems and help them grow their startup with hands-on product, marketing, sales, and fundraising support