VC Include (VCI) announced the launch of a new Climate Justice Initiative to recruit and support historically underrepresented climate fund managers in U.S. and European markets. The initiative, backed by the Hewlett Foundation, is focusing on emerging investors and founders in Private Equity, Venture Capital, Impact and Public Market funds raising their first, second or third fund committed to climate solutions. Selected funds will receive a minimum investment of $100K from the initiative. Diverse-led climate funds in the U.S. and Europe are invited to apply by Oct. 25, 2021.
Marginalized communities that too often bear the negative impacts of climate change are also uniquely positioned to identify and scale solutions. Despite the potential, people of color remain significantly underrepresented among fund managers deploying climate-tech capital.
VCI’s Climate Justice Initiative aims to create a pipeline of historically underrepresented fund managers who “understand the impact of climate change on marginalized communities and are committed to supporting founders addressing this crisis,” says Bahiyah Robinson, founder and CEO of VCI. “To achieve Net Zero goals by 2040, the global economy and investment industry have to accelerate a more inclusive approach to capitalizing funds for companies that embrace climate change and are committed to reversing the harm being done to our world.”
