Premier midwest event connecting VCs to founders of color

June 26th - 27th

*This event will be in person in Milwaukee, WI

Although diverse startup teams have trouble with access to capital, once they get a seed investor, they raise MORE capital and have better financial outcomes by 30%

- 2020 Kauffman Fellows report

If you are a VC with history and interest in investing in founders of color, be sure to attend VCMKE 2024 where you can:

  • Meet with founders that have been curated according to your interest and specialty

  • Provide needed experience and connections for founders

  • Connect and network with other investors with similar interests

Meet with national VCs that invest in founders of color!

  • One-on-one meetings will be curated according to VC’s interest and stage of startups

  • Connect with other founders, maybe find a potential co-founder

  • Free attendance to Summerfest Tech and events, yes — Summerfest tickets included!

A group of passionate volunteers from the Milwaukee startup ecosystem who aim to support the growth of an equity focused startup community.

  • Dana Guthrie

    Dana Guthrie

    Managing Partner at Gateway Capital, a venture capital firm focused on Wisconsin-based, early-stage startups. Prior to her current role, Guthrie founded and managed Alchemy Angel Investors, an angel investment network. She founded Alchemy while being employed full-time at a Fortune 500 company and managing a multi-million dollar, global product offering.

    Guthrie is a two-time patent recipient, holds a B.S. in Computer Engineering from Milwaukee School of Engineering, and a M.S. in Energy Engineering from University of Illinois at Chicago. She is a member of Blacks in Tech and serves on the board of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Association of Commerce (MMAC) and Teens Grow Greens.

  • Ed Javier

    Ed Javier

    Currently the Entrepreneurship Program Director for the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. Ed is a startup veteran that launched marketplace platforms and communication technologies with domestic and international business. Co-founder of Milwaukee Startup Week and board member of several entrepreneurial non-profit organizations. Education consists of a BA in Economics and an MBA in Marketing.

  • Maggie Fernandes

    Maggie Fernandes

    Software Engineering Manager at MacGregor Partners. Maggie is also highly involved in Milwaukee’s Tech community. She is the co-facilitator of FOR-M, a community based tech incubator. As well as one of the co-founders and Program Director for We Pivot, a non-profit organization focused on supporting underserved communities in Tech.

  • Que El-Amin

    Que El-Amin

    Co-founder of Young Enterprising Society (YES). YES has two primary initiatives, The Blueprint and a Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math program (STEAM). The STEAM program has educated over 3,500 students, exposing them to the latest in technology and entrepreneurship. Additionally, El-Amin’s role in The Blueprint has led to YES providing over a million dollars in grants and in-kind services to underrepresented founders.

  • Tarik Moody

    Tarik Moody

    Director, Digital Strategy and Innovation, content producer, and on-air host at 88Nine RadioMilwaukee, Certified Sake Professional, Howard alum

Our Mission

The mission of VCMKE is to create opportunities for underrepresented entrepreneurial founders to connect with interested VC supporters in order to improve funding of founders of color.

Our Partners