✨ Beyond the Pitch: Honoring AAPI Legacy & Startup Momentum - May 2025
Harlem Capital’s monthly recap on our portfolio, industry news & beyond! 🏎️💨
🎉 Lifting up AAPI voices, histories & futures
This May, we honor Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month by celebrating the innovation, leadership, and cultural impact of the AAPI community.
From tech to venture to entrepreneurship, AAPI voices continue to shape industries and open doors for the next generation. We remain committed to building a future where diverse founders are seen, heard, and funded.
The Headlines 🗞️
🃏 Decks That Deliver: How to Pitch Like a Winner
Raising capital starts with telling your story right.
After reviewing hundreds of decks, we created the Pitch Deck Primer to help founders build investor-ready decks that stand out. No fluff, just the key elements we look for when deciding who gets a first meeting.
📌 Company Intro
🚨 Problem & Solution
⚙️ How It Works
💰 Business Model
📈 Traction
🛡️ Competitive Edge
🌍 Market Opportunity
👥 Team Info
Your pitch deck isn’t just a formality. It’s your vision, your edge, and your momentum. Make it count.
Bring the story. Bring the passion. All winners welcome.
🔗 Read the full blog here.
🍷 Momentum in Motion: The Winners Circle Dinner
Harlem Capital’s Brandon Bryant and Gunderson Dettmer brought together an incredible group of Series B+ founders and execs for The Winners Circle dinner in SF. It was an evening full of bold ideas and vulnerable conversations.
🍳 Rise & Venture: Breakfast, Bold Talks & Big Ideas
Harlem Capital’s Henri Pierre-Jacques hosted a breakfast in Downtown SF with top investors to talk AI tools, deal competition, and the current pace of the market.
Portfolio News 🏆
🎙️ Valkyrie Holmes on Climate, AI & Resilience
Faura CEO Valkyrie Holmes joined Insurance Unplugged with Lisa Wardlaw to talk real solutions for climate risk. She explained why upstream risk, not AI alone, is the future and why agents should be viewed as resilience guides. We’re proud to back Faura as they build smarter, more human-centered tools for the insurance industry.
💡 TestParty on Building an Accessible Tech Future
At Disability in Tech 2025, TestParty CEO Michael Bervell shared why accessibility must be measured, not just mentioned. He called for AI that adapts to specific needs, because inclusion isn’t one-size-fits-all. Hats off to Bloomberg and Lime Connect for highlighting this conversation.
🎮 Xsolla x Ludo: Leveling Up Game Engagement
Ludo has officially joined forces with global gaming leader Xsolla. Their no-code quest tools will now power more player engagement and monetization beyond the app store. We’re excited for Ludo’s next chapter and the future of game commerce.
Harlem Capital Related 🚀
📣 Voices That Matter: Henri & Nicole on Favikon’s Top 200
Proud to see HCP Managing Partner Henri Pierre-Jacques (#137) and Principal Nicole DeTommaso (#43) make Favikon’s list of the Top 200 Most Influential Voices in Venture Capital on LinkedIn.
From insights to action, we’re glad to see the Harlem Capital voice making an impact. We're all about sharing insights, amplifying diverse voices, and helping the next gen of founders and VCs rise.
📰 In the Press: Harlem Capital Spotlight
We’re proud to be featured by Rolling Out as one of four Black-owned investment firms leading the charge. Our mission has always been clear: to back diverse founders building game-changing companies. Grateful to be in great company and even more excited for what’s ahead.
🚨 Jobs in VC 🧑🏾💻
📢 Applications are still open for Factor Fellowship Cohort 3!
The Factor Fellowship is a career-launching program for early-career professionals in NYC who are eager to break into startups. From September 2025 to January 2026, Fellows gain access to startup education, community, and direct pathways into roles at top venture-backed companies.
Whether you're exploring the startup world or ready to make the leap, this program is built to support your next big move.
👉 Apply here: Factor Fellowship Application
Helpful Resources 💯
Startup Battlefield 200 is still open for applications: TechCrunch’s global stage for pre-Series A startups with MVPs and bold ambition.
Cathay Innovation just launched a $1B fund to fuel the next wave of AI startups.
⚖️ Legaltech’s Billion-Dollar Moment
Legaltech startups have raised over $1B this year, proving that AI’s disruption of the legal world is just getting started.