📢 Spring Forward: The Power 550 & Women Who Win 🌸 – Apr 2025
Harlem Capital’s monthly recap on our portfolio, industry news & beyond! 🏎️💨
The Headlines 🗞️
🚀 550 Strong & Counting
Spring is in full bloom, and so is the momentum across the diverse tech community. This season is all about growth, and we’re seeing it everywhere: in the rising number of diverse investors and the expanding footprint of those shaping the future of venture.
Earlier this month, we published the Power 550 Report, our latest deep dive spotlighting Black and Latino VCs you should know.
Here’s what stood out in this year’s report:
💥 550 total investors, up 76% from our last report
💥 68% of new additions are Latino investors (shoutout to
💥 Just 11 funds make up 10% of all Black & Latino VCs
💥 More than half of investors live in SF (29%) or NYC (22%)
💥 Gender gap persists: the list is ~50% Black / ~50% Latino, but only 36% are women💥 20 Harlem Capital intern alumni made the list 💪
We’re proud of the progress, but there’s still ample work ahead. Most funds still have ample room to improve on representation, and we hope this report keeps pushing the industry forward.
🧠 Inside the Minds of GPs
At this year’s VC Platform Summit in Miami, Harlem Capital Managing Partner Henri Pierre-Jacques joined Julie Bell, COO of Emergence Capital, and Alpaca VC Partner David Goldberg to start the day with a conversation on what platform support means.
From founder satisfaction to employee NPS, the panel dug into how true portfolio support isn’t just about perks—it’s about impact. Henri emphasized the power of listening, staying focused over being busy, and using tools to stay sharp even in the chaos.
The takeaway? Support should drive outcomes. Whether it’s warm intros or strategic data, it all starts with building trust.
Portfolio News 🏆
Unpacking the Hiring Gap 📦
Founded by Colombian immigrants Stephanie Murra Nader and Lorenza Vélez, Ponte is transforming the hiring landscape for Hispanic immigrants, addressing both the labor shortage and barriers in the traditional hiring process. By leveraging AI-driven job matching and WhatsApp-powered communication, Ponte is making it easier for employers to access a highly skilled, yet often overlooked, talent pool. We’re thrilled to lead Ponte’s $3M Seed round (thanks for the coverage, Techcrunch!)
With over 60,000 job seekers already onboarded and 800 workers placed in hospitality roles, Ponte is proving that innovation and culturally catered insights can drive long-term economic mobility. Read more about why we invested here.
🛰️ In the Lab with Faura
Faura is one of 11 teams selected for Lloyd’s Lab Cohort 14, the UK’s leading finance accelerator. Chosen from over 200 applicants, they’re in great company as they continue building at the intersection of insurance and compliance.
Harlem Capital Related 🚀
🌟 Where Women Lead, AI Flourishes
Harlem Capital and NVIDIA for Startups teamed up to host Women Who Win: Celebrating Excellence in AI—an evening spotlighting trailblazing women pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence.
Led by our Partner Gabby Cazeau, the event in San Francisco brought together dynamic voices, candid conversations, and a powerful sense of community. The future of AI is brighter when more women help shape it.
🎙️ Real Talk on Fundraising
Henri spoke at the recent Founder House hosted by Lazo and Mavity, sharing hard truths and helpful advice on what it takes to raise in today’s environment. From running a tight, structured process to leveraging your network for warm intros, his message was clear: momentum, preparation, and persistence matter more than ever.
🚨 Jobs in VC 🧑🏾💻
Helpful Resources 💯
The 3-Person Unicorn Startup 🦄
NFX on the power of AI.
Stanford’s comprehensive annual analysis.
The latest in startups, tech, and investing.