Chicago:Blend is a 501c3 nonprofit organization working to create a more inclusive venture capital and entrepreneurial ecosystem. We provide industry data and insights, support emerging talent, and work with investors to strengthen Chicago’s startup community.
Who We Are
Capital buys the power to make decisions, yet it is often misunderstood and out of reach for many, especially marginalized communities.
Founded in 2018 by venture capitalists dedicated to addressing longstanding inequities in Chicago’s VC industry, we believe that broadening access to investing is crucial to supporting a wider range of entrepreneurs and ideas.
By measuring the VC access gap and empowering a new generation of investors, Chicago:Blend is fostering an entrepreneurial community that reflects the full potential of our city.
Explore our work to highlight disparities in the VC ecosystem.
Our program is training a new generation of VC investors.
Since day one, Chicago:Blend has been fueled by collaboration with Chicago’s vibrant tech ecosystem.
Our work is made possible through VC and corporate donations, philanthropic grants, individual donors and other community supporters.
Watch our “Voices of Chicago:Blend” video to learn about our impact and the partnerships driving our mission.
Since joining Chicago:Blend as its first executive director in 2021, Joey Mak has grown the organization from a promising idea into an institution that runs a venture fellowship whose alumni have secured VC roles at a placement rate above 80 percent — earning the National Venture Capital Association's "Inclusion Impact Award."
Before Chicago:Blend, Joey built programs and partnerships across some of the region's most influential institutions, including the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, the University of Illinois, and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity — driven by the conviction that equitable access to capital and opportunity is fundamental to economic growth. He is a Crain's Chicago Business "40 Under 40" honoree and a member of the Economic Club of Chicago.
Salvador Dueñas is the Senior Director of Programs at Chicago:Blend, where he leads the Chicago:Blend Venture Fellowship, a program dedicated to helping underrepresented, aspiring VCs break into the industry. Under his leadership, 81% of fellows actively applying to VC roles have secured positions in the industry.
Before joining Chicago:Blend, Sal was the Senior Startups Manager at Future Founders, where he ran accelerator programs to help underrepresented founders achieve product-market fit. During his tenure, startups in the program collectively generated over $300 million in revenue and created more than 1,700 jobs. In 2021, Sal was named on the "25 Under 25" list by Chicago Inno.
Partner, Chicago Ventures
Founder & Managing Partner, Vitalize VC
Managing Partner, Grid Capital
Founder & Managing Partner,
Capitalize VC
Senior Manager of Sales Strategy, Relativity
Principal, Cleveland Avenue
Chief Operating Officer, Pie
Co-Founder, Fifth Star Funds
Chief of Staff and Inclusive Partnerships, World Business Chicago
Head of Platform,
NVNG Investment Advisors
