For press inquiries, please email press@chicagoblend.org
We are proud to introduce the exceptional individuals who make up our inaugural Alumni Board. Each member is a graduate of the Chicago:Blend Venture Fellowship program, bringing unique expertise, a passion for inclusion, and a deep commitment to advancing the mission of Chicago:Blend.
Read MoreAt Chicago:Blend, we’re bidding farewell to winter and getting a head start on spring by introducing the 10 newest members of our Chicago:Blend Venture Fellowship. These talented individuals are ready to dive deep into the world of venture capital, expand their networks, and gain hands-on experience over the next four months.
Read MoreChicago:Blend, a nonprofit advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the region's venture capital ecosystem, is proud to announce a $35,000 grant from TAWANI Foundation.
Read MoreChicago:Blend, a non-profit working to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in the region’s venture capital and startup community, has named gender equity advocate Elle Ramel and tech founder and startup investor Samir Mirza to its board of directors.
Read MoreChicago:Blend, a non-profit organization on a mission to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in Chicago’s venture capital and startup community, announced today the findings of its 2023 Founder Diversity Report.
Read MoreIn honor of Women’s Entrepreneurship Day (November 19), Chicago:Blend is featuring two local tech founders who we met through GET Cities Chicago’s Seed Founder Cohort. For our second spotlight, we’re introducing Corinne Vargas, CEO and Founder of SMARTCharts, a patient-first, clinician-driven productivity app serving care teams in speech, occupational and physical therapy.
Read MoreIn honor of Women’s Entrepreneurship Day (November 19), Chicago:Blend is featuring two local tech founders who we met through GET Cities Chicago’s Seed Founder Cohort. First up is Luisa Castellanos, the Co-Founder and COO of Science On Call, which provides 24/7 tech support for restaurants.
Read MoreTo date, 88% of Fellows seeking new opportunities secured a new opportunity (including business school), and 81% of Fellows seeking a VC role have landed a job (or offer) in VC.
Read MoreFearless Fund was prohibited from closing its application window on September 30 by an appeals court following a lawsuit from The American Alliance for Equal Rights. Joey Mak, CEO of Chicago:Blend, a nonprofit working to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in the Chicago region's venture capital industry, joins Caroline Hyde on "Bloomberg Technology." (Source: Bloomberg)
Read More“During the same time as our class, Sam was also involved with the Chicago:Blend venture fellowship, where he connected with venture capitalists, including members of my firm, Impact Engine.”
Read MoreThe non-profit organization Chicago:Blend today released findings from their 2022 VC Diversity Report, which measures demographic trends among employees at Chicago-area venture capital firms. The data shows that despite notable gains in the share of women, Black and Asian professionals working at local VC firms from 2021-22, Chicago continues to fall short in key areas when compared to national rates.
Read MoreAmong the pilot programs that will get new funding is the Chicago Venture Fellows led by Chicago:Blend. Backed by Chicago:Blend and Melinda Gates' GET Cities, Chicago Venture Fellows launched in 2021 as a way to train aspiring venture capitalists from underrepresented backgrounds.
Read MoreThe other pilot programs receiving funding include Chicago Venture Fellows (Chicago:Blend), TechRise and TechChicago (P33), Travel Funding and Entrepreneur Exchange (World Business Chicago), and Venture Engine Executive Founders Series (Illinois Science and Technology Coalition).
Read MoreHear from Maddy Rudder of TechNexus and Rachel Mackey of OCA Ventures about the launch of V2:VC, a peer community for rising VCs in Chicago
Read MoreThe National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), the leading voice for the nation’s VC and startup community, and their 501(c)(3) organization Venture Forward, announced today that Chicago:Blend has been selected to receive the 2023 NVCA DEI Impact Award, which recognizes individuals, organizations or firms who have made a significant impact toward advancing equity in venture.
Read MoreBess Goodfellow is passionate about empowering founders as they build transformative companies. As a Principal, Bess is tasked with sourcing high growth companies across the Midwest and supporting those investments through their lifecycle. Her portfolio of investments spans a broad spectrum of industry including enterprise, fintech, consumer, and digital health.
Read MoreWe are delighted to introduce our Spring 2023 Chicago Venture Fellows! From February 1 to May 10, these aspiring venture capitalists will get a crash course in venture finance and learn from Chicago’s top VCs and tech leaders, all while gaining real-world experience sourcing and evaluating deal flow.
Read More
