Chicago:Blend welcomes new board members

Community advocate Elle Ramel and
tech entrepreneur Samir Mirza unanimously elected

 
 

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
June 18, 2024

CHICAGO – Chicago: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.

Chicago:Blend was founded in 2018 by venture capitalists who were frustrated with the inequities in the industry and were inspired to create an organization to transform VC in Chicago and beyond. The organization publishes industry diversity reports and runs a fellowship program to help underrepresented professionals secure VC jobs, earning numerous accolades including by the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) in 2023.

“Elle and Samir have been committed supporters of Chicago:Blend for years. They bring unique perspectives, a strong conviction for our work and impressive track records of improving access to opportunities for traditionally marginalized individuals in tech,” Chicago:Blend founder and board president Lindsay Knight said. “The board looks forward to collaborating with Elle and Samir to accelerate Chicago:Blend’s growth and increase our impact.”

Prior to leading the gender equity office at World Business Chicago, the city’s economic development arm, Ramel was the Chicago director for Gender Equality in Tech (GET) Cities, a national philanthropic effort funded by Melinda French Gates. 

“Building a more inclusive tech economy depends on our collective ability to create new onramps to positions of influence and power. During my time at GET Cities, I was proud to collaborate with Chicago:Blend and other community stakeholders to launch its highly successful VC fellowship program and I look forward to supporting the organization in my new role as a board member,” Ramel said.

Mirza was the co-founder and chief technology officer at TapCommerce, a tech startup acquired by Twitter for $100 million in 2014, before co-founding Chicago-based venture philanthropy fund Fifth Star Funds where he served as managing director and remains an active advisor. 

“When historically overlooked individuals fully participate in our startup community, everybody wins, but that can only happen if we encourage greater diversity among investors, whose capital is often essential to startup growth,” Mirza said. “Chicago:Blend has been a leading force for this transformation and I am excited to help the organization execute its mission.”

Both Ramel and Mirza have been Chicago:Blend advisors since 2021. Their board appointments are effective immediately. 

The Chicago:Blend Board of Directors includes:

  • President: Lindsay Knight, Partner, Chicago Ventures

  • Treasurer & Vice President: Gale Wilkinson, Founder & Managing Partner, VITALIZE Venture Capital

  • Secretary: Jackie DiMonte, Managing Partner, Grid Capital

  • Director: Jonathan Ellis, Founder & Managing Director, Sandalphon Capital

  • Director: Tessa Flippin, Founder & Managing Partner, Capitalize VC

  • Director: Devon Leichtman, Senior Manager, Sales Strategy, Relativity

  • Director: Jason Mercer, Principal, Cleveland Avenue

  • Director: Samir Mirza, Co-Founder, Fifth Star Funds

  • Director: Elle Ramel, Director of Gender Equity, World Business Chicago

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ABOUT CHICAGO:BLEND

Chicago:Blend is a non-profit organization, founded in 2018, to advance diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in Chicago’s venture capital and startup community. The organization measures diversity across Chicago’s VC industry, helps underrepresented professionals secure roles in venture and produces thought leadership content and community events. Chicago:Blend is financially supported by a broad coalition of VCs, foundations, corporations and individual donors.

Chicago:Blend