Black-led venture firm reaches major milestone
Collab Capital, a Black-owned venture capital firm co-founded by Jewel Burks Solomon and Barry Givens, has secured $75 million for its second fund. This brings the firm’s total assets under management to $125 million.
This success is significant. Black fund managers receive less than 1% of all venture capital allocated each year. Collab Capital’s new fund marks a major step toward changing that reality. “Fund I showed us what’s possible when you back the right people with the right support,” said Burks Solomon.
Investing in real solutions and inclusive growth
Fund II focuses on investing in early-stage companies solving real-world problems. These include challenges in work, healthcare, and community infrastructure—what Collab calls “the building blocks of shared prosperity.”
“Fund II is about scaling that belief and deepening our conviction that proximity is power,” said Burks Solomon. “Founders closest to the problem are best positioned to solve it.” The fund aims to deliver both strong financial returns and meaningful community impact.
A different kind of venture capital firm
Since its launch in 2019, Collab Capital has taken a different path from traditional VC firms. The Atlanta-based firm was created by founders who understand what it’s like to start a company. Burks Solomon previously founded Partpic, a startup acquired by Amazon. Givens launched Monsieur, a tech company featured at TechCrunch Disrupt.
Their goal is to support founders with more than just money. “Jewel and I built Collab to be the firm we wish we had when we were starting out,” Givens shared. This includes mentorship, resources, and lasting partnerships.
A strategy focused on early investment and long-term support
With the $75 million fund, Collab Capital plans to invest $1 to $2 million into about 30 companies over the next five years. Forty percent of the fund will be reserved for follow-on investments in top-performing startups.
Givens explained why this moment matters. “We believe this is the time to lean in, not pull back,” he said. “Our investment partners understand that alpha lives where others aren’t looking.” Their strategy builds momentum by staying involved with founders throughout their growth.
Building generational wealth through innovation
Collab Capital’s mission goes beyond profit. The firm wants to create jobs, build economic mobility, and spark generational wealth. Their investments aim to strengthen communities from the ground up.
Burks Solomon summed it up clearly: “We’re investing in the infrastructure of an inclusive economy, where real solutions generate real returns for our communities and for our investors.” With this new fund, the firm is helping reshape venture capital and widen the path for future Black entrepreneurs.
