PORTLAND, Ore., Sept. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Elevate Capital, which manages one of the nation's first venture capital funds to support inclusion and diversity, today announced the speakers for its first annual Elevate Inclusion Summit on Friday, October 12, 2018. The investment conference celebrating inclusion will bring together entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds, startup companies, venture capitalists, and investors for a day of inspiration, discussions about inclusion and empowerment, and learning about new funding opportunities. Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici and Multnomah County Commissioner Loretta Smith will also speak at the event.
"The Elevate Inclusion Summit will celebrate inclusion and provide an opportunity for entrepreneurs and investors to connect while discussing the important issues around diversity and inclusion. We're honored to have Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici and Multnomah County Commissioner Loretta Smith attend our summit and we're pleased to have so many other female leaders including inclusion-oriented investors, women venture capitalists and women of color speaking on panels as well," said Nitin Rai, Founder and Managing Director of Elevate Capital.
"I'm excited to see groups like Elevate Capital empower women and others from diverse backgrounds to succeed in fields where they are often left out," said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. "As one of the few women in Congress, I've worked hard to advocate for equity in our workforce. We need to remember, and remind others, that diversity is a strength, and that we benefit when our communities and our businesses include people from different backgrounds and traditions and countries. I look forward to discussing these important issues at the Elevate Inclusion Summit."
According to Commissioner Smith, all communities and organizations should work together to support and share the message of inclusion. "I fought for the Elevate Inclusive Fund at Multnomah County because women and entrepreneurs of color have long been overlooked by traditional investors. Working together in support of diversity and inclusion in Portland helps us build a stronger, more unified community," said Smith. "I applaud the efforts by Elevate Capital and other investors who are taking a leadership role and actively providing the funding and support necessary to women and other minority entrepreneurs."
Rai added, "Together, we can make a difference through funding and mentoring entrepreneurs from underrepresented and underserved communities—including women, entrepreneurs of color, veterans, and LGBTQ—to help bring their ideas to market and launch their companies," said Rai. "We founded Elevate Capital with a mission to invest in the next generation of promising entrepreneurs, targeting investments in entrepreneurs who are overlooked when it comes to funding. Currently, 60% of our investments are in women-led companies, 40% in African American/Latino companies, and 55% in companies founded by entrepreneurs of color. At the Summit, we will be showcasing several outstanding company founders who will be sharing their inspiring startup success stories as well as providing a platform for new company founders to share information about their companies with potential investors."
Entrepreneurs interested in sharing information about their companies in front of potential investors at the Elevate Inclusion Summit are invited to apply now. In addition, scholarships are available upon request for entrepreneurs from underserved communities who are in need of financial assistance to attend this event. Registration to attend the summit is open now.
Elevate Inclusion Summit 2018 Agenda Overview
Sponsors of the Elevate Inclusion Summit 2018 include Archivist Capital, Jones & Roth, Prosper Portland, Tonkon Torp LLP, and Zapproved.
Elevate Capital is a Pacific Northwest-based venture capital firm that invests in early stage under-represented entrepreneurs, including women, minorities that include communities of color, veterans, and entrepreneurs located in underserved areas. These investments are made through two funds, the Elevate Capital Fund and the Elevate Inclusive Fund. For more information, visit elevate.vc or follow @pdxelevatevc on Twitter.
SOURCE Elevate Capital
