VC Include

Last week, 1,600 global changemakers came together once again for the Skoll World Forum at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford—a gathering that shines a spotlight on the leaders working to create a more just, equitable, and sustainable world. Excitement was high as Jeff Skoll returned as Board Chair and a new era of leadership was announced: Marla Blow will step into the role of CEO, following Don Gips’ six-year tenure. 🙏🏽 Thank you, Don, for your visionary leadership. 👏🏽 Congratulations, Marla—we’re excited for what’s ahead under your guidance. 🌱 For VC Include, the Forum affirmed the urgency of our mission—and the growing global momentum to reimagine who allocates capital and how it shapes our collective future. 🤝 VC Include’s Executive Director, Milton Speid was invited to join the #SkollCareCrew, helping welcome new delegates and ensure they felt seen, supported, and connected throughout the Forum. 💪 VCI partnered with Tara Saber and Chemonics International to co-host the panel Leading the Change: Innovative Frameworks for Climate and Impact in Emerging Markets. Our Founder Bahiyah Yasmeen R. joined allocators from a DFI, family office, philanthropic organization to provide examples around how collaborative philanthropy, integrated capital, and locally led solutions can reshape the future of climate finance. “If we truly want to accelerate climate action, traditional funders must evolve from capital providers to enablers of local innovation.” 💫 We were also honored to celebrate a major VCI Alumni victory: Congratulations to Philip Reeves and Todd Leverette at Apis & Heritage Capital Partners, which was incubated in VCI Cohort 1, received the 2025 Skoll Award for Social Innovation! To see the team start the fellowship with $0—>$58M has been our honor and privilege. ✨ Continuing our annual tradition, VC Include in partnership with Echoing Green, hosted a the "Celebrating Bold Leaders Transforming the Future" dinner of foundation leaders at the #INCLUDEHouse at Soho Farmhouse (Soho House & Co). We were inspired by the reflections, the powerful storytelling, and the reminder from Rey Ramsey: “Let’s not allow the fog of injustice to impair our sightlines in the pursuit of fairness.” 🙏🏽 Our deep thanks to the Skoll Foundation team for curating such a vibrant, generous space for reflection and forward movement. As Trevor Noah reminded us: “Imagination allows us to step outside of entrenched positions and explore new perspectives... It paves the way for solutions.” Let’s keep imagining. And more importantly—let’s keep building. Together.

At the Skoll World Forum, I had the opportunity to attend and participate in a side session titled "Leading the Change: Innovative Frameworks for Climate and Impact in Emerging Markets."  The conversation explored how collaborative philanthropy, integrated capital approaches, and locally-led decision-making can reshape climate investing in emerging markets. One key theme: If we truly want to accelerate climate action, traditional funders must evolve from capital providers to enablers of local innovation.  The breakout discussions challenged us to reimagine existing systems and what a more holistic and equitable capital continuum could look like.   The session featured brilliant minds driving meaningful change: • Bahiyah Yasmeen R. – Founder and Managing Partner, VC Include and Include Ventures • Robert Haynie – Ventures Program Ecosystem Building Lead at FMO - Dutch entrepreneurial development bank • Felicity Tan – Director of Global Partnerships at the The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) • Ineza Mutimura – Co-Founder and CEO of Funders of African Descent (FoAD) Thank you Tara Sabre Collier, Private Sector Engagement and Climate Practice Lead, Chemonics International And a very big thank you to Chemonics UK Chemonics International for hosting us! #SkollWorldForum #ClimateFinance #EmergingMarkets #ImpactInvesting  #NelaDukeEkpenyong #SustainableDevelopment

Another pair of Power100 honorees from VC Include's first Fellowship cohort: Aaron Samuels and Brian Hollins of Collide Capital! Congratulations on getting recognized a second time as Asset Managers 🎉 We are excited to kick off VCI Fellowship Cohort 5 in the coming months - stay tuned to meet future Power100 honorees! Thank you to Blueprint Capital Advisors LLC and congratulations to all. #emergingmanagers #fundmanagers #impactinvesting #venturecapital #privateequity #alternateinvestments #impactinaction #VC #VCI

Proud of these ladies, Noramay Cadena and Shayna Harris of Supply Change Capital, for being recognized as #Power100 Asset Managers for the second time! They are fellows from VC Include's first cohort in 2021. Closing out Women's History Month on a high note 👏 👏 Thank you to Blueprint Capital Advisors LLC and congratulations to all! #WomensHistoryMonth #WHM #emergingmanagers #fundmanagers #impactinvesting #venturecapital #privateequity #alternateinvestments #impactinaction #VC #VCI #womenintech #womeninVC #womeninfinance

For those heading to the University of Oxford for the Skoll World Forum, I'm excited that VC Include will partner with Tara Sabre Colliert of Chemonics International as co-lead for a working session centered around the future of #emergingmarkets investment + partnerships with Ineza Mutimura Robert Haynie Felicity Tan who will shed light on innovative new platforms and models with local community engagement. You're welcome to join us! Signup information below.

VC Include is proud to see our founder, Bahiyah Yasmeen R., honored as a 2025 Power100 Allocator! Bahiyah joins Milton Speid, Troy Duffie, Noramay Cadena, Shayna Harris, Brian Hollins, and Aaron Samuels - fellow VCI leaders and investors - who are recognized this year. ✨ Thank you to Blueprint Capital Advisors LLC for this award and congratulations to all #Power100 winners! #emergingmanagers #fundmanagers #impactinvesting #venturecapital #privateequity #alternateinvestments #impactinaction #VC #VCI

The journey to a more inclusive venture ecosystem isn't one that we walk alone. From the beginning, women have championed our mission, shared their wisdom, opened doors, and created spaces for the VC Include community. As Women's History Month continues, we are celebrating remarkable female leaders who have been integral to our work in impact investing. These trailblazers - some of whom are in the collage below - came, spoke, listened, and most importantly, returned. They became our supporters, mentors, and often, dear friends. Each photo tells a story we cherish: the powerful panel where funding strategies were reimagined, the intimate dinner where barriers were candidly discussed, the tearful graduation ceremonies celebrating Fellows who defied the odds. ✨ To every woman who is part of our growing family: your advocacy creates ripple effects that transforms the VC and PE industries for the next generation. You stood with us before it was fashionable, stayed when it was difficult, and continue to push for what's right. Thank you for sharing your expertise, networks, and platforms to help build what VC Include is today. Your presence makes a genuine difference and this journey would be impossible without you. 🙏 #WomensHistoryMonth #WHM #emergingmanagers #fundmanagers #impactinvesting #venturecapital #privateequity #alternateinvestments #impactinaction #VC #VCI #womenintech #womeninVC #womeninfinance

Huge congratulations to Todd Leverette and Philip Reeves of Apis & Heritage Capital Partners on receiving the 2025 Skoll Award for Social Innovation! We are proud to celebrate this recognition of their visionary work and leadership to close the racial wealth gap by converting small businesses into employee-owned enterprises. Their work ensures that working families have a real stake in the economy they help build every day. A graduate of the VC Include Fellowship, Apis & Heritage is an example of what’s possible when bold ideas meet catalytic capital and long-term commitment. Congratulations again! We’re so honored to be part of your journey. ✨

🚨 VCI Fellowship Application is Closing Today 🚨 For an energy + motivation boost, hear from our Fellow Jenny Barba, GP of Features Capital, on her experience and vision for her fund. ✨ VC Include Fellowship has empowered 75 GPs with the tools, knowledge, and networks needed to raise and manage institutional capital, expand investment portfolios, and create lasting impact in the venture ecosystem. Our Fellows have received: 💡 Best-in-class education & training for institutional readiness 🤝 Mentorship from industry leaders 🚀 Professional development support to build and lead a strong team 📊 Strategy & framework for integrating key metrics into fund portfolio  🙌 Opportunities to build lifelong connections with aligned investors Apply by tonight at: https://lnkd.in/gnvVhHh Good luck! #emergingmanagers #fundmanagers #impactinvesting #venturecapital #privateequity #alternateinvestments #impactinaction #VC #VCI

Final Weekend: Fellowship Application Closes on Monday ⏰ We are just a few days away from application deadline! Brew that coffee, find a quiet space, and give your application the attention it deserves this weekend (if you haven't finished). Quick recap: VC Include Fellowship has empowered 75 GPs with the tools, knowledge, and networks needed to raise and manage institutional capital, expand investment portfolios, and create lasting impact in the venture ecosystem. ✨ Our Fellowship is designed specifically for: 🌱  First-time GPs who recently launched and are actively raising the first VC/PE fund 💥  Impact-driven investors targeting untapped markets and driving measurable economic growth 📍  Funds domiciled in the U.S. with a target raise between $10M and $100M Apply now at: https://lnkd.in/gnvVhHh Good luck! #emergingmanagers #fundmanagers #impactinvesting #venturecapital #privateequity #alternateinvestments #impactinaction #VC #VCI