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§ Venture Capital · USA
An early-stage seed accelerator venture capital firm investing in emerging technology startups led by underrepresented founders.
Brown Venture Group is an early-stage venture capital firm and seed accelerator based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, that invests in technology startups led by Black, Latino, and Indigenous founders. The firm operates its inaugural $37.5 million investment vehicle, Brown Venture Group I, providing capital and network access with check sizes ranging from zero to $10 million. Its core investment strategy targets under-resourced entrepreneurs operating within emerging technologies, life sciences, consumer products, and business services across the United States. The firm has executed between 11 and 15 early-stage investments, building a portfolio that includes ASC Partnership, Big Navajo Energy, Ecolution kWh, and Fan Fair Inc. Additionally, the organization established a strategic partnership with NASA in late 2023 to further support its technological initiatives. Brown Venture Group was founded in 2018 by Paul Campbell and Chris Brooks.
Key people at Brown Venture Group.
Brown Venture Group was founded in 2018 by Dr. Chris Brooks (Co-Founder + Managing Partner).
Brown Venture Group was founded in 2018 by Dr. Chris Brooks (Co-Founder + Managing Partner).
Key people at Brown Venture Group.
Brown Venture Group has 2 tracked investments across 2 companies. The latest tracked deal is $1.7M Seed in Hollywood Unlocked in January 2023.
| Date | Company | Round | Lead Investor(s) | Co-Investor(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 19, 2023 | Hollywood Unlocked | $1.7M Seed | — | Black Capital, Bracket Capital, Hidden Empire Film Group, Intuition Capital |
| Mar 1, 2022 | Nice Healthcare | $30.0M Series A | — | DNA Capital, Great North Ventures, High Alpha, Matchstick Ventures, Daren Cotter, Eduardo Cisneros, Conductive Ventures, F. R. Bigelow Foundation, Santa Barbara Venture Partners, Waterline Ventures |
Brown Venture Group (BVG) is a Minneapolis-based venture capital firm founded in 2018 with a mission to invest in and support Black, Latino, and Native American technology startups. The firm focuses on providing transformational capital, mentorship, and strategic resources to underrepresented founders who are often overlooked by traditional investors. BVG primarily invests in early-stage companies across sectors such as marketplaces, enterprise technology, entertainment, sports, media, content creation, clean energy, health tech, and software. Their goal is to foster innovation and scalability within minority-led tech startups, creating an ecosystem where these entrepreneurs can thrive and drive economic empowerment[1][2][4].
BVG was founded by experienced operators including Dr. Paul Campbell, Jerome Hamilton, and Chris Dykstra, who bring extensive backgrounds in technology, entrepreneurship, and sales leadership. The firm emphasizes the resilience and unique perspectives of under-resourced entrepreneurs, viewing this as a significant untapped market opportunity. Brown Venture Group acts not only as a traditional venture capital fund but also as a venture studio, actively promoting and building startups within these communities. Notable portfolio companies include Big Navajo Energy, which focuses on sustainable hydrogen production on tribal lands, and Nice Healthcare, which provides in-home care services and has raised significant funding[2][3][6].
Brown Venture Group rides the growing trend of diversity and inclusion in venture capital, recognizing the economic and innovation potential of minority-led startups. The timing is critical as awareness and demand for equitable investment grow, alongside increasing recognition that underrepresented entrepreneurs bring resilience and unique insights. Market forces such as corporate diversity initiatives and social impact investing favor BVG’s mission. By focusing on overlooked founders and emerging sectors like clean energy on tribal lands, BVG influences the broader ecosystem by expanding access to capital and fostering innovation in communities historically excluded from mainstream venture capital[1][2][3].
Looking ahead, Brown Venture Group is poised to expand its fund size and portfolio, continuing to leverage its unique position as a venture capital and venture studio hybrid. Trends such as increased corporate commitments to diversity, growth in clean and health technologies, and the rise of minority entrepreneurship will shape BVG’s trajectory. The firm’s influence is likely to grow as it demonstrates the scalability and impact of investing in underrepresented founders, potentially inspiring more capital flow into these markets and contributing to a more inclusive tech ecosystem[2][6]. Brown Venture Group’s vision of a world where all talent has access to transformational capital remains a compelling and timely mission in the evolving venture capital landscape[4].
