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Candice Brackeen is a prominent General Partner at Lightship Capital, a venture capital firm known for investing in diverse and underestimated founders. She is also a celebrated entrepreneur and the founder of Black Tech Week, advocating for diversity and inclusion in the tech industry.
Candice Brackeen invests in a wide range of sectors through Lightship Capital, including B2B SaaS, fintech, health tech, consumer technology, and CPG brands. Her focus is on high-growth companies led by diverse founders, particularly those outside traditional tech hubs.
Candice Brackeen works as a General Partner at Lightship Capital. Lightship Capital is a venture capital firm that actively invests in companies across various regions, with a strong emphasis on supporting founders in underestimated markets.
Candice Brackeen is the General Partner at Lightship Capital and the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Lightship Foundation, based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Through Lightship Capital, she manages a $50 million venture fund launched in 2020 to invest in early-stage consumer packaged goods, e-commerce, artificial intelligence, and health tech startups. Drawing on over 15 years of entrepreneurial experience, she previously founded the Hillman Accelerator and the safety application Hello Parent, and has guided hundreds of startups to secure more than $150 million in funding. Brackeen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Cincinnati and has received corporate recognition including the 2023 Doritos Change Maker award from PepsiCo and the 2022 Inspire Change award from the Cincinnati Bengals. Her current focus remains on providing capital and accelerator programming to underrepresented founders across emerging regional technology hubs.
Candice Brackeen stands as a pivotal figure in the venture capital landscape, serving as a General Partner at Lightship Capital. In this influential role, she is at the forefront of identifying and nurturing high-growth companies led by underestimated founders, particularly those from diverse backgrounds and operating in often-overlooked geographic markets. Lightship Capital, under her guidance, is dedicated to democratizing access to capital, challenging the traditional venture capital model by investing significantly outside of established tech hubs.
Brackeen's investment philosophy is broad yet strategic, encompassing a range of sectors critical to the modern economy. Her focus areas include B2B SaaS, where she seeks innovative software solutions that drive efficiency and growth for businesses. She also has a keen interest in fintech, supporting companies that are revolutionizing financial services and increasing accessibility. Health tech is another key area, with investments aimed at improving healthcare outcomes and delivery through technology. Furthermore, Candice Brackeen actively backs consumer tech and CPG brands that are disrupting their respective markets with novel products and services. Her commitment extends to ensuring that these promising ventures, regardless of their origin, receive the necessary support to scale.
Before her impactful tenure at Lightship Capital, Candice Brackeen built a formidable career as an entrepreneur and community builder. Her journey began with founding multiple successful companies, providing her with invaluable firsthand experience in the challenges and triumphs of startup growth. This entrepreneurial background deeply informs her approach as an investor, allowing her to empathize with founders and offer practical, strategic guidance. She is also widely recognized for her foundational work with Black Tech Week, an initiative that has significantly contributed to fostering a vibrant ecosystem for Black entrepreneurs and technologists. Through Black Tech Week, Brackeen has championed diversity and inclusion, creating platforms for networking, mentorship, and capital access that have empowered countless individuals.
Candice Brackeen's leadership at Lightship Capital has been instrumental in building a robust portfolio of companies that reflect the firm's mission. While specific individual investments are often part of a broader fund strategy, her influence is evident in the firm's commitment to backing innovative companies like those leveraging AI for business solutions, developing sustainable consumer products, or creating accessible financial tools. Her strategic vision ensures that Lightship Capital continues to identify and empower the next generation of market leaders, proving that exceptional talent and groundbreaking ideas can emerge from anywhere.
