Westbound Equity Partners Early Stage Venture Capital Firm secures its second fund, at $100million. At their founding five years ago, they set out on an ambitious journey with a bold vision: to close the racial wealth gap by building a virtuous cycle of wealth and opportunity by investing financial and social capital into exceptional founders and ventures led by, solving problems for, or built with underrepresented people of color.
With the launch of Fund II, they were expanding on that vision and introducing their new name: Westbound Equity Partners. An evolved identity that embodies their founding purpose and future aspirations.
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From the Gold Rush and Great Migration to Hollywood and Silicon Valley, the American West is a symbol for imaginative new beginnings. “Heading West” has long been a symbolic aspiration for being a pioneer, creating community, and building a better future.
Today, technology and the opportunities it creates remain the ‘new West.’ As they set out to deploy Fund II, they were doubling down on their commitment to invest in iconic companies and broaden opportunity for those who’ve historically been left behind. they were proud to have backed visionaries who have the courage, resilience, and grit to ‘head Westbound.’
They have invested in 75 founders that have audacious, imaginative visions to reshape the way they live. Esusu’s Wemimo Abbey and Samir Goel are giving 45 million “credit invisible” Americans access to financial products for the first time. With PlanetFWD, Julia Collins helps brands accelerate their path to net zero by uncovering the true drivers of their emissions.
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In 2019, the firm was created by Juan Alonso, the former head of NASA Aeronautics research programs and founder of Stanford’s Aerospace Design Laboratory, and Jason Lango, an expert in high-performance computing, cloud-based infrastructure, and cloud security.
Sam Walder makes world-class music education accessible to everyone with Trala. Josh Miller is building a new way to use the internet, beginning by building a smarter browser with The Browser Company. Irrespective of their background, all of the founders they partner with are committed to building diverse teams and equitable cultures, shaping the future alongside Black and Latino talent.
About Westbound Equity Partners
Westbound Equity Partners is an early-stage fund that invests in businesses that serve minority customers, capitalizes underrepresented entrepreneurs, and assists early-stage companies in assembling diverse teams.
Founders with Westbound backing have access to social capital through the Westbound Network, which consists of top-tier financiers, operators, and public personalities who are dedicated to their purpose.
