Planet FWD
AI-powered decarbonization platform to help companies meet net zero goals faster.
Julia Collins, Founder and CEO
Esusu
Unleashing the power of data to bridge the racial wealth gap.
Samir Goel, Co-Founder and Co-CEO
Abbey Wemimo, Co-Founder and Co-CEO
Syndio
Analytics platform and expertise for every step of the workplace equity journey.
Maria Colacurcio, CEO
EdLyft
Helping create the next million new STEM learners.
Erika Hairston, Co-Founder and CEO
Arnelle Ansong, Co-Founder and CTO
Trala
Making world-class music education accessible to everyone.
Sam Walder, Co-Founder and CEO
Sierra
Sierra is the conversational AI platform for businesses.
Clay Bavor, Co-Founder
Bret Taylor, Co-Founder
Mon Ami
Modern SaaS technology for aging and disability services.
Madeline Dangerfield-Cha, Co-Founder and Co-CEO
Joy Zhang, Co-Founder and Co-CEO
Steve Fram, Co-Founder and CTO
The Browser Company of New York
Building a better way to use the internet.
Josh Miller, Co-Founder
Hursh Agrawal, Co-Founder
Tradeblock
Using kicks as currency.
Mbiyimoh Ghogomu, Co-Founder
Tony Malveaux, Co-Founder
Darren Smith, Co-Founder
Loop
Fair and equitable car insurance that reinvests in the community.
Carey Anne Nadeau, Co-Founder and Co-CEO
John Henry, Co-Founder and Co-CEO
Altro
Helps consumers build credit and financial power through the recurring payments and subscriptions used daily.
Michael Broughton, Co-Founder and CEO
Rheaply
Introduces re-commerce for every business.
Gary Cooper, PhD, CEO and Co-Founder
At Westbound, we invest financial and social capital into exceptional ventures led by, solving for, or built together with underrepresented people of color. Our core team and our extended network of experienced entrepreneurs, operators, and investors partner deeply with our founders to accelerate their company visions.
Westbound Fund II
Today, we’re thrilled to announce our oversubscribed $100M Fund II. With the launch of Fund II, we’re expanding on our vision and introducing our new name: Westbound Equity Partners. An evolved identity that embodies our founding purpose and future aspirations.
Read on
How We Invest
We invest in early stage (pre-seed to Series A) companies across all sectors. We’re deeply committed to partnering with exceptional, values-aligned founders to bring their company visions to life. We look for companies that are led by, solving for, or built with underrepresented people of color.
Led By
Companies led by Black and/or Latino founders.
Solving For
Products solving the needs of underrepresented consumers of color.
Built With
Values-aligned founders of any background with a commitment to building a diverse team and an inclusive company culture.
How We Add Value
The Westbound Network
We’re backed by a community of best-in-class, values-aligned operators, investors and founders who have built some of the world’s most significant companies. These Network Partners commit their social capital and expertise, serving as coaches collaborators, and super-connectors to help our founders win.
Culture Coaching
Your company’s culture is critical to your organization’s ability to execute on your vision. By cultivating a more explicit, inclusive, and equitable culture, founders can create a competitive advantage from Day 1. Our portfolio companies have access to expert office hours, small group coaching sessions, and tactical toolkits to help them build their company culture with intention.
Talent Network
We’ve built a robust Talent Network of exceptional professionals across verticals, levels, and backgrounds, with an emphasis on creating community and opportunity for Black & Latino talent. This enables us to facilitate meaningful connections between top talent and our portfolio companies.
50% commitment
to impact
Westbound Foundation
We commit 50% of our carry to the Westbound Foundation to provide resources to nonprofit organizations closing opportunity gaps for underrepresented communities of color. The collaboration between the Fund and the Foundation is critical to our vision of building a virtuous cycle of wealth and opportunity – the value our founders build will drive generational impact as a result of our carry pledge.
