Black Girl Ventures (BGV) funds early-stage, revenue-generating businesses with under $1 million in revenue. We ignite civic engagement and strengthen local infrastructure across the U.S. by offering business support services, leadership development, supplier diversity, and both social and financial capital. While we typically support ventures from any industry, specific funding partnerships may require us to focus on certain sectors.
Our founders raise twice the national average in funding, grow their social capital tenfold, and 51% go on to join accelerators and incubators to further develop their ventures. BGV has impacted over 20,000 people across 64 countries. Our founders collectively represent over $10 million in revenue and have created more than 3,000 jobs for the U.S. economy.
About the 2025 Emerging Leaders Fellowship Program
The Emerging Leaders Fellowship Program is a fully unique 12-week leadership intensive development program created specifically to expand the capacity of early to mid-stage entrepreneurs. In this program, rising leaders will be developed to champions creating access to community, capital, and capacity building in their own markets.
Through the leadership of Omi Bell, Black Girl Ventures Foundation (BGV) has funded over 300 women of color, held over 50 BGV Pitch Programs across 20+ cities and served over 3,000+ participants. BGV pitch participants are collectively generating over $10M+ in revenue and supporting 3,000+ jobs. In current times, we are sitting at the crux of a progressive focus on increased funding for underrepresented founders in the entrepreneurial space, and economic advancement for communities of color in social justice spaces. At this important juncture, more women are rising to lead economic advancement within their businesses and communities through entrepreneurship. To meet this demand, Black Girl Ventures has shifted the Change Agent Fellowship Program to the Emerging Leaders Fellowship Program.
Find out more at www.blackgirlventures.org/fellowship
Stipend: Each participant will receive a $5,000 stipend plus other non-monetary gifts
When: July 8, 2025 - September 30, 2025
Where: Virtual - Zoom
Who should get involved: To be considered for admission to the program, applicants must be:
- Be a business founder or ecosystem leader who LIVES AND HAS A BUSINESS BASED IN:
- New York City
- Philadelphia
- Have been in business for at least one year
- Be generating revenue
- Have interest in developing as a leader in your ecosystem.
- Have at least 1 team member (who can assist business operations while founder is in program)
- Have the ability to commit to approximately 4 hours per week (48 hours through total program, to include Jetpack for Leaders + self-directed study)
- Have a passion for empowering and building ecosystems for Black and Brown women founders in their community.
Welcome to BGV's 2025 Pitch Program. If you're a founder based in Chicago, apply to our pitch program TODAY!
The BGV Pitch Program flips the traditional pitch experience on its head: we coach entrepreneurs, host a live crowdfunded pitch competition, then connect them to community and professionals to support them on their journey. You don't need to have experience pitching.
At BGV, we create access to capital, capacity, and community for under-resourced entrepreneurs that enable business sustainability and create intergenerational wealth for a more equitable society.
To be considered for this program, applicants must be :
- Revenue generating
- In good standing
- Located in the city you're applying
Ideal Candidate Profile:
- Candidates that have personal values that are in alignment with BGV’s mission and purpose.
- Candidates that exhibit good decision making skills and conduct themselves in an ethical manner that reflects BGV Core Values.
What you'll gain
- 1st Place Winner: $15K
- 2nd Place Winner: $10K
- 3rd Place Winner: $5K
- A portion of the funds raised from the audience’s votes on Raisify.co
- Membership to the BGV Connect Incubator
- Direct funding and access to a new network of business owners and investors.
Deadline: June 19th (applications close), June 24th (program starts)