Black Operator
Venture capitalAlameda · Pre-Seed–Seed · 5 people tracked
Also known as Black Ops Ventures
Investment thesis
Black Ops VC was founded to support Black founders by Black founders, addressing the Series A funding gap that top Black entrepreneurs face. Operating as a $20M seed fund, the firm specializes in leading seed rounds for the most promising Black founders across the US, aiming to serve as a launching pad for generational, multi-billion dollar technology companies. The firm positions itself as a partner that understands the founder journey and intends to reshape the venture investing landscape.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 7, 2026.
Team · 5 people
from the firm's website & public directories
Founder mafia
2 people who came through Black Operator went on to found or lead other companies.
What they invest in
from 12 of 15 portfolio companiesAI & Machine Learning ×6Consumer ×4SaaS ×3Data & Infrastructure ×2Direct to Consumer ×2Fintech ×2Logistics & Supply Chain ×2Climate Tech ×1
HQs:United States×8
Investments · 15 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2022 · 12020 · 12017 · 13 dated
Athlytic connects brands with athlete influencers and creators to build experiential marketing campaigns targeting sports enthusiasts and Gen Z audiences.
AI & Machine LearningCreator EconomyMarketing TechDetroit, US
Co-investors100Km Ventures LlcID VenturesLighthouse Network Ventures LlcTechstarsWestbound Equity Partners
Co-investorsID VenturesMichigan Rise
Cyphr converts bank transaction data and public records into an explainable 0–300 "readiness score" (modeled on the retiring FICO SBSS scale) with a standardized, consented readiness packet for lenders.
AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureFintechKansas City, US
Co-investorsTechstarsThe Veteran FundPlug and Play Ventures
EdVisorly builds an AI platform for colleges and universities that automates transcript processing, transfer credit evaluation, and transfer-student recruitment.
AI & Machine LearningEdTechSaaS
Co-investorsDorm RoomMotley Fool VenturesPotencia VenturesSilicon Valley
Five to Nine offers a platform for planning and managing workplace events and programs, including event creation, communications, budget tracking, and analytics.
Future of WorkHR TechSaaSChicago, US
Denise Umubyeyi(Co-founder)Jasmine Shells(Co-founder & CEO)Heather Hiles(Director)
Co-investorsCleveland AvenueDorm RoomSterling RoadWestbound Equity Partners
JustAir builds an air quality monitoring platform that provides accessible air quality data and insights to communities, resident groups, governments, and public health advocates.
Climate TechData & InfrastructureGovTechImpact & Social GoodIoTSan Francisco, US
Darren(Co-founder)inDaniel Burnett(Executive Officer, Director)Derek Hilstrom(Executive Officer, Director)
Co-investorsID VenturesMichigan Rise
Livegistics provides a digital platform that replaces paper tickets with digital workflows, using AI to capture and structure ticket data (signatures, GPS, photos, timestamps) for ticketing, compliance, and logistics management across job sites.
AI & Machine LearningLogistics & Supply ChainSaaSDetroit, US
JUSTIN TURK(Executive Officer, Director)ANDRE DAVIS(Executive Officer, Director)
Co-investorsCintrifuse CapitalMichigan RiseRefinery VentureReinventure CapitalTappan Hill Ventures
Streaming service offering Black cultural content.
Co-investorsBase Venture Management, Inc.Bronze InvestmentsMaC Venture CapitalTether
Mayvenn sells human hair extensions and wigs and connects customers with beauty experts and hairstylists for personalized consultations.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerE-commerce
Diishan Imira(Founder & CEO)
Co-investorsAndreessen HorowitzBase Venture Management, Inc.Cleveland AvenueCore Venture CapitalImpact America FundLaunchCapital+12 more
MedHaul coordinates non-emergency medical transportation, connecting patients with rides to healthcare appointments.
AI & Machine LearningDigital HealthHealthtechLogistics & Supply ChainMobility & TransportationMemphis, US
Erica Plybeah(Founder)Ayile Arnett(Executive Officer, Director)
Co-investorsInnova Memphis, Inc.Seae VenturesSilicon Valley
Ruby Love (formerly PantyProp) is an apparel company that makes reusable period and incontinence clothing, such as leak-proof underwear and boxer briefs with a built-in absorbent organic cotton liner.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerFemTech
Crystal Etienne(CEO & Founder)
Co-investorsBase Venture Management, Inc.LunaCap VenturesSteelSky Ventures
Philadelphia, US
Tiffanie Stanard(Executive Officer, Director)Kathryn Finney(Director)
Co-investorsDarco CapitalREFASHIOND VenturesThe BFM Fund
StoreCash is a mobile app that offers cash back rewards on purchases at hundreds of retailers and brands, with rewards paid directly to users rather than retained by intermediaries.
ConsumerFintechRetail TechSan Jose, US
Co-investorsEntrepreneur VenturesMaC Venture CapitalTechstarsMucker Capital
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companiesMayvenn · trysignalbase.com · Mar 25, 2026
Mansa · latimes.com · Mar 11, 2026
Livegistics · trysignalbase.com · Mar 27, 2025
Frequently asked questions
- What stage does Black Operator invest at?
- Black Operator invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed stages.
- What is Black Operator's typical check size?
- Black Operator typically writes checks of $100K – $5M.
- What sectors does Black Operator focus on?
- Black Operator focuses on AI & Machine Learning, Fintech, Impact & Social Good, PropTech, SaaS, Sector Agnostic.
- Where is Black Operator located?
- Black Operator is headquartered in Alameda, US.
- Does Black Operator lead rounds?
- Yes, Black Operator leads investment rounds.
Images
Co-investors · 8
MaC Venture Capital is an early-stage venture capital firm that partners closely with founders, offering hands-on support and strategic involvement beyond capital.
Refinery is a venture capital firm founded by entrepreneurs that backs founders entering hypergrowth, providing capital and hands-on go-to-market and scaling support, with a focus on Series A-stage companies outside traditional tech hubs.
REFASHIOND Ventures is an early-stage venture fund that invests in startups transforming and modernizing legacy industries, with a focus on industrial and supply chain innovation.
Galaxy is an institutional digital assets and data center company offering trading, lending, asset management, investment banking, staking, custody, and venture investing across the crypto and blockchain ecosystem, along with a strategic expansion into AI/HPC data center infrastructure.
Vista Equity Partners is a private equity firm headquartered in Austin, Texas, that invests exclusively in enterprise software and AI companies through private equity and credit strategies. With more than $100 billion in assets under management and over 90 portfolio companies, it partners with software businesses to scale operations and serves institutional investors and wealth professionals.
Capitalize VC is a pre-seed investor in B2B commerce-enablement technology and creator economy infrastructure, backing companies that serve retailers, brands, creators, and their supply chains.
KEC Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm based in New York City, founded by former entrepreneurs to back startup founders.
Firms observed investing alongside Black Operator, from public investor directories. Shared companies are the overlap with Black Operator's recorded portfolio.
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