Fundraising Fox
Black Star
Venture capitalSacramento · Pre-Seed–Seed · 5 people tracked
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Investment thesis
Black Star Fund is a Black-led venture capital firm focused primarily on backing Black founders. It invests in innovators who view new enterprise as a path to a more abundant, balanced, and productive world. The firm emphasizes diversity and inclusion, with a majority of capital deployed to Black women and gender parity across its portfolio, which spans technology, consumer goods, media and entertainment, and other sectors.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 5 people
from the firm's website
What they invest in
from 8 of 19 portfolio companiesDirect to Consumer ×3Consumer ×2Creator Economy ×2Hardware ×2Healthtech ×2Wellness & Fitness ×2AI & Machine Learning ×1Crypto & Web3 ×1
HQs:United States×8
Investments · 19 tracked
founders shown can be your intro path
Acclinate builds patient recruitment and data infrastructure for clinical research, connecting pharmaceutical companies with representative, diverse communities to improve research representation and health equity.
AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureHealthtechMedical DevicesWellness & FitnessHuntsville, US
Del Smith(Co-Founder & CEO)inTiffany Whitlow(Co-Founder & Chief Development Officer)in
BoardJason Dinger(Director)inAaron Walker(Director)inIvor Horn(Director)in
Co-investorsCencora VenturesCerity Partners VenturesGener8torTechstarsCollab CapitalLatimer Ventures
Actively Black is a direct-to-consumer athletic apparel brand selling clothing and accessories such as shirts and gym bags.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerE-commerce
Lanny Smith(Founder)inBianca Winslow(Founder)in
Co-investorsNew Voices
Greenville, US
HAROLD HUGHES(Executive Officer)Hampton Smith, Ph.D.(Founder)inARSHAD SYED(Executive Officer)SAMOTRIA HOLMES(Executive Officer)GREG SMITH(Director)
BoardKWAME ANKU(Director)in
Co-investorsBackstage Capital
CEEK is a blockchain-based platform that turns creators' videos, music, posts and digital art into tokenized digital assets that can be streamed, sold, licensed and traded across VR, AR, mobile, desktop and smart TVs.
Creator EconomyCrypto & Web3Media & Entertainment
Mary S.(Founder)in
Co-investorsPortfolia
ViuHealth provides 24/7 access to mental health care through a team of licensed psychologists, psychiatrists, and other mental health professionals.
Digital HealthHealthtechMental HealthWellness & FitnessChicago, US
Co-investorsTechstarsAvestria VenturesCleveland AvenueJumpstart FoundryMetrodora Ventures
A software platform that increases peer-to-peer engagement and collects data at live and virtual events through real-time matching and surveying.
Birmingham, US
Ashlee Ammons(Executive Officer, Director)Kerry Schrader(Founder)in
Co-investorsBackstage Capital
Partake Foods makes allergy-friendly cookies and snacks designed for people with dietary restrictions including common allergens like peanuts, tree nuts, and shellfish.
Direct to ConsumerFoodTechNew York, US
Denise Woodard(Founder)
Co-investors37 AngelsBackstage CapitalCleveland AvenueFourward VenturesGold House VenturesPortfolia+10 more
Reviver manufactures RPLATE, a digital license plate with an embedded display and cellular connectivity that replaces traditional metal plates.
HardwareIoTMobility & TransportationGranite Bay, US
NEVILLE BOSTON(Executive Officer, Director)inAndrew Iorgulescu(CEO & President)in
BoardNICHOLAS BRATHWAITE(Director)inSIMON SZEWACH(Director)ERNST LIEB(Director)
Co-investorsCelesta CapitalGrowth Factory VenturesMoneta Ventures
Win-Win is a platform that hosts prediction tournaments hosted by influencers and celebrities where participants predict outcomes of matchups, make charitable donations, and compete for prizes while supporting nonprofit causes.
Creator EconomyFintechImpact & Social GoodSocial
Michael Tauiliili-Brown
Co-investors500 GlobalBackstage CapitalDuke Capital Partners
Other
Tracked investments with no reachable website or further public details — typically companies that wound down, renamed, or were absorbed.
AYO FoodsBandwagonCEEK MetaversePartakeTake Back The Mic StudiosTbtmThe MOSTViuHealthVurple
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has Black Star made?
- Black Star has 19 tracked investments.
- What stage does Black Star invest at?
- Black Star invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed stages.
- What is Black Star's typical check size?
- Black Star typically writes checks of $50K – $1M.
- What sectors does Black Star focus on?
- Black Star focuses on Consumer, Media & Entertainment, Sector Agnostic.
- Where is Black Star located?
- Black Star is headquartered in Sacramento, US.
- Does Black Star lead rounds?
- Black Star typically participates in rounds rather than leading them.
- Who does Black Star co-invest with?
- Black Star most often shares deals with Cencora Ventures, Cerity Partners Ventures, Gaingels, among 5 tracked co-investors.
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