The BFM Fund
Venture capitalPortland · Seed–Series C · 1 people tracked
Investment thesis
The BFM Fund is a returns-focused, seed-stage venture fund backing Black and innovative entrepreneurs throughout the United States. Although industry-agnostic, it applies industry-specific screening within its evaluation and due diligence process, with existing investments spanning eight distinct verticals for diversification and impact. The fund aims to create impact by diversifying the face of entrepreneurship and bringing to market solutions that address problems faced by underserved consumers and communities. It also runs initiatives to level the playing field for BIPOC founders, including non-dilutive grants for concept-stage companies and programs developed with nonprofits to broaden access.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 1 people
from public directories
What they invest in
from 10 of 11 portfolio companiesAI & Machine Learning ×2Consumer ×2Developer Tools ×2Enterprise Software ×2Fintech ×2Mobility & Transportation ×2AdTech ×1AgTech ×1
HQs:United States×8
Investments · 11 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2022 · 12021 · 23 dated
A Kids Co. produces children's books, kids' podcasts, and an app covering challenging and important topics for young audiences, along with a parenting podcast ("Raising Us") for grownups.
ConsumerMedia & Entertainment
Jelani Memory(Founder & CEO)
PartnerHimalaya Rao· solo GP
Co-investorsBackstage CapitalPortland Seed FundSuperAngel.Fund
Glow Up Games developed games and technology centered on Black and brown joy and cultural representation.
GamingNew York City, US
Mitu Khandaker(Executive Officer, Director)Latoya Peterson(Executive Officer, Director)
PartnerHimalaya Rao· solo GP
Co-investorsBlack Founders MatterRareBreed VenturesTechstars
HUED provides CME and CEU accredited educational content and courses for healthcare professionals on cultural competency and health equity, and operates an online directory of health equity-informed providers.
Digital HealthEdTechHealthtechNew York City, US
Kimberly Wilson(Founder)
PartnerHimalaya Rao· solo GP
Co-investorsLighthouse Network Ventures LlcSerena VenturesTechstarsOsage Venture Partners
LISNR is an ultrasonic proximity platform that enables contactless commerce and customer engagement through presence detection, secure authentication, targeted promotions, and gamified loyalty experiences across retail, finance, mobility, and education sectors.
AdTechDeveloper ToolsEnterprise SoftwareRetail TechCincinnati, US
Rodney Williams(Founder & CEO)inChris Ridenour(Director)Monique Idlett(Director)Michael Venerable(Director)
BoardNick MacShane(Director)
PartnerHimalaya Rao· solo GP
Co-investors7BC Venture CapitalCincyTechCollectivCourtside VenturesJumpstart VenturesLeadX Capital Partners+11 more
Meter Feeder enables autonomous vehicles to conduct machine-to-machine transactions with municipal parking systems for meter payments, eliminating the need for human intervention or illegal parking.
FintechIoTMobility & TransportationPittsburgh, US
Jim Gibbs(Founder/CEO)inDaniel Lopretto(Founder/CTO)inWarner Macklin(Director)
PartnerHimalaya Rao· solo GP
Co-investorsAutomotive Ventures MobilityOssian CapitalTrucks VCY Combinator
OpConnect manufactures and deploys end-to-end fleet charging solutions for electric vehicles, serving public transit agencies, school districts, commercial fleets, and multi-family residential properties.
CleantechHardwareMobility & TransportationPortland, US
Dexter Turner(Executive Officer, Director)RONALD GOLDSBERRY(Executive Officer)
BoardEDWARD DUGGER III(Director)inRAJAN KASETTY(Director)JESSICA NIGRO(Director)
PartnerHimalaya Rao· solo GP
Co-investorsClimate Impact CapitalReinventure Capital
Re-Nuble makes circular growing inputs for indoor agriculture, including ReNu Terra hydroponic grow mats and Away We Grow organic liquid nutrients derived from vegetative waste.
AgTechCircular EconomyNew Materials
PartnerHimalaya Rao· solo GP
Co-investorsLaunch NYWocstar Capital
Saysh is a footwear brand that designs performance sneakers built specifically for the anatomy of women's feet using its FemiformityFIT technology.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerSports TechCulver City, US
Allyson Felix(Founder)inPaul Wesley Felix(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardMontse Suarez(Director)
PartnerHimalaya Rao· solo GP
Co-investorsBlack Founders MatterRedpoint VenturesThe Perkins Fund
Philadelphia, US
Tiffanie Stanard(Executive Officer, Director)Kathryn Finney(Director)
PartnerHimalaya Rao· solo GP
Co-investorsDarco CapitalBlack OperatorREFASHIOND Ventures
WealthMore is a wealth management platform that combines human advisors with AI to provide personalized financial guidance and portfolio management for people who cannot afford traditional wealth advisors.
AI & Machine LearningFintech
Mical Jeanlys-White(Founder and CEO)in
PartnerHimalaya Rao· solo GP
Co-investorsAndreessen HorowitzEmmeline VenturesFirst Row Partners
YearOne is an AI-powered software engineering intelligence platform that provides data-driven insights to help development teams improve productivity, reduce burnout, and mitigate project delivery risk.
AI & Machine LearningDeveloper ToolsEnterprise SoftwareHR TechPortland, US
PartnerHimalaya Rao· solo GP
Co-investorsAbstraction CapitalLong Way VenturesPortland Seed FundTechstarsAccenture VenturesCascade Seed Fund
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companiesYearOne · finsmes.com · Aug 1, 2025
Frequently asked questions
- What stage does The BFM Fund invest at?
- The BFM Fund invests at the Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C stages.
- What is The BFM Fund's typical check size?
- The BFM Fund typically writes checks of $50K – $100K.
- What sectors does The BFM Fund focus on?
- The BFM Fund focuses on Impact & Social Good, Sector Agnostic.
- Where is The BFM Fund located?
- The BFM Fund is headquartered in Portland, US.
- Does The BFM Fund lead rounds?
- The BFM Fund typically participates in rounds rather than leading them.
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