Join SVB Catalyst 2045 as we celebrate and honor Black History Month on February 27, 2024, in San Francisco, CA.
This special event will unite partners from Milken Institute, Black Tech Nation, BLCK VC and StartupOS for a day of dynamic programming and insightful discussions focused on Black excellence in tech and venture capital.
Topics will include:
- Exploration of the fundraising landscape for founders and investors
- A startup pitch competition presented in partnership with StartupOS
- Networking with the best and brightest in the innovation ecosystem
Register today to join us for this event!
Please be advised: All attendees must be 21+ to attend. Thank you.
Questions? Please contact Brooke Jones at broojones@svb.com.
Welcome Introduction | presented by Vanessa Kuhlor
Pathways to Progress: Bridging the Gap in Venture Funding | Presented by BLCK VC
This panel delves into the historical and contemporary factors that have shaped today's venture capital landscape. Experts will explore the genesis and evolution of initiatives like the Fearless Fund, and the various challenges that venture capitalists have faced and are currently overcoming. The discussion will focus on the turbulent yet transformative journey of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) within the industry, analyzing both its critiques and its critical role in shaping modern investment practices. Panelists will provide insights into the systemic barriers that have historically hindered inclusive investment and how these challenges have spurred innovative approaches and strategies in the venture capital space.
Moderator: Tosh Ernest | Head of Catalyst 2045, SVB
Featured Panelists:
- Nneka Kibuule | Principal, Aligned Climate Capital
- Sean Mendy | Partner, Concrete Rose Capital
- Earnest Sweat | Founding Partner, Public School Ventures Pledge Fund
- Ryan D. Taylor | Investor, Azolla Ventures
Founder Pitch Competition | Presented by StartupOS
Beyond the Hype: Realizing the True Potential of Inclusive Capitalism | Presented by Milken Institute and Black Tech Nation
In this forward-looking panel, thought leaders will explore the intersection of inclusive capitalism and human-centered design thinking as pivotal elements in sculpting a more equitable and sustainable future in venture capital. The focus will be on harnessing the power of DEI principles, not just as moral imperatives but as key drivers of financial returns. Discussions will revolve around engaging with new majority consumers and investors, who are increasingly influencing today's economy. Panelists will share strategies on partnering effectively with diverse firms, elevating their successes, and amplifying their stories on a larger scale. The session aims to provide actionable insights and frameworks for creating a more inclusive and resilient ecosystem in the venture capital world, offering a safe haven for stakeholders navigating the uncertainties of a dynamic economic landscape.
Moderator: Troy Duffie | Director, Financial Markets, Milken Institute
Featured Panelists:
- Kelauni Jasmyn | Founder and Executive Director, Black Tech Nation
- Jason Miles | Managing Director, Amenti Capital Group
- Lo Toney | Founding Managing Partner, Plexo Capital
Networking Wine Reception - featuring live music from Cocoa Keys
Devon is our sultry singer who has 15 years of experience in the music industry as a professional songwriter, Vocal Coach, artist developer and singing live piano music. She is best known as a contestant on American Idol, S8. She is co-founder of WOC, the Bay Area community-based organization dedicated to empowering the next generation of women of color in music and tech. Her other affiliations are as follows: ZooLabs Alumni, co-director and music composer with AJ Rafael and Tori Kelly, San Francisco Opera House, Soul Graffiti Oakland, United Roots Oakland Fellow, and Impact Hub Oakland.
Olivia is our pianist who has been playing live piano music professionally for 9 years. She has a foundation in jazz and classical piano but enjoys playing a variety of genres. Olivia has collaborated with a variety of local artists and organizations, including The Battery, So Far Sounds, Dredd Scott, Kevin Allen, Helen St. Mixr and more.
The Milken Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank focused on accelerating measurable progress on the path to a meaningful life.
With a focus on financial, physical, mental, and environmental health, we bring together the best ideas and innovative resourcing to develop blueprints for tackling some of our most critical global issues through the lens of what’s pressing now and what’s coming next.
Black Tech Nation (//BTN) is a multi-faceted tech organization building a #DigitalWakanda through education, digital media, employment, and funding for Black technologists and entrepreneurs.
Headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, //BTN serves as a dedicated space for Black technologists across America and beyond. Together, we are 650+ "Black Tech Unicorns" - tech professionals, entrepreneurs, investors, innovators, and enthusiasts - and over 600 allies, partners, and tech equity supporters.
Our main work consists of uplifting Black technologists, educating and supporting our members, creating employment and funding opportunities, providing access to the "right people" in the industry, producing digital events and workshops, advocating for tech equity, and ultimately building generation wealth through innovation.
Through our motto "Gather. Connect. Affect", we aim to work with company partners and //BTN members to create and grow a thriving 'Black Tech Nation' that focuses on the advancement of the Black community throughout our global tech economy.
BLCK VC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that equips Black investors with the access, education, and community they need to accelerate their careers in venture capital. We do not accept the status quo; we are driving the industry forward by pushing venture capital firms to become more inclusive in their hiring, deal flow, and portfolios.
BLCK VC is transforming the venture capital industry to mirror the diverse demographics of the U.S. Venture Capital is a crucial component of achieving economic equality; it is a vehicle to build wealth, develop future leaders, and strengthen communities.
StartupOS is the ultimate platform for building and launch your startup.
StartupOS’s mission is to help startups grow faster, better, stronger, and more reliably. Our platform offers navigation through a series of learn-by-doing exercises that allow for assessment and benchmarking of a startup’s journey or need while offering support, mentoring and funding opportunities through a series of matched connections on our platform.
Troy Duffie is financial markets director at the Milken Institute and has a background in venture capital, social impact investing, and affordable housing.
Prior to his role at the Institute, Duffie held numerous roles at S&P Global and worked as a climate tech and social impact investor at NextEra Energy Investments, the corporate venture arm for NextEra Energy, the largest generator of renewable energy in North America. As a proud HBCU alumnus, Duffie serves as head of the Milken Institute’s HBCU Strategic Initiative and Fellows Program and, in partnership with eight HBCUs, connects students with resources, soft skills, and internships with asset managers. Duffie has conducted independent research in Ghana, China, and Cuba around the importance of equitable investment and the impacts of globalization on “non-Westernized” cultures. As a passionate advocate for affordable housing, he has partnered with startups, local governments, and community development corporations to alleviate the affordable housing shortage across the US and Canada.
Currently, Duffie serves as chairman of the board of the St. John Community Development Corporation, a multimillion-dollar not-for-profit developer of affordable housing in South Florida and is leading a team to create a faith-based 501(c)(3) to advocate for and build affordable housing in the Denver Metropolitan Area.
Duffie received his MS in finance and BA in economics and community development from Howard University.
Tosh Ernest is head of SVB’s Catalyst 2045 program, a platform through which the company delivers products, tools, advice and resources to Emerging Segments groups in the innovation economy with a focus on serving Women, Black and Latinx individuals. By leveraging powerful connections among founders, funders and talent, SVB is unlocking greater access to capital, professional relationships and career opportunities. In her role, Tosh is helping expand the program and increase opportunities across SVB’s core businesses. She joined SVB in 2022.
Tosh leads SVB’s efforts to extend its commitment to Women, Black and Latinx client, beyond its walls as it seeks to help transform the innovation economy. The innovation economy ecosystem offers stimulating careers and wealth generation opportunities, but due to systemic and historical barriers, there are too few women, Black and Latinx individuals who get to take part. As a company that has been at the center of innovation for 40 years, SVB is in a unique position to make its Catalyst 2045 mission a reality.
Before joining SVB, Tosh spent more than a decade at JPMorgan Chase & Co., where she founded the wealth division of the Advancing Black Pathways initiative, which focused on bridging the racial wealth gap. Tosh and her team steered the firm’s multimillion-dollar commitment to racial equity by developing strategies for the economic inclusivity of Emerging Segments groups. Additionally, she served as a strategic advisor to senior management and community leaders on economic opportunities for underserved communities. During her time with the organization, Tosh led large-scale change management and transformation initiatives through her work with various multinational teams to plan and deliver mission-critical new business products, including launching a mutual fund company that scaled to $40 billion in assets under management, a driving strategy for emerging managers, venture capital and private equity funds. Earlier in her career, she held roles at consulting firms Navigant, Capco and Accenture, specializing in post-merger and acquisition systems integrations.
Tosh earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting and management from the University of Reading in England. She was recognized as one of the 25 Influential Black Women in Business by The Network Journal in 2021.
Outside of the office, Tosh loves to volunteer for her church, travel to far-flung locations, run, bike and read.
Kelauni Jasmyn is the Founder and CEO of Black Tech Nation (//BTN) - a national network of Black technologists, innovators, and entrepreneurs headquartered in Pittsburgh. She’s also co-founder and one of three General Partners at Black Tech Nation Ventures (BTN.vc).
After noticing the lack of Black involvement in the tech industry, Kelauni built Black Tech Nation in 2018 to serve as a digital community and much-needed resource for the Black tech unicorns in Pittsburgh and beyond. //BTN now supports over 2000+ members and allies across the country and works in partnership with several Pittsburgh foundations, local institutions, global tech companies, and successful venture firms who are dedicated to building a Black Tech Nation that supports the growth of Black opportunity and wealth through tech.
In 2020, Kelauni formed Black Tech Nation Ventures with Partners David Motley and Sean Sebastian, a $50 million, national fund to support Black entrepreneurs and seed-stage startups led by Black and diverse founders. BTN.vc has been featured by Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal, and TechCrunch and has garnered several investments from global Fortune 100 companies such as Bank of America and Google’s Capital G.
Kelauni is a native Chicagoan and a summa cum laude graduate of Howard University with a Bachelor of Science in biology and chemistry.
Nneka Kibuule is a Principal at Aligned Climate Capital, an asset manager investing exclusively in the people, companies, and real assets that are decarbonizing the global economy. Nneka holds a decade of experience in finance, operations, strategy for a variety of organizations including utilities, nonprofits, startups, Fortune 100 companies, and investing firms. She founded GreenTech Noir, a convening of Black founders, investors, and luminaries passionate about clean energy and climate tech innovation.
Nneka holds an MBA from Kellogg School of Management, a Masters in Energy Finance from Tulane, and a BS in Finance from Hampton University.
Vanessa Kuhlor is a distinguished leader in the innovation economy, deeply committed to promoting growth and inclusivity for underrepresented founders. Her career is marked by excellence in strategic roles that focus on ecosystem management, strategic partnerships, and community building. Vanessa is particularly adept at connecting early-stage founders with the vital resources they need to grow and scale.
In her most recent role at Vouch Insurance (YC S19), Vanessa concentrated on building community within the New York Tech Ecosystem. Over her five-year tenure at Silicon Valley Bank, she was instrumental in reshaping the landscape for underrepresented founders and investors. As the Vice President of the New & Strategic Channels Team, Vanessa led efforts that greatly increased access to banking and financial services, playing a key role in fostering a more inclusive and supportive environment for innovation. Prior to SVB, she was an early operator at Inbox Health, a Startup Health company, and conducted research in the Emergency Medicine Department at Yale University.
Vanessa is a passionate advocate for equity and diversity. She actively engages in mentorship with Techstars and is a prominent member of Black Women in VC and Women in Fintech. Additionally, she serves on the What's Next Con board and advises the Young Black Technologist Syndicate. Her work and dedication illuminate her commitment to creating a more equitable and dynamic innovation economy.
Sean is a co-founding Partner of Concrete Rose. He is a Bay Area native who has spent his career working to close opportunity gaps in Silicon Valley. Prior to Concrete Rose he was an executive at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula and an Advisor to the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. As Venture Partner at Next Play Ventures and Entrepreneur in Residence at Sixth Street, Sean has experience building meaningful connections across the venture ecosystem and partnering with best-in-class founders.
Sean earned his BA from Cornell University, where he played soccer, then advanced degrees in business and policy from Stanford and USC.
Jason Miles, CAIA has over 25 years of experience executing capital structure strategies for global private and public companies. He specializes in venture capital, private equity, mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures. Currently, Mr. Miles advises and invests in early-stage and growth companies as the founder of Amenti Capital Group.
Before founding Amenti, Jason led global financial technology venture capital investments and innovation focused strategic partnerships at Volvo Group. Prior to that, he was Head of Strategy at Progress Investment Management Company, where he created private equity and hedge fund products. He was also Vice President of Mergers & Acquisitions at Bank of America, where he led corporate development transactions. Earlier in his career, Mr. Miles was Senior Associate and founding member of Viant Capital, Associate and founding member of the Private Equity Placements Group at Banc of America Securities, and an Investment Banking Analyst in the Private Capital Markets Group at Robertson Stephens.
Mr. Miles earned a Bachelor of Arts in corporate finance from Morehouse College and a Master of Business Administration with concentrations in finance and entrepreneurial management from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He also holds the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation and has FINRA Series 7, 79, 82, 63, and 66 licenses.
Earnest Sweat leads Public School Ventures, a pledge fund he established to support Series A and B enterprise companies. This initiative gathers over 750 professionals from a variety of fields, focusing on critical areas like vertical SaaS, applied AI, middleware, and B2B marketplaces.
At the core of Earnest’s investment philosophy is the 'value chain tech' concept, a framework he devised to underscore the transformative potential of technology in pivotal sectors. His strategy aims to make operations more efficient, cut costs, open new revenue paths, and elevate the end-user experience in industries such as real estate, retail, insurance, healthcare, and logistics.
Earnest's venture capital career kicked off at Prologis Ventures as its founding Principal, where he had a significant hand in steering the firm’s investment strategy towards the intersection of real estate, logistics, and retail. His insightful contributions led to successful co-investments in notable companies like Flexport and Flexe.
Moving on to GreatPoint Ventures, Earnest embraced the role of Partner with a focus on early-stage B2B, fintech, and digital health software companies. There, he was instrumental in the due diligence process, deal negotiations, and fostering the growth and strategic direction of portfolio companies, with successful investments such as KlearNow, Bit.io, and Ananda Networks standing out.
Before diving into the venture capital world, Earnest honed his investment acumen at BMO Capital Markets, engaging in equity research and laying a solid foundation for his investment strategies and thesis development.
Holding an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University, Earnest’s drive and commitment to the tech and venture capital fields are evident. He actively shares his insights through speaking events and writings, advocating for innovation and resilience in transforming legacy industries. Beyond his professional achievements, Earnest’s engagement with the venture community, including his roles with BLCK VC and as a Kauffman Fellow, underscores his dedication to fostering growth and diversity in the sector.
Ryan D. Taylor is an Associate at Azolla Ventures, where he is responsible for sourcing investment opportunities, managing the investment pipeline, leading data-driven decision-making initiatives, and supporting investment diligence. Ryan joined Azolla Ventures from a career in the electric power sector across a broad range of roles, most recently financing utility-scale solar and wind projects as part of the acquisitions team at Enel Green Power. Earlier, Ryan was on the strategy team at Guidehouse (formerly known as Navigant Consulting) where he supported clients in the deployment of grid modernization and energy efficiency technologies.
Ryan holds a B.S. in Chemical Physics from the University of California, Davis and is currently pursuing his M.S. in Systems Engineering from Johns Hopkins University.
Lo is the Founding Managing Partner of Plexo Capital, which he incubated and spun out from GV (Google Ventures), based on a strategy to increase access to early-stage deal flow. Plexo Capital invests in emerging seed-stage VCs (led by diverse managers) and invests directly into companies sourced from the portfolios of VCs where Plexo Capital has an investment. Investors in Plexo Capital funds include Alphabet/Google, Intel Capital, Cisco Investments, the Royal Bank of Canada, Southern New Hampshire University, the Home Depot, Hearst Corporation, the Hampton University Endowment, JIMCO + the Ford Foundation.
His expertise includes investing into areas such as enterprise infrastructure, cybersecurity, financial technology, marketplaces, e-commerce, gaming + technology enabled consumer. In addition to managing Plexo Capital, Lo is a CNBC Contributor providing his expertise on financial markets and technology companies on a regular basis.
Prior to founding Plexo Capital, Lo was a Partner on the investing team at GV, where he focused on marketplaces, mobile, and consumer products. Before GV, Lo was a Partner with Comcast Ventures, leading the Catalyst Fund and worked with the main fund focusing on mobile messaging marketplaces.
He also worked with Zynga as the GM of Zynga Poker with full P+L responsibility For Zynga’s largest franchise at the time. During his leadership, bookings increased by over 150% to $250M with margin expansion. Lo has also held executive roles with Nike + eBay.
Lo received his M.B.A from the Haas School of Business (University of California at Berkeley), where he completed the Management of Technology program, a joint curriculum program with the College of Engineering. Lo received his B.S from Hampton University in Virginia.
©2023 Silicon Valley Bank, a division of First Citizens Bank. Member FDIC.
Banking, lending, and trust products or services are offered by Silicon Valley Bank, a division of First Citizens Bank.
You can manage your email preferences, or unsubscribe here from receiving promotional or marketing email communications from Silicon Valley Bank at any time by visiting the Silicon Valley Bank Manage Email Preferences page here.
SVB Wealth LLC (“SVBW”), SVB Asset Management (“SAM”) and SVB Investment Services Inc. (“SVBIS”) are wholly owned, non-bank subsidiaries of Silicon Valley Bank. SVBW and SAM are SEC-registered investment advisers; SVBIS a registered broker-dealer, Member FINRA and SIPC.
Services offered by SAM, SVBW, or SVBIS are not FDIC insured, not insured by any federal government agency, not bank guaranteed, and may lose value.
Read about our Privacy Notice. If you have any questions or concerns about our privacy policies, please contact us by email PrivacyOffice@svb.com. Also read about our cookie policy.
Silicon Valley Bank is not licensed to undertake banking business in Hong Kong, or to undertake any other regulated activity in Hong Kong.
SVB’s mission is to help innovators and their investors move bold ideas forward fast. SVB Events create an environment for SVB clients, prospects, partners and employees to connect, learn from each other, pursue big ideas and make a powerful impact on people’s lives. Through our events, we help SVB to achieve its mission.
SVB does not tolerate disrespectful or harassing behavior, conversations or interactions by any event attendee, in any form, at any aspect of the program, regardless of the event location.
As an SVB event attendee, we encourage you to assist in creating a welcoming and safe networking environment. SVB reserves the right and retains sole discretion to refuse admittance to, or remove any person from, an event at any time.
Please report any violation of the Event Entertainment Code of Conduct to the following:
• Security Guard onsite
• SVB Event
• Venue Staff
If you feel that an SVB event is against our code of conduct policy or inconsistent with SVB’s culture, please contact:
SVB Events
Heidi Bianchi | 650.855.3050
SVB Financial Group Code of Conduct Policies
Evelyn De la Cruz | 312.704-9525
