A Seat At The Cap Table .
BMV builds community, creates access, and expands opportunity for Black men in and around venture capital.
Our Mission
Black Men in Venture (BMV) exists to democratize access to venture by building the networks, partnerships, and pathways that help Black men advance across the innovation and startup ecosystem.
With every event, every program, and every introduction, BMV is creating a Chicago where Black men in venture build together instead of alone.
“It’s time for Black Men in Venture to break down those walls of trust, and create a collaborative environment amongst each other”
— Timothy Washington, Managing Director at Axiom-Nexus VenturesOur Pillars
Access
From first exposure and breaking into venture to advancing, making partner, and launching a fund, BMV creates the relationships, resources, and opportunities Black men need at every stage of the journey.
Community
For Black men who are often the only one in the room, BMV provides a trusted community to exchange opportunities, share honest insight, build meaningful relationships, and support one another beyond a single event.
Influence
BMV connects Black investors, founders, and ecosystem leaders to curated deal flow, co-investment opportunities, and the GPs, LPs, and institutions shaping where capital moves—expanding our collective visibility, ownership, and influence.
How we started
Black Men in Venture (BMV) was officially launched by Sherrod Crum & Demetrius Palmer on May 6th, 2026 in Chicago, IL . The two founders held their inaugural networking mixer at the Fourtune House Art Center on the south side of Chicago for over eighty attendees.
