Harlem Capital, a Black-led venture capital firm, is raising a $150 million fund, according to documents filed with the SEC. 

Founded in 2015 by Henri Pierre-Jacques and Jarrid Tingle, Harlem Capital is not just a venture firm, but a catalyst for change in the entrepreneurial landscape. Its mission to invest in 1,000 diverse founders is a bold step towards reshaping the face of entrepreneurship.

If raised, this new fund, the firm’s third, would be its largest to date. In 2021, Harlem Capital raised an oversubscribed $134 million, much more than the $40 million it raised for its inaugural fund in 2019.  

Since its establishment in 2015, the firm has been steadfast in its mission to support diverse founders. Its second fund, for instance, was dedicated to early-stage post-product companies from all sectors, with a strong emphasis on consumer and enterprise tech. 

Harlem Capital‘s commitment to diversity and inclusion is not just a mission statement but a guiding principle. The firm’s focus on raising funds from diverse limited partners for its second fund is a clear indication that it will continue to support the next generation of diverse founders.

Harlem Capital’s Previous Funds

It should also be noted that Harlem Capital’s oversubscribed Fund 2 came after the heat of Black Lives Matter when the industry declared itself committed to supporting historically marginalized groups and flooded money into those communities. 

Harlem Capital’s third fund seeks to raise money in a very different environment, where the backlash to diversity and inclusion has taken root in industries across America. 

The successful raising of this $150 million fund will be a show of success for Harlem Capital and its founders and a testament to the industry’s appetite for still believing in and backing talented, underrepresented communities.

About Harlem Capital

The venture capital firm aims to change the face of entrepreneurship by investing in 1,000 diverse founders over the next 20 years. It invests in founders from all backgrounds but reserves investments for minority and women founders in the “Early Seed” stage. 

According to Pitchbook, Harlem Capital currently manages $174 million in assets and has made over 80 investments, with 12 successful exits. Notable investments include Propense.ai, the fintech Poolit, and the e-commerce platform Gander, Agape, 4Degrees, Assemble, Atomize, Blavity, Because, Lami, Primitives, Shine, Toolbox, Shine, Stuf, Superstorm, and Sauce.

The investment team at Harlem Capital (l-r Brandon Bryant, Gabby Cazeau, Kelly Kopchik Goldstein, Henri-Pierre Jacques, and Jarrid Tingle)