The Brik Foundation

Addressing Economic Inequality in Startups Currently Startup Founders who are women, people of color, and individuals from the LGBTQ+ community receive around 5% of the total venture capital funds raised in the U.S. in any given year. In 2022, underserved founders received just $11.7 billion of the $235 billion that was raised. To put this in perspective, women make up 50.5% of the U.S. population, people identifying as LGBTQ+ stand at 7%, and 42% of the population is non-white. To remaining 95% of the money that was raised in 2022 went primarily to three groups of founders: 90% Male 72% White 35% Based in Silicon Valley The lack of early-stage support and more importantly, the lack of access to funding opportunities are keeping thousands of aspiring founders from getting their ideas off the ground. Our mission is to help level the playing field and create more opportunities for underserved Founders to succeed. Our goal is to fund and support 400 or more underserved founder teams around the country each year. The BRIK Foundation Pre-Seed Development Startup Program: • Grants of to selected founder teams • Free co-working space for founders in the New York City area • The program is free to those selected and BRIK takes no equity from founders • Pitch Days with potential investors • Partners with private businesses, mentors, and gov’t agencies to provide further support, resources, and guidance to our founders We’re partnering with incubator programs, non-profits, venture capital firms, and other organizations who are seeking to help aspiring underserved founders get their startup off the ground and to help us identify potential program participants. Check back soon for links to these programs and how to apply to the program. Contact us at info@brikfoundation.org