Company profile

Fifth Star Funds

Philanthropic venture fund bridging the racial wealth gap by equalizing opportunity for underrepresented founders

Industry
Venture Capital and Private Equity Principals
Employees
8
Headquarters
Chicago, Illinois
Founded
2020
LinkedIn followers
1,473
Office locations
1

Fifth Star Funds company summary

Fifth Star Funds is a company in the Venture Capital and Private Equity Principals industry, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 2020. On LinkedIn the company has around 8 employees and 1,473 followers.

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About Fifth Star Funds

Fifth Star Funds is a first-of-its-kind philanthropic venture fund dedicated to addressing the racial funding gap in entrepreneurship. Today, less than 1% of venture capital is awarded to Black founders—a systemic inequity rooted in centuries of economic exclusion. We’re tackling this injustice head-on by investing in underrepresented tech founders at the critical “Friends & Family” (F&F) funding stage, where access to early capital often determines a startup’s success. Our innovative evergreen model turns tax-deductible donations into equity investments of $25,000 in promising founders who face barriers to traditional funding. Returns from successful investments are reinvested into the fund, creating a self-sustaining ecosystem that supports future generations of entrepreneurs. We’ve invested in 27 companies, proving product-market fit and showing that our portfolio companies advance to the next funding stage at rates 10x the national average. With the support of partners like Salesforce, Goldman Sachs, and the Steans Family Foundation, we’re working to scale this mission nationally, unlocking the potential of 6,000 Black founders annually and generating $5 billion in Black wealth each year. This isn’t just about funding startups—it’s about transforming communities, driving innovation, and creating generational change. Join us in transforming the entrepreneurial landscape and bridging America’s wealth gap. — Fifth Star Funds is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We invest in early-stage companies whose founders have faced material barriers to accessing capital due to racial discrimination. While our research primarily addresses challenges faced by the Black community and the potential impact investment programs like ours could have on such challenges, our investment program is open to applicants of all races who can demonstrate they have experienced racial discrimination in securing startup funding.

Where is Fifth Star Funds located?

Fifth Star Funds lists 1 location.

Chicago, Illinois, USHQ
222 Merchandise Mart Plaza

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Frequently asked questions about Fifth Star Funds

What does Fifth Star Funds do?

Fifth Star Funds is a first-of-its-kind philanthropic venture fund dedicated to addressing the racial funding gap in entrepreneurship. Today, less than 1% of venture capital is awarded to Black founders—a systemic inequity rooted in centuries of economic exclusion. We’re tackling this injustice head-on by investing in underrepresented tech founders at the critical “Friends & Family” (F&F) funding stage, where access to early capital often determines a startup’s success. Our innovative evergreen model turns tax-deductible donations into equity investments of $25,000 in promising founders who face barriers to traditional funding. Returns from successful investments are reinvested into the fund, creating a self-sustaining ecosystem that supports future generations of entrepreneurs. We’ve invested in 27 companies, proving product-market fit and showing that our portfolio companies advance to the next funding stage at rates 10x the national average. With the support of partners like Salesforce, Goldman Sachs, and the Steans Family Foundation, we’re working to scale this mission nationally, unlocking the potential of 6,000 Black founders annually and generating $5 billion in Black wealth each year. This isn’t just about funding startups—it’s about transforming communities, driving innovation, and creating generational change. Join us in transforming the entrepreneurial landscape and bridging America’s wealth gap. — Fifth Star Funds is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We invest in early-stage companies whose founders have faced material barriers to accessing capital due to racial discrimination. While our research primarily addresses challenges faced by the Black community and the potential impact investment programs like ours could have on such challenges, our investment program is open to applicants of all races who can demonstrate they have experienced racial discrimination in securing startup funding.

How many employees does Fifth Star Funds have?

Fifth Star Funds has around 8 employees on LinkedIn.

Where is Fifth Star Funds headquartered?

Fifth Star Funds is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

When was Fifth Star Funds founded?

Fifth Star Funds was founded in 2020.

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