NYAIR Episode 70
Venture Capital: The Intersection of Alpha & Funding Historically Underrepresented Groups
Discover the powerful intersection of alpha generation, inclusion, and sustainability in venture capital investing. This episode explores how underrepresented founders and fund managers bring unique perspectives that create real market asymmetry and untapped performance. Industry leaders reveal strategies to find opportunity beyond traditional hotspots and break conventional funding barriers.
Featured Guests
Taj Ahmad Eldridge
General Partner, Include Ventures
Taj Ahmad Eldridge is a seasoned investment professional with over 25 years of experience. As General Partner at Include Ventures, he focuses on investing in diverse founders and fund managers to build innovative venture ecosystems. Formerly Senior Director of Investments at Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator, Taj has driven success across climate innovation and workforce development. His educational background includes an MBA from Pepperdine and a PhD in geopolitical economics from Claremont Graduate University. Taj is known for combining investment discipline with a relentless commitment to inclusion and sustainability.
Aman Verjee
General Partner, Practical Venture Capital
Aman Verjee, CFA, is a business executive with over 15 years of experience in high-growth and technology companies. As General Partner and founder of Practical Venture Capital, Aman leverages deep expertise in financial frameworks and regulatory compliance to identify and invest in emerging venture funds with strong return potential. His career highlights include leadership roles in PayPal, eBay, and Sonos, and active mentorship at Harvard Business School. Aman is recognized for his quantitative rigor and strategic vision to capitalize on market inefficiencies in venture capital.
Deb Kemper
Managing Partner, Golden Seeds Ventures
Deb Kemper leads Golden Seeds Ventures and drives investments in early-stage, women-led companies across enterprise software, advanced materials, and medtech. With a strong background in startup ventures, strategy, and leadership, Deb has successfully fostered deal flow, assessed in-depth due diligence, and supported portfolio growth. She holds an MBA from Dartmouth’s Amos Tuck School and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Cornell University. Deb is a vocal advocate for expanding diversity and inclusion in venture funding and leverages her expertise to unlock alpha through underrepresented founders.
Key Insights From This Episode
Alpha is Created by Breaking Traditional Boundaries
Investing in historically underrepresented founders and geographic diversity uncovers undervalued opportunities overlooked by conventional venture capital.
Diversity and Inclusion are Performance Drivers
Companies with gender-diverse leadership teams often outperform in revenue and long-term sustainability, confirming inclusion as both an ethical and financial imperative.
Geographic Diversity Expands the Opportunity Set
There's untapped potential in founders outside coastal tech hubs. Supporting entrepreneurs in overlooked regions yields cost-efficient talent and distinct market insights.
Virtual Due Diligence and Networking Have Democratized Access
The rise of virtual platforms and remote diligence allows investors and founders to connect effectively without geographic constraints, increasing deal flow and efficiency.
Founders Need More Than Capital—Networks Matter
Mentorship, access to customers, culture, and community support are critical contributors to startup success and investor returns.
Addressing Biases is Crucial
Investors must actively recognize and mitigate biases in evaluation and funding decisions to unlock true alpha opportunities.
Access the Full Conversation
Gain deeper insights and tactical frameworks by accessing the full episode and downloading the custom insights deck. Designed for investors and fund managers, these resources empower smarter allocations and more inclusive, high-performance portfolios in venture capital.
Soundbites Worth Saving
“If others aren’t playing in this market, that’s the arbitrage. We’re happy to take that risk and back those founders.”
— Deborah Allen
“Access to capital, connections, customers, and culture — these four Cs define our investment approach to support underrepresented entrepreneurs.”
— Taj Manku
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