Included VC is launching Fellowship II, a global nine-month, fully funded Fellowship for individuals from diverse backgrounds looking to enter the VC ecosystem. Ten funds are backing the programme, including Microsoft’s M12, Santander’s Mouro Capital and Seedcamp, and HSBC has joined, as well. From its base in the UK, Included VC’s ongoing mission is to change venture capital by tackling the systemic lack of representation for many groups, or those that are excluded. The firm believes that increasing diversity will maximise fund success by transforming networks, staff, dealflow and investments. This is reflected in its new cohort of 48 fellows from 21 countries around the world. The fellows hail from various diverse backgrounds: 52 percent female, 31 percent Black, 31 percent Asian, 30 percent are neurodiverse and 17 percent are from the LGBTQIA+ community. Applications for the new round opened last summer. The firm is co-founded and directed by Nikita Thakrar. The first fellowship was focused on Europe, welcoming 30 people (out of 1400 applicants) from 14 different cities. It concluded in December of last year, with a third of the Fellows already moving on to work in the VC industry, as founders, or in startups, including Ana Wolsztajn (a former tech.eu news editor) who is now an Associate & Head of Platform at Enern. Commenting on the launch of the second, Thakrar said: “Now that Included VC is officially a global Fellowship, we are also excited to launch more initiatives in 2021 that open up the VC ecosystem to people from diverse backgrounds wherever they reside, triggering long-term positive change. Watch this space!”
Photo: Included VC's 2021 cohort
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