Chicago:Blend is a 501c3 nonprofit organization working to advance diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in Chicago’s venture capital and startup community. We measure the VC diversity gap, help underrepresented professionals secure VC jobs and are building a growing community of investors who share our commitment to improving the industry.
Blend Out, Not In
Equity matters. The numbers don’t lie: according to a McKinsey study, companies in the top quartile for racial and ethnic diversity are 35 percent more likely to have financial returns above their respective national industry medians, and those in the top quartile for gender diversity are 15 percent more likely to have financial returns above their respective national industry medians. Diverse, equitable and inclusive companies build better products, recruit the best teams and produce better financial results.
Launching DEI programs can feel daunting, and we know that data is powerful as a guide to what can be most impactful. Blend gathered data on Chicago venture firms and portfolio companies, and we’ve used this data to build an understanding of where the gaps are. You can view the results of our data collection here.
We’ve gathered our favorite resources and groups dedicated to DEI, including recruiting platforms, community groups, a resource library and other Blend chapters.
“Organizations that hire and promote the same kind of thinkers are limiting their potential.”
