Diversity in Entrepreneurship Seed Funding Program
Harvard Management Company actively seeks out new and creative ways to support diversity, equity, and inclusion both in our organization and in the financial sector, more broadly. As part of this effort, we are excited to offer $100K investments to Y Combinator entrepreneurs whose organizational leadership and ownership meets certain thresholds of diversity.
In order to be eligible for this funding, your venture must:
- Have at least one founder in the YC program
- Have at least one founder who identifies as either:
- Female OR
- An historically underrepresented minority* (Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, or American Indigenous Person)
- Be a for-profit enterprise (Non-profits play a vital role in society, but as a fiduciary, HMC is required to seek a financial return)
- Agree to abide by YC’s Code of Founder Ethics
*We recognize that the term underrepresented minority has many meanings in various contexts. For purpose of this program, we define underrepresented minority as a group whose percentage of the entrepreneurial population is lower than their percentage of the population in the United States.
Applications are due by 5 PM (Eastern Time) on Sunday, March 7. HMC will review the applications and respond by Friday, March 12. Funding is anticipated in April and will be contingent upon the following:
- Confirmation that you have received funding from YC
- Confirmation that your company is presenting at the YC Demo Day
- Passing an anti-money laundering review, and agreeing to provide additional relevant information upon request
- Executing the standard Valuation Cap, no Discount YC SAFE document at the YC agreed upon valuation cap for Demo Day, and an MFN in a standard form of [side letter] (comprehensive documents will be provided to you for review post application).