Zane Venture Fund: A Year of Resilience and Growth
Despite global financial instability and market uncertainties, 2023 has been a year of unparalleled resilience and growth for Zane Venture Fund and Zane Access. Our founder, Shila Nieves Burney, has actively promoted the Fund to potential investors, focusing on supporting historically underfunded and marginalized entrepreneurs. Key events included convening Black Women General Partners and Allies at Martha’s Vineyard and participating in the Black Women in Asset Management conference in New York. Zane Venture Fund also participated in Atlanta’s “My Airport Shirt Campaign” to showcase the city as a tech hub.
Shila Nieves Burney, who joined the Board of the Council for Entrepreneurial Development and the Advisory Council at Atlanta’s Endeavor, made significant strides in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Zane also partnered with HBCUvc Black General Partners Alliance, bolstering its commitment to inclusivity. The Fund’s Sig Mosley was inducted into the Deal Maker’s Hall of Fame, highlighting the Fund’s advocacy for equity and inclusion in venture capital. The year also saw us recognized in several prominent publications.
Fund I of Zane Venture Fund successfully invested in nine early-stage, high-potential companies. It witnessed significant growth and development in its portfolio, including a company featured on the Inc. 5000 list. The Fund is now transitioning to active management of its existing investments. Portfolio highlights include:
- MDisrupt’s new health tech platform.
- SkillCycle’s rapid growth and partnership with Zoom.
- ConConnect’s rebranding to UnTapped Solutions.
Additionally, Beach Box and SellerOS made significant strides in their respective sectors.
Zane Access’s community initiatives were marked by significant achievements, with 86 companies graduating and substantial revenue and capital raised by our alums; notable moments included Gently Soap’s success on Shark Tank and their partnership with Aveeno. The Zane Access community continued to thrive through strategic meetings with Atlanta’s Mayor, a shift from Zane Innovation Day to a road trip to NYC Tech Week, and various networking events. The year we concluded with a heartwarming holiday party in partnership with Aprio, supporting the United Way of Greater Atlanta and reflecting Zane’s commitment to community and entrepreneurial empowerment.
To read our entire Annual report, click here.
