Hatcher serves as the CEO of Pharrell William’s Black Ambition Opportunity Fund.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN: Fulfilling a mission to elevate the Minneapolis-St. Paul startup ecosystem, Twin Cities Startup Week is proud to announce Felecia Hatcher as its national headline speaker for Twin Cities Startup Week 2022. In partnership with the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Hatcher will join local founder and community advisor Alex West Steinman on the TCSW2022 Main Stage for a one-hour interview on Tuesday, September 20th at 9:10 a.m.
As CEO of Pharrell William’s Black Ambition Opportunity Fund, Hatcher works to close the opportunity and wealth gap by leading efforts to invest in Black and Latinx founders and HBCU students. She is also a beacon of diversity and inclusion in tech, working with companies and organizations such as Google, Samsung Next, and Target to create innovative solutions to build a more equitable business ecosystem.
The list of Hatcher’s accomplishments is long and exceedingly impressive.
“Felecia’s work on behalf of BIPOC founders nationwide presents valuable perspectives to the very issues our ecosystem is working to solve together to make Minnesota a beacon of equitable growth,” said Shelisa Demuth, Executive Director of BETA. “We’re grateful for the partnership with Knight Foundation and honored to introduce her to our community.”
Hatcher’s headline appearance represents TCSW’s ongoing dedication to broadening the Minnesota startup community’s exposure to national talent and thought leaders and a continued focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The interview can be attended live at the Science Museum of Minnesota or streamed virtually. Tickets for Twin Cities Startup Week 2022 - including a free virtual ticket - are available now.
About Felecia Hatcher: Felecia is the CEO of Pharrell William’s Black Ambition Opportunity Fund which invests in diverse entrepreneurs with capital, mentorship and uninterrupted access to resources and opportunities. Through her work over the past eight years, she has helped entrepreneurs connect to over $100M in funding by shaping the way individuals show up, are valued, and financially benefit from playing full out in the innovation economy. She has written five books, co-founded Black Tech Week conference and The Center for Black Innovation, and has helped shape the inclusive business operations of many companies including Amazon, Target, and Google.
About Knight Foundation: We are social investors who support a more effective democracy by funding free expression and journalism, arts and culture in community, research in areas of media and democracy, and in the success of American cities and towns where the Knight brothers once published newspapers. Learn more at kf.org and follow @knightfdn on social media.
About Twin Cities Startup Week: Twin Cities Startup Week (TCSW) is a weeklong, immersive festival featuring thought leaders from Minnesota and beyond. Through 200+ events covering all facets of business — from tech to arts and culture — the event connects innovators, corporate leaders, and the startup curious. Organized by 501c3 nonprofit organization, The Beta Group, TCSW is the place to explore Minnesota’s innovation, celebrate startups in our ecosystem, and be inspired to start your own endeavor. For more information, visit twincitiesstartupweek.com.
