The Nasdaq Center worked with TDI on finding ways to address the lack of funding for minority entrepreneurs.
In 2022, the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center, with support from JPMorganChase, launched the two-year Venture Equity Project to examine the systemic barriers that limit funding for minority entrepreneurs in the US and UK. The project brought together ten partners, including the Transition Design Institute at Carnegie Mellon University, Stanford University, and Penn State University, to explore how early-stage investments, policies, and structural factors shape the flow of capital and to identify opportunities for systemic change.
Stakeholder Workshops and Research Approach
The Transition Design Institute was asked to lead the first phase of research, which was to create a systemic overview of the wicked problem of A Lack of Funding for Minority Entrepreneurs. TDI convened a series of stakeholder workshops with 80 participants from four stakeholder groups including: researchers, venture capitalists, community activists, and Black entrepreneurs. Using Zoom and Miro, stakeholder teams applied the five steps of the Transition Design approach to map the problem and its evolution, list their group’s challenges, specify a long-term future vision, and propose potential strategies for addressing funding inequities.
Research Outcomes and Impact
The research resulted in five systems maps that illustrate the complexity of the funding landscape and highlight key intervention points. Findings from the workshops were synthesized into eight videos documenting stakeholder perspectives and proposed solutions. By drawing on the knowledge already present within the system, this research produced a rich database of ideas that can inform ongoing efforts to create more equitable investment ecosystems.