The MBE Empowerment Fund™ offers more than just financing – it envelopes disadvantaged minority-owned businesses with management and technical assistance, access to broader financial resources, and a network of professional service providers, including lawyers, marketing consultants, accountants, and others who have the skills, resources and experience to affect the business’ chances for success. And it provides scholarships for Virginia students enrolled in a degree program in Entrepreneurship at a Virginia college or university.

Mission

Promote capital formation, training, and investment in minority, women, disabled-veteran, and ex-offender-owned small businesses in Virginia.

Investment Criteria

The MBE Empowerment Fund is a community development venture capital fund. It seeks to make equity, near-equity, and debt investments between $500 and $50,000 in seed, start-up, and early-stage ventures located in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  The Fund will focus on innovative, sustainable ventures that demonstrate the potential for significant social returns, moderate return on investment (ROI), and bring value to their local economy.

Funding Objectives

The Fund will evaluate potential investments for marketable, sustainable ventures led by experienced, driven entrepreneurs. The Fund seeks to provide long-term equity, near equity, and debt investments and management assistance to minority businesses in the Business Services, Consumer Services, Internet, Retail, and Technology industries.