Statement: Beyond Capital Stands with our Communities
“Exclusion is never the way forward on our shared paths to justice and freedom.” - Desmond Tutu
The killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and too many other people of color have ignited a powerful movement in the United States. This pain has been felt around the world. My team and I mourn the senseless loss of life due to the enduring grip of institutional racism. We stand in solidarity with those demanding justice that is long overdue.
Beyond Capital was founded more than 10 years ago to address bias in our financial systems. Social enterprises operating in underserved communities, especially those led by women and people of color, have historically been ignored and marginalized by capital markets.
As an impact investment fund, Beyond Capital strives to support social enterprises that have faced this capital gap, and are working to uplift communities and improve the livelihoods of underprivileged individuals.
But as investors, we can - and must - do more. As we begin to rebuild the post-pandemic economy, we must prioritize inclusivity and equity. We will use our platforms to promote justice and representation. As we raise our next fund, we are doubling down on investments into underserved areas. We will continue to build a diverse community of team members, advisors, Ambassadors, and Board members around our work.
The change we seek doesn’t stop with our investments - we must challenge ourselves to ask hard questions of the entire system that propagates structured exclusion. Organizations like Vencapital are doing amazing work to bring more representation to the Venture Capital industry. This guide from the Female Founders Fund is an excellent resource for those of us in this industry to educate ourselves on deepening our anti-racist knowledge.
As individuals and investors, we all have a responsibility to examine where we are putting our money. Now is the time to ensure we are all investing with our values and aligning our actions with our assets. Money can serve as a force to end systemic injustice and bring forth greater financial inclusion, if we all work together.
Beyond Capital stands with our communities to create a more inclusive and equitable world. Now is a time of listening, learning, and, above all, meaningful action.
This statement from Beyond Capital CEO Eva Yazhari was originally published on LinkedIn. You can view it here.