CEO at The Impact Seat Foundation & National Board Chair for Netroots Nation, Cheryl Contee, discusses the venture capital’s failure to reach black entrepreneurs as well as the state of the Progressive movement.
Cheryl Contee, a CEO making a difference.
Cheryl Contee is making a substantial impact in both the progressive and business spheres by bridging the gap between social justice and entrepreneurship. Her focus on empowering women and people of color in the venture capital space aligns with the broader goals of the progressive movement, which seeks to correct systemic imbalances and champion diversity and inclusion.
- Cheryl Contee is the CEO of the Impact Seat Foundation and the founder and chair of Do Big Things, both organizations working towards creating a world where women can succeed as business leaders and advancing new technologies for progressive causes.
- Contee has been an active participant in Netroots Nation, a progressive political convention, from its inception. She is also a board chair for the event and believes in its mission to unify various voices in the progressive movement, even when internal conflict exists.
- The Impact Seat Foundation focuses on investing in women-led tech startups and pushing capital toward people of color who are disproportionately underrepresented in business investments. Contee believes that there’s a massive opportunity lost in GDP by not investing in businesses started by people of color.
- Contee also addresses issues of diversity and inclusion in her ventures, insisting that diversity is a strength, not a concession. She advocates for panels at Netroots Nation and elsewhere to be diverse in terms of race, gender, and perspective to enrich the conversation.
- She is the author of the Amazon best-selling book “Mechanical Bull,” which is a guide for achieving startup success. The book not only reflects her personal story but also includes practical information for aspiring entrepreneurs, including quotes from other successful innovators. Cheryl said she made sure the book was easy to read with enough fun and levity to keep the read pleasurable.
The work of leaders like Contee is critical in reshaping the landscape of venture capital, which has been historically dominated by white, male entrepreneurs. By directing capital towards underrepresented groups, Contee is not only fulfilling the ethical mandate of social justice but also helping to realize untapped economic potential. The Brookings Institution has reported on the racial gaps in venture capital, highlighting that Black entrepreneurs receive a disproportionately small amount of venture funding.
Cheryl’s role as a board chair in Netroots Nation also serves as a crucial platform to instigate meaningful dialogue and action within the progressive movement. Netroots has been effective in providing a space for constructive dialogue among a very diverse set of voices, from activists to influencers. This is in line with the broader progressive goal to create a more inclusive, equitable society, as underlined by institutions such as the Center for American Progress.
The work of Cheryl Contee in venture capital and the progressive movement exemplifies a forward-thinking approach that aims to rectify systemic imbalances while also creating economic opportunities. It’s a synergistic relationship that has the potential to transform both the business world and social justice landscapes in the United States.