Collab Capital Research
Investment Thesis
Collab Capital is a founder-led venture capital firm that invests at the intersection of innovation and inclusion. Co-founded in 2019 by Jewel Burks Solomon and Barry Givens, the firm is built on the premise that founders closest to the problem—particularly those from historically overlooked communities—are best positioned to solve it. Their investment thesis centers on "the building blocks of shared prosperity": companies addressing foundational needs across workforce development, healthcare access, and community infrastructure.
Collab's philosophy reflects the lived experiences of its founders. They provide not just capital but also operational support, strategic guidance, and meaningful network access. They believe that perspective and proximity are power, and that founders with direct lived experience in underserved markets have a competitive advantage in building effective, scalable solutions.
Stage and Check Size Focus
Collab Capital primarily invests at the Seed and Series A stages:
Fund II Investment Strategy:
- Check size: $500K-$2M per investment
- Target deployment: $1-$2M over 5 years across approximately 30 companies
- 40% of fund reserved for follow-on investments in top performers
- Total Fund II: $75M (closed June 2025)
- Total AUM: $125M (Fund I: $50M + Fund II: $75M)
Entry Criteria:
- Minimum viable product already in market or generating some recurring revenue
- Companies demonstrating early customer traction and willingness to pay
- Seed stage preferred, with Series A follow-ons for proven portfolio companies
- Will occasionally do pre-seed for exceptional teams but prefers de-risked proof of concept
Thematic Focus Areas
Collab organizes its portfolio around three strategic pillars:
1. Economic Mobility
Companies preparing the workforce for an AI-powered economy by expanding access to high-paying jobs, bridging the skills gap through education and training, ensuring equitable access to capital and resources, and enabling small business growth. Notable portfolio companies: Employee Cycle, BrightUp, ImIn, Loanwell, Please Assist Me, NICKLpass, Posterchild, Weir.
2. Healthcare Access
Healthcare innovations expanding access to quality, affordable care, closing equity gaps in healthcare delivery, delivering better outcomes through scalable tech-enabled models, and targeting underserved populations. Notable companies: Clear, Culina Health, Intus Care, Backpack Healthcare, Healthy Hip Hop, Myya, Revry, River Health.
3. Community Infrastructure
Modern infrastructure solutions addressing sustainable power and transportation, broadband and digital access, housing and food systems, built for resilience and community benefit. Notable companies: Goodr, Hairbrella, Hush, Blue Butterfly, FanFest, Laine London, Planet FWD, Toolbelt, UScope Technologies, Janta Power, Sparkcharge, Kairos, Soarce.
Investment Process and Timeline
Collab's structured investment process: (1) Application submission via typeform, (2) Initial screening, (3) Introductory call, (4) Full team meeting, (5) Market research & reference calls, (6) Investment committee memo, (7) Legal due diligence, (8) Close. Timeline: 4-8 weeks from application to close.
Team and Leadership
Managing Partners:
- Jewel Burks Solomon - Co-founder and Managing Partner with 20+ years of business and entrepreneurial experience
- Barry Givens - Co-founder and Managing Partner with deep operational and finance background
Investment Team:
- Baheejah Crumbley - Senior Investment Associate
- Sydney Holness - Investment Associate
Strategic Support:
- Dr. Nashlie Sephus - Inaugural AI Executive-in-Residence (former Amazon AI leader)
- Partnership with CWC Coaching and Therapy for founder mental health
Geographic Focus
Primary Markets: High-density Black entrepreneur cities including Atlanta, Detroit, Houston, San Francisco, New York, Boston, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Miami, Los Angeles, Dallas, and other underserved urban markets. Current portfolio represents 16+ U.S. cities.
Recent Activity and Portfolio Performance
Fund II Close: June 11, 2025 - $75M in committed capital. Limited partners include Apple, Leon Levine Foundation, California IBank, and Goldman Sachs Asset Management External Investing Group.
Fund I Performance (2020-2025): 38 companies invested, multiple portfolio companies achieved million-dollar revenue months, several secured national contracts, multiple reached cash flow positive status. Notable exits: Boxed Up (acquired), Options MD (acquired).
Recent Notable Investments:
- SparkCharge (Fund II) - Mobile, off-grid EV charging for fleets, raised $30M Series A
- River Health (Fund II) - Telehealth for hourly and uninsured workers
- A0 (Fund II) - AI-powered React Native app generation platform
Core Values
Authenticity, Integrity, Transparency, Disruption, Distance Traveled, and Community. Collab believes in creating safe spaces for founder voices, upholding ethical standards, empowering founders with knowledge, challenging traditional norms, celebrating founder resilience, and fostering supportive networks.
Support Beyond Capital
Collab's "collaboration-as-service" framework includes personalized coaching, go-to-market planning, strategic network introductions, Executive-in-Residence program, quarterly Strategic Town Halls, free therapy sessions for founders, and comprehensive operational resources.
Founder Profile and Preferences
Collab seeks founders with lived experience in problem domains, top 10% talent in their field, repeat founders with prior successful collaboration, coachable and transparent teams passionate about community impact, and founders building in high-density cities with customer and talent concentration.
Impact and Achievements
Collab Impact Stats: $125M in Assets Under Management, 40+ Portfolio Companies, 500+ Jobs Created, 16+ U.S. Cities Represented, 8 Business Sectors Served.
Competitive Positioning
Collab positions itself distinctly within VC as founder-led (by founders for founders), mission-aligned (profit and purpose coexist), hands-on (true partnership beyond capital), community-focused (dual emphasis on founder and community outcomes), inclusive (backing underrepresented founders), geographically diverse (intentional presence beyond SF/NYC), and thematically focused (clear strategic pillars in economic mobility, healthcare access, community infrastructure).