July 16, 2020

The Future of Diversity in VC

The Future of Diversity in VC

Futurist and author Trond Arne Undheim interviews Julianne Zimmerman, Managing Director at Reinventure Capital and lecturer at Tufts University. The takeaway is that there is hope for change with regards to the effect of making a bet on underrepresented...

Futurist and author Trond Arne Undheim interviews Julianne Zimmerman, Managing Director at Reinventure Capital and lecturer at Tufts University. 

The takeaway is that there is hope for change with regards to the effect of making a bet on underrepresented founders. Dealflow is attractive. Valuations are good. There is a growing realization that the market is missing a lot of talent. Ultimately, diversity will yield products that span a wider range. 

After listening to the episode, find out more about Reinventure Capital, check out her faculty profile at Tufts Gordon Institute where she lectures in social entrepreneurship, or connect with her on Twitter (@juliannezim) and LinkedIn (juliannezimmerman).

The show is hosted by Podbean and can be found at Futurized.co. Additional context about the show, the topics, and our guests, including show notes, time stamps (coming soon), video clips (in process) and a full list of podcast players that syndicate the show can be found at https://trondundheim.com/podcast/. If you like the show, consider giving it five stars, subscribe and download the episode.

For more about the host, including media coverage, books and more, see Trond Arne Undheim's personal website (https://trondundheim.com/) as well as the Yegii Insights blog (https://yegii.wpcomstaging.com/). Undheim has published two books this year, Pandemic Aftermath and Disruption Games. To advertise or become a guest on the show, contact the podcast host here.

Julianne ZimmermanProfile Photo

Julianne Zimmerman

Managing Director, Reinventure Capital

or over 25 years, Julianne Zimmerman has focused on putting technology to work for the greater good. In her current role as Managing Director with Reinventure Capital, she is in the process of raising a fund to invest in a chronically overlooked pool of entrepreneurs: people of color and women. Previously as Co-Founder of seed-stage investment firm Vodia Ventures, Julianne invested in startups in energy, water, food, and health. As an external consultant, VP of Communications, VP of Business Development, and VP of Engineering, Julianne has built departments, managed alpha projects, guided branding and identity efforts, and led a wide variety of initiatives from blank page to successful, in many cases award-winning, completion. Along the way she and her co-conspirators have catalyzed industry shifts, changed conversations, won awards, and set new standards for performance.

Julianne holds two undergraduate degrees from MIT in Humanities/Literature and Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, an MS in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Maryland, and an executive certificate in sustainability management from the Presidio Graduate School; she previously served as a certified EMT in Maryland and Massachusetts. She was twice a finalist in the NASA astronaut selection process. She is a frequent speaker, reviewer and judge for innovation and entrepreneurship programs in the US and abroad; she currently serves on the MIT Venture Mentoring Service and as a founding Principal of Great Dome Associates.