Black founders raise highest amount of quarterly funding since 2022, but there’s a catch

Black founders raised their highest quarterly funding total since 2022, signaling a rebound in venture activity. However, Crunchbase’s Gené Teare told TechCrunch that access to networks, relationships, and early introductions continue to limit fundraising opportunities.

The funding uptick suggests investor appetite may be improving, but the underlying pipeline remains uneven. Without broader access to venture networks, gains for Black founders may stay episodic rather than becoming a sustained market shift.

Speaking to TechCrunch, Crunchbase’s head of research Gené Teare, said the factors holding back Black founders include “access to networks, relationships, and early introductions."