Our Vision
Building a future where diverse founders power
thriving entrepreneurial ecosystems
Our Mission
Founder Forward provides grant funding, training, community, and storytelling that equips Black, Indigenous, and other diverse founders with the investment readiness needed to scale businesses in emerging U.S. markets.
Our Values
Our four key values highlight our commitment to building F.A.I.R. entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Founder First. Executing locally driven solutions should be guided by founders.
Access. Redistributing resources through catalytic connections expands community.
Impact. Valuing diverse founders as smart investments, brings equity to entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Responsibility. Innovating and building sustainably for the next generation inspires possibilities.
What sets us apart?
Our History
Today, Founder Forward is one of Libra Philanthropies' independent nonprofit, a U.S. based foundation that addresses many of the world's most complex and urgent challenges. Their programming impacts 400 organizations and more than 26 million people across 183 countries, transforming the trajectory of future generations.
The organization adapted its approach to “meet the moment” rebranding to Founder Forward, which was the name of the signature cohort programming. Founder Forward continued to emphasize closing the early-stage capital gap for diverse founders and increasing equitable economic opportunity.
100 founders across 18 states are awarded over $600,000 over a six year period.
Through collaboration with Generation Titans on Reunion, Founder Forward was launched as the organization’s signature cohort programming model. Shaped by feedback from founders at an SXSW solution session, the program unites ecosystem partners to deliver unrestricted funding, flexible advising, and storytelling amplification to a community of founders.
Envolve Entrepreneurship partners with Generation Titans on REUNION, a tech-enabled community platform dedicated to cultivating the next generation of diverse founders.
American Entrepreneurship Award transitions from a business model competition to Envolve Entrepreneurship, a 501(c)(3) organization that strives for a global society where all business owners can prosper and grow. The organization is committed to developing and cultivating entrepreneurial ecosystems, by ensuring business support services are more readily available to diverse entrepreneurs.
Demonstrating an early commitment to place-based programming, $250,000 is awarded to founders in Miami and the Bronx.
Six businesses are brought together to participate in The American Entrepreneurship Award business plan competition and are collectively awarded $125,000.
Founded in 2016 by the Libra Group and initially known as the American Entrepreneurship Award, the organization’s founding was inspired by a call to action from President Barack Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative, which encouraged leaders and organizations to address opportunity gaps in underserved communities.
