The Crunchbase “Female Founder Series,” is a series of stories, Q&As, and thought-leadership pieces from glass-ceiling-smashers who overcame the odds and are now leading successful companies.

Lolita Taub, Co-Founder and General Partner of The Community Fund, is making venture funding more equitable for underestimated founders.

After working within Silicon Valley for over 15 years, Lolita saw an opportunity to shift the investment landscape. Determined to bring more opportunities to diverse entrepreneurs, after receiving an MBA and launching her VC career, she began writing checks to founders who typically struggle to receive funding from traditional VCs. As a result, Lolita co-founded The Community Fund, where she invests in community-driven companies. She also created the free Startup-Investor Matching Tool to connect founders with capital.

We asked Lolita how she began her career in investing and her advice for others hoping to follow a similar path.

Q: Tell us a bit about your fund. What’s its core thesis and what types of companies do you invest in?

A: The Community Fund is an early-stage fund that invests in pre-seed and seed community-driven companies. We believe businesses with community at the core will become unicorns and produce outsized returns. We invest in Delaware C Corp U.S.-based companies (but we’re open-minded). Our checks are all $50,000. 

Q:  What made you start your own fund?

A: First, it was my desire to increase dollars going into underestimated founders and increase the number of investors from underestimated backgrounds. Next, I (Read more...)