Raven Indigenous Capital Partners closes $100m venture capital fund to support native American entrepreneurs

Raven Indigenous Capital Partners announced the final closing of a $100 million Indigenous venture capital fund that provides patient capital and a culturally grounded community of support to early and growth-stage Indigenous enterprises.

The Raven Indigenous Impact Fund II builds on the success of Fund I ($25 million) and will continue to invest in purpose-driven Native American enterprises that demonstrate commercial viability, potential for scale, and measurable community benefit streams.

John Balbach, Director, Impact Investments, MacArthur Foundation: "We are proud to continue our support for Raven's efforts to close the capital gap for Indigenous entrepreneurs and businesses serving historically marginalized Native communities. Raven's approach presents a powerful opportunity to build a more equitable future."

Raven Indigenous Capital Partners is North America's only Indigenous-led and owned impact investment firm. It was established in 2018 to address two critical gaps in the Indigenous finance ecosystem in the US: the provision of equity and equity-like capital that are essential to the development and scaling of Native American enterprises; and a deep cultural and community understanding informed by lived experience.

Eric White, Senior Investment Manager, Bush Foundation: "As part of the Bush Foundation's impact investment strategy to advance equity in capital markets with a focus in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and the 23 Native Nations that share that geography, the Foundation has committed $2m to Raven Indigenous Impact Fund II."

Raven is working to build a vibrant Native American economy in the US by investing in entrepreneurs and businesses across five thematic areas: technology, health, regenerative agriculture, clean energy, and next generation consumer products. To better support the Native American economy, Raven has a growing investment team based in the US who are familiar with the unique challenges and opportunities Native American entrepreneurs face.

The Raven team combines full-cycle principal investing experience, cultural understanding and knowledge, capacity-building expertise, deep networks with trust-based relationships in Indigenous communities, and extensive knowledge and experience in the social/financial innovation ecosystem.

Garry McBerryhill, US Market Lead, Raven Indigenous Capital Partners: "We are thrilled to partner with some of the leading foundations and financial institutions in the United States in providing mission and values aligned capital to Native American entrepreneurs."

www.ravencapitalpartners.ca