Collab Capital

Collab Capital is an Atlanta-based venture firm founded in 2020 with a mission to empower Black entrepreneurs by bridging the venture capital funding gap. Co-founded by Jewel Burks Solomon, Barry Givens, and Justin Dawkins, the firm focuses on investing in Black-owned startups, providing both capital and strategic guidance to help them grow sustainably. Their unique investment approach combines profit-sharing and equity, offering an alternative to traditional VC models, which helps founders retain more control of their businesses. With an inaugural $50 million fund, Collab Capital aims to support around 50 companies over the next few years, targeting industries like fintech, healthcare, and media. Some of their notable portfolio companies include Goodr, a sustainable food waste management platform, Hairbrella, an innovative weather-resistant headwear brand, and Jax Rideshare, which provides car rentals for gig economy workers. Their investments typically range from $500,000 to $2 million, prioritizing startups in underserved regions such as Atlanta, DC, Baltimore, and Detroit. Collab Capital’s broader goal is to foster generational wealth and economic equality by backing Black innovation and ensuring founders have the resources to scale their businesses without sacrificing ownership.