3 black investors share what they’re planning for the new year – TechCrunch

This has been an eventful year for investors and founders. Just as it seemed the 2021 venture capital boom was slowing down, the worlds of startups and venture capital turned on their axes virtually overnight, giving rise to a new dynamic where “growth at all costs” was quickly replaced by a more measured and cautious approach to business and investing.

For 2023, therefore, it seems that investors are focusing on trends that are relatively safer and more likely to bear fruit. Xfund Vice President Jadyn Bryden and Lightship Capital Director Alexis Alston told TechCrunch that they are focused on generative artificial intelligence.

“I look forward to seeing how AI can help evolve previously human-driven areas of business, such as sales, social media, marketing and content development,” Alston said.

According to Richard Kerby, general partner at Equal Ventures, vertical software is a good subsector to watch. “What it looks like in practice is software that provides some kind of workflow enhancement to a category that allows a business to monetize through a variety of financial services,” Kerby said. “Some of the sectors we will explore include supply chain, logistics, insurance, construction and e-commerce enablement.”

When it comes to funding underrepresented founders, investors generally agreed that little was likely to change. While Alston said she’s worried the numbers will go down, Bryden thinks more venture capital dollars would go to black founders because there are “more and more diverse investors every year.”

“It’s a slow progression,” she said, noting that more diverse companies are springing up to support black founders. “Having black decision makers at the table can be a great way to ensure black founders are represented at all levels.”

Read it full survey here to find out what these investors expect in 2023, what laws and policies they are watching, and how best to present them.