Harlem Capital: Changing the Face of Entrepreneurship
Jarrid Tingle and Henri Pierre-Jacques had spent the summer between their first and second years of their MBA program fund raising for their start-up venture capital (VC) firm, Harlem Capital Partners. Harlem Capital was founded upon the principle that addressing the VC funding gap for minorities and women—who received only 3% of total VC funding—could produce superior returns. Tingle and Pierre-Jacques were passionate about the mission of Harlem Capital to change the face of entrepreneurship. However, despite generating significant media attention, Harlem Capital had only raised a few million dollars over the summer, not nearly enough for the fund to be financially viable as a career path for Tingle and Pierre-Jacques.
Should Tingle and Pierre-Jacques commit to Harlem Capital despite the serious roadblocks on their path? Or should they capitalize on their pre-MBA private equity experience and attempt to be impactful through a more traditional career post-MBA graduation?
Should Tingle and Pierre-Jacques commit to Harlem Capital despite the serious roadblocks on their path? Or should they capitalize on their pre-MBA private equity experience and attempt to be impactful through a more traditional career post-MBA graduation?
Keywords: venture capital firm compensation; entrepreneurial finance; entrepreneurial financing; Black entrepreneurs; black leadership; Black inventors; inclusion; minority-owned businesses; race and ethnicity; race characteristics; Entrepreneurship; Venture Capital; Diversity; Race; Gender; Mission and Purpose; Social Enterprise; Financial Services Industry; United States;
Citation:
Serafeim, George. "Harlem Capital: Changing the Face of Entrepreneurship." Harvard Business School Teaching Plan 121-027, September 2020. View Details