Our founders connected the dots: small businesses are the engine of job creation in America, the heartbeat and character of our communities — but too many of them fail because they can’t access the resources they need to succeed. We were founded as Silicon Valley Community Ventures — an innovation that provided venture capital, mentorship, and networks to Main Street businesses looking to grow and create jobs.
We were founded by Bud Colligan (founder of South Swell Ventures, a private investment firm, and partner at Accel Partners, a global venture capital firm) and Penelope Douglas (now Founding Partner of CultureBank and SOCAP), with founding staff members Jacob Singer (now CEO of Main Street Launch), Julie Rosenthal, and Lauren Sudeall. Founding Board Members included Ralph Clark (CEO of SST), Gordon Davidson (Chairman of Fenwick & West), Jed Emerson (originator of the idea of blended value), and Eric Weaver (CEO of Opportunity Fund).