After countless new “communities” or “venture programs” that took inspiration from us, we’ve established a legacy of community building that has led Republic to be the bastion of real community. In our effort to remain curated but also expand our capabilities, we are thrilled to announce the launch of our largest cohort to date: the VP8 cohort. These 44 incredible industry leaders come from around the world and share in our mission of democratizing access to capital.Â
Each time we recruit a new cohort, we find ourselves drawn to people who deserve to become a part of this community. Many VCs and folks in the industry pay lip service to problems that need solving but aren’t actually doing anything to work on the problems. When you see a Republic Venture Partner in the ecosystem, you know that they are doing the hard work to build the future we believe in. They are passionate about investing, especially for underrepresented founders, and expanding access for the next generation of founders. They mentor new fund managers, leverage their networks and skills to help startups get funding, and challenge the status quo. They see the obstacles first and have the courage to take that head-on.Â
Their hope and drive to see the solutions through — that’s what keeps us thriving. Amora Miller and Maria Pope, the new leaders of the Venture Partner program, have designed this cohort with mission and vision in mind. This is one of our most diverse cohorts to date, with over half of its members being women and over 30% of VPs located internationally.Â
This cohort is a reflection of Republic’s own internal metamorphosis. As we think through the next 5 years, we take inspiration from our Venture Partners to recalibrate and make sure we’re building the best version of Republic possible.Â
Our vision of creating the first full-stack investor ecosystem has come to life. For the first time, our programs have come full circle: two of our former Venture Associates - Adam Grant and Janet Boachie - have returned to the family as Venture Partners in our VP8 cohort. It’s rewarding to see the growth of this community in the short (but long) two years we have been working to provide special programs to contribute to the growth of an inclusive venture ecosystem. After 1 year, every venture partner has the opportunity to become a senior VP to receive funding for investing in startups and preferred status in the ecosystem. We will be announcing our Senior VPs shortly.Â
With this growth trajectory in mind for all of our community members, we recently announced the 2022 launch of our Venture Fellow and Associates programs. We received an incredible pool of 500+ applications for limited spots and look forward to kicking off that program at the end of March.
This VP8 cohort is special beyond belief, from all over the world united in mission. We love the energy and enthusiasm they have already brought to our community, and we can’t wait for you to get to know them too.Â
Click here for their bios!
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