Podcast
Equity Raise
Stories of diverse founders and the VCs who fund them, from American Underground.
Stories of diverse founders and the VCs who fund them, from American Underground.
Equity Raise positions itself as a corrective to the stark statistic that founders who are women or people of color receive under three percent of annual US venture funding. Host Naya F. Powell draws on her experience as a Google for Startups Black Founders Fund awardee to interview entrepreneurs who have secured capital against the odds—think Partake Foods’ Denise Woodard or Stimulus CEO Tiffanie Stanard—as well as the investors who wrote those checks, such as Collab Capital’s Justin Dawkins and Zane Venture Fund’s Shila Nieves Burney. Episodes merge founder storytelling with tactical fundraising advice: selecting mission‑aligned investors, leveraging accelerator networks, and structuring rounds that preserve ownership. Recorded in partnership with American Underground and produced by Earfluence, the program also doubles as a DEI case study, frequently highlighting tools from sponsor The Diversity Movement. For venture capital professionals, the show offers a front‑row view into how inclusive investment practices can unlock overlooked markets while generating competitive deal flow.
Welcome to Equity Raise: Leveling the Landscape for Diverse Founders and their VCs. Each year, less than 3 percent of venture capital funding is invested in startups led by founders of color and women. On this podcast from the American Underground, we’ll learn from these entrepreneurs who have successfully raised venture capital, despite the struggles and systemic barriers they’ve faced.
Emerging VCs can reverse‑engineer three patterns:
Host Naya F. Powell is the founder and CEO of Utopia Spa & Global Wellness. A veteran of the Black Founders Exchange and Google for Startups programs, Powell launched Equity Raise to “level the landscape” by spotlighting capital‑efficient growth stories that rarely reach mainstream VC media. American Underground functions as the executive producer, while Raleigh‑based audio studio Earfluence handles editorial and distribution. Powell’s background in corporate wellness and inclusive leadership informs the show’s empathetic interview style and its emphasis on psychological safety in investor–founder relationships
Guests span multiple sectors:
Live recordings from Google’s Black Founders Exchange add event‑based insights, while bonus cross‑posts (e.g., Rainway’s Andrew Sampson) broaden the lens to resilient scaling tactics. Collectively, the catalogue weaves a multiculture tapestry of capital pathways seldom profiled elsewhere.
Who is the host of Equity Raise?
Entrepreneur and DEI leader Naya F. Powell fronts the microphone, leveraging her experience as a Google for Startups Black Founders Fund recipient to guide candid, founder‑centric conversations.
Why did American Underground launch this show?
The Durham‑based startup hub created Equity Raise to address persistent funding inequities by amplifying success stories and practical tactics from under‑represented founders, thereby inspiring both investors and entrepreneurs to adopt inclusive practices.
How many episodes exist?
Ten episodes were released between 30 June 2022 and 15 June 2023.
Is the podcast still active?
No new episodes have appeared since mid‑2023. The feed is considered paused but remains publicly accessible on all major platforms.
What makes its guest list unique?
Equity Raise pairs each founder with one of their actual investors, giving listeners a dual‑perspective view of the same deal.
Which episode is best for first‑time listeners?
“Over $9M in Funding” with Partake Foods’ Denise Woodard offers a concise, 34‑minute walkthrough of consumer‑product fundraising and is widely cited by early‑stage founders.
Does the show discuss specific term‑sheet mechanics?
Yes—episodes routinely dissect SAFE notes, convertible debt, and valuation caps, framing them in the context of founder leverage.
How long are typical episodes?
Most run 40‑60 minutes, balancing narrative depth with actionable takeaways.
Are transcripts available?
American Underground publishes brief show notes but not full transcripts; listeners relying on accessibility tools may need third‑party services.
Can listeners contact the host?
Powell is active on Twitter and LinkedIn, and American Underground maintains a general contact form on its website.
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