Zeal Capital Partners Scout Program
Empowering the next generation of diverse venture capitalists.
Overview
The Zeal Capital Partners Scout Program, also known as the BPI Venture Scout Program, identifies and trains scouts to curate high-potential pre-seed investment opportunities, focusing on supporting Black-led founders and aspiring Black investors. The program operates under the Barclays Black Formation Investments (BBFI) initiative, aiming to address the racial equity gap in venture capital by developing a pipeline of Black investors and supporting Black entrepreneurs. Scouts are distributed across various regions to identify promising ventures, with a specific focus on pre-seed companies led by Black founders.
Investment focus
The BBFI Scout Program aims to address the racial equity gap in venture capital by supporting Black-led startup founders and developing a pipeline of Black investors. It focuses on identifying pre-seed investment opportunities and fostering relationships between scouts and founders.
Program details
Designed for Founders, Investors, Scouts, Operators, Builders. The program is remote. Participation is generally part time.
Who it is for
Ideal candidates include operators, entrepreneurs, engineers, and investors with experience scaling technology companies or working with high-growth teams.
Check if you are eligible
Check your eligibility for Zeal Capital Partners Scout ProgramAdmissions and application
Scouts are selected and trained through a rigorous recruiting, screening, and selection process, with no public application form available.
Benefits
Participants gain access to early-stage capital, mentorship, introductions to investment teams, and a supportive community of Black-led companies.
Timeline
The program focuses on long-term value creation, with no specific timeline mentioned.
How to go about it
- Read what it asks for
Who can apply, how people get in and whether it is open right now.
- Have something to show
Programs pick people whose work they can already point to. Put yours where it can be found.
- Apply the way the program asks
This one invites people; you cannot apply cold. The way in is work the program can already point to, and the people its own pages name.
What it pays
Scouts participate in a market-based compensation model that includes sharing in investment returns and carry.
Questions about this program
What is the purpose of the Scout Program?
To identify and develop the next generation of diverse venture capitalists.
Who can become a scout?
Operators, entrepreneurs, engineers, and investors with experience scaling technology companies.
About Zeal Capital Partners
Zeal Capital Partners
Venture Capital
Investing in diverse-led, high-growth companies.
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From public sources
What the sources say about Zeal Capital Partners Scout Program
Zeal’s contact page offers a general inquiry route without identifying it as scout admissions.
Source: ContactSHOPPE BLACK describes carried-interest access, while binding individual terms remain unverified.
Source: Zeal Capital Partners: Investing Across the Systems That Shape WealthSHOPPE BLACK reports a network of 29 scout operators and experts, without a precise count date.
Source: Zeal Capital Partners: Investing Across the Systems That Shape WealthUrbanGeekz reported in July 2026 that Barclays and Zeal approached Ashleigh Ainsley for a scout role.
Source: How Ashleigh Ainsley Is Expanding Access to AI, Tech and Venture CapitalZeal’s June 2025 announcement identifies Barclays as a continuing partner.
Source: Welcoming Visionaries: Introducing Our Venture Scout Cohort IIZeal introduced a second scout cohort in a June 26, 2025 announcement.
Source: Welcoming Visionaries: Introducing Our Venture Scout Cohort II
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