Please join us for “Race, Education and Funding Opportunities for High-Growth Startups,” a talk by Kenan Institute Distinguished Fellow Emmanuel Yimfor, assistant professor of finance at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business.

The hour-long event will take place at 12:30 p.m. EDT Thursday, Aug. 25, in Kenan Center Room 204.

Although venture capital firms back less than 1% of all startups, venture-backed companies account for 41% of total U.S. market capitalization and 62% of U.S. public companies’ R&D spending. Yimfor will discuss his recent work on how access to venture capital varies by the founder’s race and alma mater and explore mechanisms driving the variation.

Yimfor joins Professors Alex Edmans of London Business School, Olga Hawn of UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, Lubos Pastor of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and Jacquelyn Pless of the MIT Sloan School of Management as 2022 Kenan Institute Distinguished Fellows. Together they comprise an exemplary set of global scholars committed to leveraging their individual expertise, thought leadership, research and networks to further the institute’s efforts to examine and drive solutions to issues facing business and the economy today.

This class will support the institute’s 2022 grand challenge, an exploration of stakeholder capitalism and ESG investing. As part of those efforts, Yimfor, Pastor (Oct. 6) and Pless (Oct. 25) will each pay a visit to the institute and deliver a talk that will be open to the press and public. (Note: Edmans delivered a virtual presentation April 7, available here.)

The event is free and open to the public but registration is required, as lunch will be provided for all attendees.

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• Keyword(s):
• race 46
• stakeholder capitalism 57
• startups 27
• venture capital 51