Camelback Ventures, a name taken from the original first camelback style homes following the Civil War that families of the Free Black population resourcefully added a second story to, continues the innovation, creativity, and community-forward mindset of our New Orleans ancestors. With a stalwart drive to use ingenuity to lift up and create opportunities for underinvested founders, Camelback Ventures identifies leaders with promising ideas and empowers them to enact change through its proven blend of coaching, capital, connections, community, and curriculum.
“Investing in and supporting diverse business leaders is about more than uplifting individual ventures. It’s about the multiplying effect those businesses have on our communities. We’re not just invested in helping ventures survive, we’re empowering them to thrive,” says Shawna Young, CEO of Camelback Ventures.
Camelback Ventures increases access to opportunity for entrepreneurs of color and women by investing in their ventures and leadership while advocating for fairness in their funding.
Founded in 2015, the organization has expanded to encompass two entrepreneurial-focused fellowship cycles per year, a second program focused on building more equitable and accessible funding practices in philanthropy, and an annual Guardian Summit convening, bringing together members of Camelback Ventures’ diverse ecosystem. Celebrating its tenth year, Camelback Ventures is releasing a 10-year impact report in 2025, highlighting great strides on its mission while plotting a clear path forward to even greater outreach and success.
How To Help
The work of lifting up the genius of diverse entrepreneurs who are leading education, conscious tech, and other social impact ventures is needed now more than ever. For these entrepreneurs, Camelback’s support is vital to increasing their chances of success today and into the future. To learn how to get involved, visit camelbackventures.org and click ‘Get Involved’ or reach out to:give@camelbackventures.org.
612 Andrew Higgins, New Orleans, LA | camelbackventures.org
