Benjamin J. Vann is the Founder and CEO of Impact Ventures, a 501c3 startup accelerator with a mission to empower talented, yet under-resourced women and entrepreneurs of color to build generational wealth through inclusive entrepreneurship and integrated capital. Since 2017, Impact Ventures has partnered with some of the most notable Fortune 500 companies, national organizations, and global brands to serve over 2800 people, including 220 students through mentorship, events, workshops, themed hackathons, and 135 entrepreneurs through technical assistance, mentorship, and access to capital to raise $478,000+ and create 46 new jobs.
Vann and I discuss economic justice, black culture and innovation, and his diverse upbringing.
Benjamin has received a number of awards and recognition by both regional and national media and news publications. He is a member of the SMU Hunt Institute of Engineering Inclusive Economies Consortium (IEC), a 2020 Boston Impact Initiative Fund Building Fellow and was named top 50 Future Innovators of DFW in 2020 Dallas Innovates Magazine. He is also a 2018 World Economic Forum Global Shaper Fellow, Partner at Dallas Social Venture Partners, 2016 Dana Juett Social Venture Resident, and 2015 Mayor’s Star Council Alumni. In 2019, he was nominated for Cosign Magazine’s Tech Innovator and Public Figure of the Year Award, as well as Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2017. Awarded DFW Urban League Business of the Month, In 2016, he was featured in the 3rd and 4th edition of Who’s Who in Black Dallas Publication, In 2015, he awarded 40 under 40 Future Leaders in Dallas by i10 Magazine, named top 28 #BlackDFWMatters influencers, and featured on the cover of Be Great Magazine, Dallas Millennials Edition.
Run Time: 53 minutes
Original record date: January 21, 2021
Host, Earlina Green Hamilton