Impact Report · 2021–2024
Access,
Designed.
Four years of building the infrastructure that under-resourced founders deserve — and proving that when equity is designed in from the start, impact compounds at every level.
BGV Foundation · bgvfoundation.org
Founder's Foreword · Omi Bell, CEO
Access should never be an accident. It should be designed.”
— Omi Bell, Founder & CEO, BGV Foundation
Executive Summary · 2021–2024
From surviving to building.
Between 2021 and 2024, BGV entered a defining era — moving from building momentum to building an institution. Founders applied because they trusted the brand. Donors gave because they believed their dollars mattered. Partners invested because they saw BGV Foundation emerging as a national leader in access-centered entrepreneurship.
Part I · Programs & Impact
Five programs.
One ecosystem.
Each program was designed to meet founders at a different stage — from first idea to operational scale. Together they form a continuous pathway from visibility to capital to community.
Redefining Access to Capital
BGV Pitch is the front door to the ecosystem — a designed experience that centers dignity, storytelling, and collective belief. Powered by Raisify, our proprietary crowdfunding platform, each competition turned thousands of community donors into investors.
12+ Cities. One Mission.
Strengthening Leadership & Scale
A 12-week cohort experience for early- to mid-stage founders ready to move from reactive decision-making to intentional growth. ELF combines peer accountability, applied strategy, and structured learning grounded in the realities of building a business through inequitable systems. With a 30:1 application-to-slot ratio, the demand far exceeds current capacity.
Preparing the Next Generation
BGV NextGen is an HBCU-focused program designed to meet student founders at the very beginning of their entrepreneurial journeys. The program bridges education and entrepreneurship, introducing college-aged founders to business ownership as a tool for leadership, economic mobility, and community impact. BGV NextGen has active chapters at North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central University (NCCU), and Morgan State University.
Access, Made Local
Designed to remove invisible barriers keeping founders from ever entering a funding space. Pull Up & Pitch brings entrepreneurship into neighborhoods, parks, and campuses — meeting founders where they are. No polished deck required. No insider access needed. Many founders described this as the moment they first believed their ideas were worth pursuing.
Digital Community, Real Connection
The connective tissue of the BGV ecosystem. What began as a pandemic adaptation became permanent infrastructure — a shared space where founders exchange resources, celebrate milestones, and build relationships with peers who understand the realities of under-resourced entrepreneurship.
ELF · Outcomes at a Glance
Four outcomes. Near-perfect results.
With a 30:1 application-to-slot ratio, the fellows you see here represent only a fraction of the founders waiting for this support.
For every founder we serve through ELF, 29 more are waiting. This is the most honest measure of unmet need in our ecosystem.
Of 78,899 registered platform users, 18.4% actively donate — a conversion rate that outperforms most comparable platforms in the nonprofit sector.
Donors don't give once to BGV — they come back. A 94.5% retention rate reflects deep community trust built year over year.
Community Voices · Founders in Their Own Words
Every number is a person.
These are the stories behind the statistics — founders who took a chance on an idea, and a community that believed with them.
2022 LA Pitch Winner
BGV All Star
Aisha's medical technology company experienced significant growth after participating in BGV programs. BGV x PIMCO support fueled the expansion of her customer base globally, with patents spanning wound care, post-surgical, asthma inhalers, EpiPens, diabetic shots, and Narcan markets.
- The BGV and PIMCO networks facilitated introductions to potential investors for Casual Recovery's $1.25M seed round
- Secured an additional $12,500 in non-dilutive capital from additional supporters
- Customer base expanded both in numbers and geographical reach, with recent patents issued for wound care and other medical markets
- Narcan markets for smart sleeve technology are in the billions, with a total market potential of $196.4 billion
2024 BGV Innovate Together Grantee
Since completing the BGV ELF program, Yes Girls Create has grown in revenue, visibility, and community impact. The program provided tools, mentorship, and a supportive network that helped enhance organizational operations, form new partnerships, and refine their long-term strategic vision.
- 10% revenue increase following ELF, driven by new corporate sponsorships and in-kind donations bolstered by increased visibility
- Established 20 new partnerships with organizations, brands, and community groups
- $17,500 in new funding secured from Flushing Town Hall, Burlington Foundation, and the NYS Legislature Grant
2023 NYC Pitch Participant
Denasia leveraged BGV's programs to gain critical skills and network access — transforming her business from a modest annual revenue to a nationally and internationally scaling operation.
- Starting revenue: $50,000/year before BGV
- Revenue post-program: $30,000/month — projected annual revenue of $360,000
- 138% increase in monthly revenue following ELF graduation
- Now serves customers in 47 U.S. states, 3 countries, and 2 territories
- Won $20,000 as the NYC Pitch competition winner
Founder Testimonials · Survey Voices
In their own words.
Part II · Visibility, Demand & Reach
Visibility is infrastructure.
BGV invested in visibility not as promotion but as a pathway — creating consistent, trustworthy entry points for founders to find us, understand us, and engage meaningfully with our work.
Platform Spotlight · TikTok
into Capital
BGV leveraged TikTok as a funding and community-building engine — using authentic founder stories to drive direct donations, grow a national audience, and train founders in digital marketing and TikTok Shop skills.
“TikTok has given us a platform to showcase our impact, share real stories, and connect with people who may have never heard of us before.” — Omi Bell
Platform Deep Dive · Raisify
Community capital
at democratic scale.
Raised through Raisify from 16,009 individual contributions — averaging $28.04 per donation.
60% of donors give $5–$10
Context · The Decade in Funding
This report covers our peak growth years.
The 2021–2024 period represents BGV at full institutional strength. View the full ten-year timeline →
↑ Illustrative funding momentum. 2021–2024 (shaded) is this report's scope.
Part III · How Change Happens
Equity can be designed.
When under-resourced entrepreneurs advance economically, entire ecosystems shift with them.
Financial Transparency · 2021–2024
Where the money comes from and where it goes.
Corporate and foundation partnerships are BGV's primary funding source. 87 cents of every dollar reaches programs directly.
$4M+ distributed directly to founders through grants, pitch prizes, and fellowship stipends.
87 cents of every dollar goes directly to program delivery — because every dollar that doesn't reach a founder is a dollar that didn't close the gap.
Corporate & foundation partners who made this possible
Looking Forward · The Crossroads
The next chapter
is not yet written.
BGV has spent four years proving that access can be designed — and the numbers in this report are the evidence. But the political and philanthropic climate has shifted dramatically. Corporate DEI commitments have pulled back. The funders who once championed this work have gone quiet. We are at a crossroads. What happens in 2027 is determined by who chooses to fund what we build next.