Evan Poncelet is the Founding Managing Partner at Dreamward Ventures and Executive Director of Venture Black. Where he’s shaping the next generation of innovation and Black entrepreneurship
Release Date: 06/01/2025
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Special Edition: Livestream Replay CavnessHR: Seattle’s Got Tech
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Alvaro Jimenez Jimenez Co Founder Sellnet.AI CEO Gaudium Capital Founding Principal Yunity Alph
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How Bianca Penuelas Streamlines Companies for Growth and Acquisition
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Understanding Entrepreneurship, and Innovation with Branden Doyle Founder and CEO of Violett
The Jason Cavness Experience
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Scaling with Heart: Francisca [Kika] Escobar Bascur Escobar on 2X/3X Growth, Shopify, and the Power of Connection Scaling with Heart: Francisca [Kika] Escobar Bascur Escobar on 2X/3X Growth, Shopify, and the Power of Connection
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Scaling with Heart: Francisca [Kika] Escobar Bascur Escobar on 2X/3X Growth, Shopify, and the Power of Connection Sponsors The Jason Cavness experience is brought to you by Breeze Docs. Request for Proposals AKA RFPs, can be very challenging for Small & Medium-sized Businesses. Breeze Docs, the RFP response platform of choice for SMBs across North America, uses AI to help companies quickly complete RFPs, security questionnaires, and other important business documents. If you’d like to start winning more RFPs and reduce completion times by up to 80 percent, visit breezedocs.ai...
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Cody Brown CEO Research Group
The Jason Cavness Experience
Cody Brown CEO Security Research Group Sponsors The Jason Cavness experience is brought to you by Breeze Docs. Request for Proposals AKA RFPs, can be very challenging for Small & Medium-sized Businesses. Breeze Docs, the RFP response platform of choice for SMBs across North America, uses AI to help companies quickly complete RFPs, security questionnaires, and other important business documents. If you’d like to start winning more RFPs and reduce completion times by up to 80 percent, visit breezedocs.ai to book a demo. By mentioning the Jason Cavness Experience, you will qualify for...
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Syed K. Jamal Founder & CEO Board Member Ford Fellow Executive Producer WTIA Alum Measures what matters On a mission to transform education with creative economy
The Jason Cavness Experience
Syed K. Jamal Founder & CEO Board Member Ford Fellow Executive Producer WTIA Alum Measures what matters On a mission to transform education with creative economy Sponsors The Jason Cavness experience is brought to you by Breeze Docs. Request for Proposals AKA RFPs, can be very challenging for Small & Medium-sized Businesses. Breeze Docs, the RFP response platform of choice for SMBs across North America, uses AI to help companies quickly complete RFPs, security questionnaires, and other important business documents. If you’d like to start winning more RFPs and reduce completion...
info_outlineEvan Poncelet is the Founding Managing Partner at Dreamward Ventures and Executive Director of Venture Black. Where he’s shaping the next generation of innovation and Black entrepreneurship.
Sponsors
The Jason Cavness experience is bought to you by Breeze
Request for Proposals AKA RFPs, can be very challenging for Small & Medium-sized Businesses. Breeze Docs, the RFP response platform of choice for SMBs across North America, uses AI to help companies quickly complete RFPs, security questionnaires, and other important business documents.
If you’d like to start winning more RFPs and reduce completion times by up to 80 percent, visit breezedocs.ai to book a demo.
By mentioning the Jason Cavness Experience, you will qualify for a free upgrade from Breeze Solo to Breeze AI+ valued at $6,000.
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Evan’s Bio
Evan Poncelet is a founding managing partner of Dreamward Ventures and the executive director of Venture Black a nonprofit with the mission to connect, empower, and support Black and ally founders and investors of all experience levels who are specifically interested in pursuing high growth, venture scale, market opportunities.
He is a Seattle Angel Conference, VCLab Venture Institute, and BLCK VC Black Venture Institute alumn in addition to having spent 12+ years in the software industry as a developer and program manager in both Seattle and Silicon Valley.
His passion for high-impact economic justice is rooted in the legacy of his grandfather who co-founded the Liberty Bank in 1968 to combat the effects of the redlining of in Seattle's Central District which had been the home of the majority of the city's Black residents since its founding a century earlier.
We talk about the following and other items
Seattle Tech Community and Collaboration
Seattle Tech Week and Inclusion
Evan's Mentor and Family Legacy
Challenges of Building a VC Fund
Investing in Underrepresented Founders
Generational Wealth and Financial Literacy
The Role of Trust and Networks T
he Importance of Intentional Efforts J
im Carrey's Commencement Speech and Risk-Taking
Economic Shocks and Societal Suppor
t Changing Education and AI Systems
Mentorship and Wisdom in Society
Startup Coaches and Societal Responsibility
Underrepresented Founders and Tech Background
Networking Events and Professional Connections
Evaluating Founders and Business Ideas
Angel Investing and Black Founders
Personal Journey and Family Influence
Cultural Norms and Societal Dynamics
The Role of Curiosity and Engineering
Investment Strategies and Societal Impact
Personal Experiences and Overcoming Adversity
The Impact of Technology on Society
The Role of Curiosity in Personal Growth
The Future of Humanity and Technology
The Importance of Collaboration and Competition
The Role of Education and Personal Development
The Impact of Cultural and Societal Norms
Human Experience and Progress
Generational Perceptions and Values
Cultural and Historical Context
Entrepreneurial Qualities and Investment Criteria
Red Flags in Investment Decisions
Challenges in Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital
Diversity and Inclusion in Tech
Building a Supportive Ecosystem Personal Growth
Evan’s Social Media
Email: [email protected].
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanponcelet/
VentureBlack Website: https://www.venture-black.org/
Evan’s Advice
The chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken.