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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The Jason Cavness Experience
Sponsors The Jason Cavness experience is bought 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 a free upgrade from Breeze Solo to...
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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
The Jason Cavness Experience
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. 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...
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David Robicheaux Founder at Blackmuse LLC (Love Sex Dreams Episode) Sponsor Salalabs - North America Salalabs specializes in delivering IoT, AI, and Machine Learning to streamline operations and drive innovation. Save up to 70 percent on development costs and 32 percent on time with Salalabs. For more info, email [email protected] or reach out to Jason Cavness Go to www.thejasoncavnessexperience.com for the podcast on your favorite platforms David’s Bio With an extensive career encompassing VR development, project management, and system administration, my mission is to harness...
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About Emeka: Emeka Alozie serves as a Principal at the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), where he leads innovation and startup engagement across the Northwest Region. With over a decade of experience supporting emerging technologies from idea to Series A, Emeka brings a unique perspective on the intersection of defense, technology, entrepreneurship, and social impact. Before DIU, he was Director of Marketing at Transpose Platform VC and IntuitiveX, where he helped launch three FDA Breakthrough Devices. He also directed Seattle’s Founder Institute chapter, supporting dozens of pre-seed startups....
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The Jason Cavness Experience
Sponsor Salalabs - North America We specialize in complex tech implementations, including: AI & Machine Learning IoT & Smart Device Integration Custom Software Development Scalable Cloud Solutions System Architecture & Optimization What You Can Expect Transparent pricing and timelines Agile, responsive collaboration A team that understands your needs and delivers at scale For more info, email [email protected] or reach out to Jason Cavness Go to for the podcast on your favorite platforms Subscribe to the YouTube channel Andrie’s Bio Yanjun (Andrie) Lin is a...
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Dr. Jamar "Doc" Montgomery
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The Jason Cavness Experience with Guest: Dr. Jamar "Doc" Montgomery Sponsored by CavnessHR At CavnessHR, we provide affordable, tailored HR solutions for small businesses with 49 or fewer people. We combine smart HR automation with a dedicated HR Business Partner for your complex challenges. So you can focus on growing your business while we handle your HR. Learn more: About Our Guest: Dr. Jamar "Doc" Montgomery is a dynamic keynote speaker, blockchain and crypto in politics expert, and tech and business thought leader. His career spans engineering, defense, law, education, and blockchain...
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Barry Gipson – Founder – Official America’s Team Dot Com Sponsor Salalabs - North America We specialize in complex tech implementations, including: AI & Machine Learning IoT & Smart Device Integration Custom Software Development Scalable Cloud Solutions System Architecture & Optimization What You Can Expect Transparent pricing and timelines Agile, responsive collaboration A team that understands your needs and delivers at scale For more info, email [email protected] or reach out to Jason Cavness Go to for the podcast on your favorite platforms Barry’s Bio...
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Zion Zhang CoFounder Ponder
The Jason Cavness Experience
Zion Zhang CoFounder Ponder Sponsors Salalabs - North America Salalabs specializes in delivering IoT, AI, and Machine Learning to streamline operations and drive innovation. Save up to 70 percent on development costs and 32 percent on time with Salalabs. For more info, email [email protected] or reach out to Jason Cavness Go to www.thejasoncavnessexperience.com for the podcast on your favorite platforms Zion’s Bio Zion is an 18 y/o founder. He is building Ponder: help youth build real-world skills by working on projects guided by AI simulation of their future selves. He believes...
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Andrew McMasters – Lead Training Designer / Facilitator – ImprovMindset LLC
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Andrew McMasters – Lead Training Designer / Facilitator – ImprovMindset LLC Sponsors Salalabs - North America and 8-Bit Contet Salalabs specializes in delivering IoT, AI, and Machine Learning to streamline operations and drive innovation. Save up to 70 percent on development costs and 32 percent on time with Salalabs. For more info, email [email protected] or reach out to Jason Cavness We are also brought to you by 8-Bit Content, a content marketing agency specializing in boosting awareness and leads for its partners' businesses. As a listener of The Jason Cavness...
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Mark Shriner is the Co-Founder and CEO of Breeze Docs, a Gen-AI-powered RFP response platform
The Jason Cavness Experience
Mark Shriner is the Co-Founder and CEO of Breeze Docs, a Gen-AI-powered RFP response platform Sponsors Salalabs - North America and 8-Bit Contest Salalabs specializes in delivering IoT, AI, and Machine Learning to streamline operations and drive innovation. Save up to 70 percent on development costs and 32 percent on time with Salalabs. For more info, email [email protected] or reach out to Jason Cavness We are also brought to you by 8-Bit Content, a content marketing agency specializing in boosting awareness and leads for its partners' businesses. As a listener of The Jason Cavness...
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.
Follow the Breeze at www.breezedocs.ai
Sign up for free upgrade here https://www.breezedocs.ai/rfp-response-software-jason-caveness
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Go to www.thejasoncavnessexperience.com
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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.