FRIDAY: Obama Cabinet Member to Join U.S. Senator Cory Booker in Forum on Access to Capital at the Congressional Black Caucus

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Friday, Sept. 16, Maria Contreras-Sweet, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and a member of President Obama's Cabinet, will join U.S. Sen. Cory A. Booker (D-NJ) for an armchair discussion at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's 46th Annual Legislative Conference on increasing access to venture capital in the African-American small business community.  The discussion will feature a panel and focus on empowering minority small business owners. While the increase in the number of African-American owned businesses is fueling the overall growth of businesses owned by people of color, these businesses tend to be undercapitalized.  For startup founders, particularly in technology, access to venture capital can prove to be even scarcer. 

The forum will address ways to improve access to capital for minority communities and the critical need to level the playing field.  The forum is open admission and free to attend; however advance registration is required.  Interested participants can register at http://bit.ly/2axCit7.

People can join the conversation via social media using the #CBCFALC16 hashtag on Twitter and Facebook.

WHO:
SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet
Sen. Cory A. Booker (D-NJ)

WHAT: 
Arm Chair Discussion & Panel: 
"Unlocking Access to Capital: Founder and Investor Perspectives on the Venture Capital Landscape for Entrepreneurs of Color"
Moderator: Kathryn Finney, Founder and Managing Director of digitalundivided (DID) (@KathrynFinney)
Laura Weidman Powers, Co-Founder and CEO of Code 2040 (@laurawp)
David Hall, Partner at Revolution Ventures (@revolution)
Nicole Sanchez, Tech Founder & CEO of eCredit Hero (@ecredithero)
William Crowder, Comcast Ventures (@williamcrowder)

WHEN: 
Friday, September 16
noon - 1:00 p.m.

WHERE: 
Washington Convention Center (WCC) - East Overlook Room
801 Mt Vernon Place, N.W.
Washington, DC 20001

HOW: 
Media credentials will be required and can be obtained at https://show.jspargo.com/cbcf16/reg/default.asp?caller=prs

*The Media Room will be located in rooms 203A and B at the Washington Convention Center.

Contact: Cecelia Taylor (202) 401-7363
Internet Address: http://www.sba.gov/news 
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Release Number: MA16-50

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SOURCE U.S. Small Business Administration

Related Links

http://www.sba.gov