Ascend Ventures Tech

Ascend Ventures Tech is committed to revolutionizing the entrepreneurial landscape and empowering marginalized tech founders in the US South. That’s why we are excited to announce the launch of the Black Innovation Lab; an extraordinary initiative that merges history, education, and innovation to empower marginalized founders and drive positive change. The Black Innovation Lab, housed within the walls of a historic Memphis institution; Griggs College, will serve as a catalyst for change and a symbol of empowerment. Our primary mission as an organization is to create new pathways for wealth creation in BIPOC communities via entrepreneurism. To achieve this mission we have developed a business strategy centered on the following core values: Collective Equity Community Culture Collective equity refers to the equal distribution of resources, opportunities, and privileges within a society. It is a concept that promotes fairness and justice for all members of a community, regardless of their individual characteristics or circumstances. For Ascend Ventures and our work via Black Innovation Lab we hope to embody these principles of collectivism by actively working to address systemic barriers and biases that prevent certain groups from achieving equal access and representation in our current venture ecosystem via a hyperlocal model of ecosystem development. The Lab serves as a catalyst to bridge the liminal space between the traditional model of venture building and a new more inclusive model that will create greater equity in the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Memphis and similar communities throughout the US South.