Comcast and NBCUniversal: Many Voices, One Vision

19Investing in innovation.Comcast created a $20 million fund to expand opportunities for minority entrepreneurs.The Comcast Ventures Catalyst Fund’s first investment was in the startup acceleratorDreamIt Ventures, which operates DreamIt Access. Through the Comcast VenturesCatalyst Fund we spot high-potential business ideas from a diverse group of founders,and help them tap into the Comcast NBCUniversal network as they build their companies.The Fund also makes initial investments in other early-stage ventures led by diverseentrepreneurs with innovative tech ideas.Keya Dannenbaum founded her successfulwebsite, ElectNext.com, with the helpof DreamIt Access, which gives opportunitiesto entrepreneurs who might struggle togain access to longstanding, traditionalventure capital circles. “As people build astartup, there’s a heavy emphasis on “fit,”meaning sometimes founders will naturallygravitate toward people who look likethemselves,” Keya pointed out. “And, ifyou only have one type of person workingon solutions, you’ll keep getting the sameideas over and over again.”Keya credits DreamIt Access not onlywith increasing the diversity of newstartup companies, but with diversifyingthe very ideas that they produce.From grocery store delivery servicesto online domestic manufacturingaggregators, twenty different minorityownedDreamIt Access ventures arealready propelling their businessesforward. “It was incredible in terms oflearning personally and professionally,”she said. “And the access to mentorsat Comcast definitely gave us an edge.”Comcast Ventures helps turn greatideas into powerful businesses. Find outmore about the how the Catalyst Fundsupports minority-led businesses atwww.comcast.com/diversity.DIVERSITY.NBCUNI.COMCOMCAST.COM/DIVERSITY