Jumpstart Health Investors Takes Black-Owned Healthcare Companies to the Next Level Amid DEI Backlash

Jumpstart Health Investors, America’s first Black-owned healthcare venture capital firm, continues to see success despite anti-DEI initiatives pressuring it to stop exclusively backing Black-owned businesses.

The company was founded in 2020 by Marcus Whitney and Kathryne Cooper and set out to achieve this supporting Black-led healthcare companies “in the wake of America’s racial reckoning.” The company’s original investment initiative, Jumpstart Nova Fund I, exceeded its $30 million target and ultimately built a portfolio of 11 companies and a database of approximately 400 Black founder-led projects.

Last year the company found itself at a crossroads. The organization has faced increasing political and legal pressure from conservative groups targeting DEI-focused programs, grants and investment vehicles. Whitney said the company decided to do so go away of an explicit focus on DEI initiatives due to increasing political and legal pressure.

“Our goal is to build an institution, not to continually fend off lawsuits,” Whitney told Venture Nashville Connections.

The company was launched in November 2024 Jumpstart Novafonds II. Unlike its predecessor, it does not consider DEI results in its investment decisions.

“With Jumpstart Nova Fund II, we are building on our foundation and successful overall partnership, now expanding our investment remit to include all founders. Our performance has elevated us to Jumpstart Health Investors’ institutional strategic seed fund,” the company said on its website.

However, despite the expansion, the company continues to support several Black-led organizations, including Therify, a mental health facility that primarily serves the Black community. Teamwork is a New York-based company that offers Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for children with autism. Time Study, founded by Kishau Rogers, conducts time studies in hospitals to help assess and improve hospital performance and patient care.

Also part of the Jumpstart Nova group is Alerje, a Detroit-based food allergy management startup that aims to improve the quality of life for people with life-threatening allergies. Mae is a platform designed to meet the specific needs and cultural considerations of underserved expectant mothers.

Visit the Jumpstart Health Investors website learn more about Jumpstart Nova and its other initiatives.

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