Candice
Matthew-Brackeen

As a general partner at Lightship Capital, Candice Matthews Brackeen finds and funds tech innovators operating in underserved cities throughout the Midwest. Since the launch of the venture fund this year, under Candice’s leadership Lightship Capital has raised nearly $50MM and to date invested $2.5MM into minority owned, tech driven businesses ranging from Healthtech to Foodtech. Candice also directs programming at Hillman, a tech focussed entrepreneur education program, and NewMe, a bootcamp enriching startup founders with instruction in product development, brand building, leveraging artificial intelligence for business, fundraising, and more. 

 

Her dedication to minority innovation is tireless, as she lends herself to countless underrepresented tech startups and organizations as an advisor and mentor. Candice’s early work as an involved organizer and recruiter for the Cincinnati tech ecosystem has contributed significantly to the city’s startup growth, and on the legislative level, influenced equitable allocation of Ohio SBA funds to minority entrepreneurs. 

 

Her constant advocacy for underestimated regions and founders is motivated by her own experiences as a Black tech founder struggling to find meaningful mentorship and funding in and outside Silicon Valley. This foundation creates for Candice a personal connection to the founders he helps, each day.