Originally from Roanoke, VA, Ollie Howie is Managing Director of the New Community Transformation Fund, a venture capital fund that plans to invest in businesses owned by people of color. The firm sees an opportunity to pioneer an initiative for greater economic diversity in West Michigan. The fund will invest in second-stage minority-owned companies in advanced manufacturing, food and agribusiness, e-commerce and information technology, life sciences, and finance technology. The fund will also back entrepreneurs of color who are buying companies going through an ownership transition, including businesses based outside of the region who are willing to relocate to West Michigan. Prior to this, Ollie was based in Atlanta with SoftBank’s SB Opportunity Fund, which has committed $100 million to backing Black, Latinx and Native American business founders. He also previously worked as analyst with Greenspring Associates; one of the largest venture capital investment firms in the world. Ollie is a 2018 graduate of Harvard College where he earned a degree in Economics.
