Invest with Chasing Rainbows' Syndicate

Invest with Chasing Rainbows

Expected Deals/Year

Unique LPs have invested

Note from Chasing Rainbows

Hi, my name’s Ben Stokes, and I’m the Founding Partner of Chasing Rainbows.

Chasing Rainbows is a pre-seed rolling venture fund which invests in tech or tech-adjacent companies founded by underrepresented founders - namely those who identify as LGBTQ+ - leveraging my experience and network as both a seasoned entrepreneur and executive leader in the LGBTQ+ community.

During my time as a founder I quickly learned that opportunity is not equal.

So in order to level the playing field Chasing Rainbows is making equitable investments to create equality in the investment space. We have positioned ourselves as the premier pre-seed investment fund focusing on the LGBTQ+ community and are a conduit for further investment opportunities through our partnerships with seed and Series A funds that foster further success.

We have exceptional Access, networks and connections to the best early deals which means we get In early - and are usually first institutional check in. We provide Smart Capital - not just money - which includes advice, mentoring, networking and introductions to upstream investors. We know how to spot great investment opportunities in our community and provide the mentoring, connections and support to get these talented entrepreneurs the visibility they deserve.

Our Investment Strategy is outlined below:

Target Companies

Broad Parameters

Led by an underrepresented founder
Tech & tech adjacent
B2B/B2C
Industry agnostic
Located in North America

Target Stage

Pre-seed
A clear path to revenue and/or convincing business model
Valuable agreements with customers or industry strategic players
Defensible intellectual property with a market value
A defined path to exit

Target Founder

Under-represented founders that have determination, grit and resilience
Founders who can articulate the problem they are solving and why it's important
Can demonstrate how they took an idea from concept to product/market fit
Has launched a MVP
A supported plan for how they intend to invest in their business’s growth
Relevant experience and/or insight into opportunity or problem they are seeking to address

Why should Invest With Chasing Rainbows...

Get in to deals early - usually first institutional check in
Signing on first SAFE where valuation is low with an average 20% discount
Smart Capital - not just money - advice, mentoring, networking and introductions to including upstream investors - spend time with founders
Access, networks and connections to the best early deals - eg Startout
Conduit for further investment through partnerships within the ecosystem - eg gaingels
Positioned ourselves as the premier pre-seed investment fund focusing on the LGBTQ+ community with follow on partnerships with seed and Series A funds that foster success.
A focus on ESG investing principles beyond LGBTQ+

Ben Stokes (our Founding Partner) believes he can level the playing field...

Ben can secure Chasing Rainbows the best deals because…

He has direct experience with the challenges LGBTQ+ and other underrepresented founders face when trying to raise capital, and has built good rapport with them.
He has had successful angel investment experience, which includes exits and various priced rounds being raised which aligns to the funds thesis.
He has a large network within LGBTQ+ community which has enabled him to introduce our portfolio companies to large enterprises for partnership opportunities, adding to their early success.
StartOut - the LGBTQ+ Founder Network for deal-flow
Ins at Y Combinator, Techstars, 500 startups (through portfolio connections)
Boards
Startout Board
The Pinnacle Foundation
Partnership with Trans Tech Social, Globivest & Gaingels + More

If you'd like to discuss joining our fund as an LP, please schedule a meeting with our General Partner.

We look forward to speaking with you!

Dealflow

Ben can secure Chasing Rainbows the best deals because…

He has direct experience with the challenges LGBTQ+ and other underrepresented founders face when trying to raise capital, and has built good rapport with them.
He has had successful angel investment experience, which includes exits and various priced rounds being raised which aligns to the funds thesis.
He has a large network within LGBTQ+ community which has enabled him to introduce our portfolio companies to large enterprises for partnership opportunities, adding to their early success.
- StartOut - the LGBTQ+ Founder Network for deal-flow
- Ins at Y Combinator, Techstars, 500 startups (through portfolio connections)
- Boards
  - Startout Board
  - The Pinnacle Foundation
- Partnership with Trans Tech Social, Globivest & Gaingels + More

Team

Ben Stokes

Chasing Rainbows is a supervised person of or otherwise affiliated with Chasing Rainbows Ventures, LLC, an “Exempt Reporting Adviser” under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Important information regarding Chasing Rainbows Ventures, LLC, CRD Number 317850, can be found on its Form ADV available here. Chasing Rainbows’s relationship with Chasing Rainbows Ventures, LLC may give rise to potential conflicts of interest or conflicting duties, which could materially impact the performance any deals led by this syndicate.