2018 | Year-in-Review

Y’all -- we can all agree it’s been a long year. We planned to put together a newsletter with end-of-year reflections, and realized we were in the mood to do something a little different with an insta-countdown celebration. Check out @camelbackventures for our Top 10 Moments from 2018 -- the countdown will end with post #00 being a hint at some of the things we’re excited for in the new year. Thank you to all of our supporters, friends, and family. Be well, and enjoy the holidays!

@camelbackventures

10. BERLIN

Learn more here and here

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It’s not every day you get to go to #Berlin and speak at #TechOpenAir and make an appearance on the #Google Stage. Aaron’s talk: “Investing in #Wakanda will produce the next big ideas.” ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼✊🏻 [Want to learn more about our end-of-year countdown? Check out the link in our bio] . . . . . . . . . #cbvtop102018 #entrepreneurship #entrepreneur #entrepreneurlife #blackpreneuer #diversity #investment #socialimpact #education #edreform #startup #tech #ruthlessforgood

A post shared by Camelback Ventures (@camelbackventures) on Dec 18, 2018 at 11:23am PST

9. NEW OFFICE

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SEPTEMBER || Challenge: host Summit 3 of the Camelback Fellowship in Oakland, California while also moving offices in New Orleans. Challenge accepted. Got swanky new digs at the Taylor Education Center in the co-working studio by @4pt0schools . Next time you’re in town, let us know: we got a SNES Classic, standing desks (#startup), and ruthless swag for days. [Want to learn more about our end-of-year countdown? Check out the link in our bio] . . . . . . . . . #cbvtop102018 #entrepreneurship #entrepreneur #entrepreneurlife #blackpreneuer #diversity #investment #socialimpact #education #edreform #startup #tech

A post shared by Camelback Ventures (@camelbackventures) on Dec 19, 2018 at 10:54am PST

8. SEMI-FINALISTS FOR 2019

Meet them all here

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TODAY! Big wheels keep on turning -- we are in the midst of our selection process now for the 2019 cohort. Thank you to all entrepreneurs who have shared their visions with us and to our volunteer evaluators for sharing their time and expertise. We’re excited to showcase and share our list of 129 Semi-Finalists for the 2019 Camelback Fellowship! Stay tuned in early 2019 for our progress. ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼✊🏻 [Want to learn more about our end-of-year countdown? Check out the link in our bio] . . . . . . . . . #cbvtop102018 #entrepreneurship #entrepreneur #entrepreneurlife #blackpreneuer #diversity #investment #socialimpact #education #edreform #startup #tech #hustle

A post shared by Camelback Ventures (@camelbackventures) on Dec 20, 2018 at 10:12am PST

7. STRATEGIC PLAN

Read it here.

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JULY || Baby startup: realize no one will give you permission to get started. Just start. Toddler startup: make things happen and show some good early wins. Middle school startup: put on your big kid pants and create a strategic plan; start getting checks in the mail from random people who believe in you. Beyond that? Well, we’ll find out. ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼✊🏻 See our plan at camelbackventures.org/strategy 📚 [Want to learn more about our end-of-year countdown? Check out the link in our bio] . . . . . . . . . #cbvtop102018 #entrepreneurship #entrepreneur #entrepreneurlife #blackpreneuer #diversity #investment #socialimpact #education #edreform #startup #tech #research #data

A post shared by Camelback Ventures (@camelbackventures) on Dec 21, 2018 at 12:08pm PST

6. NEWCO SHIFT

Watch our presentation on community or read the transcript here.

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06. APRIL || Speak on the power of #community at @newcoevents . || “What do entrepreneurs of color need?” This is the question that we’ve been asking ourselves for the last five years. Our answer has been: coaching, capital, connections. We built on a curriculum. And the thing that we have realized is that above all of this, it’s the power of community. Read/watch Aaron’s talk online → scroll to the right for highlights! 💜 [Want to learn more about our end-of-year countdown? Check out the link in our bio] . . . . . . . . . #cbvtop102018 #entrepreneurship #entrepreneur #entrepreneurlife #blackpreneuer #diversity #investment #socialimpact #education #edreform #startup #tech #community

A post shared by Camelback Ventures (@camelbackventures) on Dec 22, 2018 at 1:20pm PST

5. CLASS PICTURE DAY

Read our welcome letter to the 2018 cohort here and our reflections on their first summit.

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Yesterday we featured community, and we were in such admiration of this past cohort’s commitment to growth and building an intentional space. We’ve loved seeing how this cohort has continued to support each other after the program; they’ve been voting for each other, sharing each other’s work and policies, and repping each other on their websites. One of the most fun ways to spotlight? Class photo day. || Photos by bae, www.harlinmiller.com 📸 . [Want to learn more about our end-of-year countdown? Check out the link in our bio] . . . . . . . . . #cbvtop102018 #entrepreneurship #entrepreneur #entrepreneurlife #blackpreneuer #diversity #investment #socialimpact #education #edreform #startup #tech

A post shared by Camelback Ventures (@camelbackventures) on Dec 23, 2018 at 9:52am PST

4. TEAM GROWTH & JOY

Read the announcement here.

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Our team has evolved so much over the past few years. A few weeks ago, we shared a blog post featuring big changes -- some hellos, some “see you laters.” For us, it was a great moment to reflect and appreciate all individuals who have been a part of the Camelback team, and to think about what the future looks like. With this group in particular, we have been relishing in the joy of celebrating each other’s personal joys (congrats, Amanda! + welcome, Charles!) and birthdays. Plus, we got to have hella cake this fall. 🎂🍾 [Want to learn more about our end-of-year countdown? Check out the link in our bio] . . . . . . . . . #cbvtop102018 #entrepreneurship #entrepreneur #entrepreneurlife #blackpreneuer #diversity #investment #socialimpact #education #edreform #startup #tech

A post shared by Camelback Ventures (@camelbackventures) on Dec 24, 2018 at 10:31am PST

3. LAUNCH GOOD JOBS INITIATIVE

Read about our program and meet our first cohort of local New Orleans business leaders.

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Oh BTW Y’ALL WE STARTED A BRAND NEW PROGRAM! We’ve had an incredible time with the first wave of the Good Jobs Initiative, a program focused on building generational wealth and local #economy through the creation of actual good jobs for our communities. Our first cohort has been rocking the pilot here in New Orleans. We’ll be having a celebration featuring food, music, and local business opps on the evening of January 25 in our new digs, 612 Andrew Higgins Blvd. Stay tuned for details and save the date, NOLA. ☀️ [Want to learn more about our end-of-year countdown? Check out the link in our bio] . . . . . . . . . #cbvtop102018 #entrepreneurship #entrepreneur #entrepreneurlife #blackpreneuer #diversity #investment #socialimpact #education #edreform #startup #tech #neworleans #smallbusiness #shoplocal #smallbusinessaturday #nola #generationalwealth #nolanext300

A post shared by Camelback Ventures (@camelbackventures) on Dec 25, 2018 at 10:54am PST

2. TA’MARA HILL’S GREATNESS

Read her blog post “Fighting for Joy When Poverty Is Fighting Against You” and connect on LinkedIn

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Through a partnership with @uncf and @waltonedfoundation, we met and hosted an incredible intern in Summer 2017, Ta’mara Hill. She wrote a beautiful piece about her experiences with us and how growing up in poverty shaped her appreciation of the world and travel. This spring, she graduated as the #valedictorian from #HBCU @wileycollege_est1873 -- and is right now on a #Fulbright in #Greece. Ta’mara, we are so proud of you. Keep gettin it girl. (She’s incredible and if you’re lucky, you’ll get to work with her -- LinkedIn info on our blog post; shared with permission.) 📚 [Want to learn more about our end-of-year countdown? Check out the link in our bio] . . . . . . . . . #cbvtop102018 #entrepreneurship #entrepreneur #entrepreneurlife #blackpreneuer #diversity #investment #socialimpact #education #edreform #startup #neworleans #blackexcellence #nola #hbcu #fulbright

A post shared by Camelback Ventures (@camelbackventures) on Dec 26, 2018 at 10:34am PST

1. 2018 CAMELBACK SHOWCASE

See all of the Fellow showcase pitches here or embedded below.

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Every cohort’s showcase is an emotional, intense experience. It is a graduation, a culmination of hopes, fears, dreams, of victories, mistakes, and second chances. It is a reflection and a promise for the future. Some of our favorite moments this year happened while celebrating this Fellowship cycle. All of this year’s Showcase presentations are now available on YouTube. Check them out, fund them, book their sessions, get inspired, buy their products, make the magic happen! ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼✊🏻 [Want to learn more about our end-of-year countdown? Check out the link in our bio] . . . . . . . . . #cbvtop102018 #entrepreneurship #entrepreneur #entrepreneurlife #blackpreneuer #diversity #investment #socialimpact #education #edreform #startup #tech #ruthlessforgood #camelbackfam

A post shared by Camelback Ventures (@camelbackventures) on Dec 27, 2018 at 9:25am PST

CAMELBACK’S 2018 SHOWCASE PLAYLIST

0. HYPED FOR 2019

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For 2019: we've got a lot of big moves happening next year. Dope new partnerships (👀 @google, @sxsw, @nationswell); we'll host exciting new programs (fellowship for woke investors, anyone? Or maybe a $10mil fund?), and return to some of our faves (Ecosystem 2.0 and Family Reunion with Fellows). Stay tuned over the coming months. Thanks to all for the support as always, and have a happy new year! 🍾🌈💕 . [Want to learn more about our end-of-year countdown? Check out the link in our bio] . . . . . . . . . #cbvtop102018 #entrepreneurship #entrepreneur #entrepreneurlife #blackpreneuer #diversity #investment #socialimpact #education #edreform #startup #tech #ruthlessforgood #camelbackfam

A post shared by Camelback Ventures (@camelbackventures) on Dec 28, 2018 at 10:45am PST

perspectivesCamelback VenturesDecember 18, 2018instaComment