Co-founder and CEO of the Fearless Fund, Arian Simone, is a trailblazer and a warrior in venture capital. The Fearless Fund was created to support women of color entrepreneurs who face systemic funding barriers. In August 2023, the Fearless Fund was sued by the American Alliance for Equal Rights (AAER), claiming that its Strivers Grant Contest for black women entrepreneurs violated federal anti-discrimination laws. Unfortunately, the Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the AAER, shuttering the grant. Despite this, Simone has been unwavering in her commitment to supporting women of color, continuing Fearless Fund’s mission of economic empowerment through venture capital, mentorship, and education, aiming to address longstanding disparities in funding access for minority entrepreneurs. For the woman at the helm of a company called “Fearless,” Simone embodies the name thoroughly as she continues pushing for diversity and inclusion in business, championing women of color nationwide.
