Tori, an investor at Vera Equity, specializes in early-stage enterprise software and AI startups. She earned her MBA from The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, majoring in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. During her time at Wharton, Tori was awarded the inaugural Hettie Simmons Love fellowship and the Edward B. Shils/Leonard L. Zeidman Fellowship in Entrepreneurship. She also held key positions as Managing Partner of the Dorm Room Fund and VC Fellow at Harlem Capital. She previously worked at Tesla, Intel, BCG Digital Ventures, and Goldman Sachs in roles that span Engineering, Product Management, Venture Building, and Investment Management. She’s a proud HBCU graduate of Spelman College and the University of Michigan where she earned dual degrees in Mathematics and Mechanical Engineering. Above all, she is deeply passionate about creating opportunities for minorities in entrepreneurship and tech.

While this show focuses on the stories of small business and start-up entrepreneurs, today we’re switching it up to discuss a common challenge among many business owners: FUNDING.

In this episode, Tori will dive into what Venture capitals are, if venture funding is necessary all businesses, and the steps and approaches you can take to raise venture funding for your business.