Black & Brown Founders Forum, Boston—October 28, 2026
2nd Annual Black and Brown Founders Forum — Boston
October 28, 2026 ⏐5:30 - 7:30 PM ⏐Orrick Herrington ⏐Boston
Join 1821 for our second annual gathering in Boston — part of a nationwide series bringing together Black and Brown founders, investors, and operators who are building what comes next.
This event is free. Space is limited.
What to Expect
Panel: Navigating the Funding Landscape During AI
The funding environment has shifted — and AI is reshaping every sector, every pitch, and every thesis. Our panelists will share what they are seeing in the market, what they are backing, and what founders need to understand right now.
Thorne Sparkman, Managing Director, Slater Technology Fund
Jake Lefker, Scout, Vamos Ventures
Donna Hazard, Managing Partner, Vital Ocean Ventures
The Entrepreneur's Journey
Three founders share what the road looks like — the pivots, the breakthroughs, and the lessons that rarely make it into the pitch deck.
Pariss Chandler, Founder & CEO, Black Tech Pipeline
AnnMarie Nayiga, Co-Founder & CEO, CyReauX
TBA
Structured Networking and 1:1 Matching
Meaningful connections do not happen by accident. Using your registration information, we match you with at least two attendees for seven-minute 1:1 meet-ups. Open networking — with food and drink — follows immediately after.
With Gratitude
Special thanks to the supporters who make 1821 possible: Alchemist Accelerator, Angel Capital Association, Astia, Design Observer, ScaleHealth, SwytchBack, and Vamos Ventures