Kimberly Bryant

Angel Investor

2024

You.com is the world’s first open search engine platform that summarizes the web for users, with no ads, superior privacy options, and personalization.

Author- ASCENDING ~ Black Women and The Power Paradox

2024

Author ASCENDING: BLACK WOMEN & THE POWER PARADOX, a leadership memoir addressing bias and misogynoir, offering solutions based on collective stories. • Acquired by Lashanda Anakwah at Tiny Reparations Books/Penguin Random House.

Angel Investor

2024

GrubMarket is the AI-powered technology enabler and digital transformer of the American food supply chain industry. It is the first mover of building B2B eCommerce, as well as the first mover of providing Enterprise AI Solutions to the American food supply chain industry. It is one of the largest private food tech companies in the United States and the world.

Angel Investor

2024

L-Nutra Inc is a leading health tech company providing innovative solutions in nutrition for longevity.

Angel Investor

2023

Backpack Health, formerly Youme Healthcare, is a pediatric mental health provider whose services include a digital self-care app, virtual therapy sessions for children and teens, psychiatry and medication management and virtual resources for parents. Backpack Health has developed an app that uses AI to help monitor a client’s emotions and then match them with an appropriate therapist.

LP Investor - FemTech III Fund

2023

Investing Member

LP Investor

2022

Founder and CEO

2022

Ascend Ventures is a purpose-driven investment firm that supports high-impact startups led by underrepresented founders. With a focus on inclusive innovation, Ascend empowers entrepreneurs to build scalable, sustainable ventures that drive economic equity and systemic change. As part of Ascend Ventures, Black Innovation Lab is a flagship initiative focused on advancing innovation, equity, and entrepreneurship within overlooked communities. My work includes: • Led the development of a community-centered platform for Black innovators, resulting in increased access to capital and networks. • Championed inclusive ecosystems by providing mentorship and strategic guidance to transform visionary concepts into scalable ventures. • Cultivated strategic partnerships and designed programs to drive systemic change and sustainable pathways for generational impact.

Founder

2011

Founder and CEO (February 2011 - August 2022) Founded and led Black Girls CODE, growing it from a grassroots pilot program to an internationally recognized non-profit with 15 chapters. • Designed an immersive computer science curriculum for girls of color 6-18 in marginalized communities. • Established strategic partnerships resulting in revenue growth from less than $200,000 to a surplus of $30M. •Scaled the initial program model from a 4-week cohort to a distributed program model powered by professional technical volunteers, expanding from 6 to 15 US cities and Johannesburg, South Africa. •Established an in-school CODE Club program in 2015, implementing a 6-12 week immersive cohort program within after-school programs in Washington, DC, New York, Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago, and the Bay Area. •Established an alumni program in 2019 to support professional development for program alumni and ideated the viral Code Along Youtube Program.

External Advisory Council

2017 - 2025