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Kapor Center

@kaporcenter

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Leveling the playing field in #tech with @kaporfoundation @kaporcapital & @smash_program

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From friendship and mentorship to Reconstruction, Black entrepreneurship, and Pan-African liberation, these books span the range of what I believe in and fight for every day.

Each one paints a clear picture: we rise through community, we build through shared knowledge, and we move forward by honoring how far we've come. This is what's on my shelf right now, and I hope they spark something in you, too.

What’s on your reading list? Share your recommendations with me below. 📚 by @kaporcenter

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4 days ago

The Kapor Kickoff today was nothing short of extraordinary! ✨

The room was filled with founders, ecosystem builders, community leaders, and technologists all aligned on one standard: building with communities, not on top of them.

A special thank you to Mayor Barbara Lee for joining us, anchoring the room with her leadership, and reminding us just how impactful this vision is for the economic and cultural future of our Town.

Immense gratitude to Lili Gangas for being so instrumental in driving tech equity forward and championing this movement at every step. Last but not least, to our partners at the Kapor Foundation, thank you for your unwavering commitment and endless support in making Oakland a beacon for inclusive innovation.

The week is just getting started, and the momentum is undeniable!

🗓️ Sept 27 – Oct 03 | Oakland, CA

🔗 Explore upcoming events & RSVP at oaklandtechweek.com

#OaklandTechWeek #OTW26 #BuildWithCommunities #KaporFoundation #BarbaraLee taken in Oakland, California by @kaporcenter

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17 days ago

Oakland isn’t waiting for anyone to hand us the future, we’re creating it. Today I was proud to help launch Oakland Tech Week alongside partners who are making sure the benefits of technology reach the people who call Oakland home. Whether you’re a founder, engineer, student, creative, small business owner, or just curious about how technology can shape Oakland's next chapter, OTW was built for you. Join us: https://oaklandtechweek.com taken in Oakland, California by @kaporcenter

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18 days ago

Across the country, #GapClosing startups are building technology to tackle challenges in #housing, #childcare, #healthcare, education, workforce development, and financial stability. But lengthy contracting timelines, unclear applications, and other barriers can keep those tools from reaching the communities that need them most.

Today at @clintonglobal, PRIME Alliance announced @iam_elpaso, @citylittlerock, and @oakland, as its inaugural cohort of cities. Together, we'll reimagine how governments partner with startups to solve urgent public problems.

PRIME Alliance is a multi-year KaporCenter initiative that connects gap-closing startups with cities and states for partnerships that could unlock economic benefits for communities nationwide.

We’re ready to get to work! Learn more: kaporcenter.org/PRIMEalliance #CGI2026 taken in Clinton Global Initiative by @kaporcenter

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23 days ago

At the Kapor Center, our work focuses at the intersection of racial justice and #technology to create a more inclusive #tech sector for all. We brought that mission to #MarthasVineyard across two events led by @chikeaguh, Kapor Center's Head of Innovation and Strategy, Gap Closing Startups.

We were joined by an incredible group of founders, investors, and civic leaders, including Founder of Promise, Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, Founder of @lumistoryai, @kaepernick7 , Mayor of El Paso, TX, @mayorrenardjohnson , Don Graves of Highland Creek Advisors, and Chief Strategist and Impact Officer of the @kelloggfoundation Foundation Carla D. Thompson Payton, and more.

We're thankful to all who joined us across both events and look forward to continuing to ensure that the communities most in need benefit from #GapClosing startups using #technology to expand access, opportunity, and outcomes for all. taken in Oak Bluffs Martha's Vineyard by @kaporcenter

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2 months ago

An evening of bold ideas and honest conversation!

@demondtmartin joined @iphonz for an unforgettable conversation on his new book, Friends of the Good, and the power of friendship, culture, identity, belonging, and building what’s next with @wellwithall_ taken in Kapor Center by @kaporcenter

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5 months ago

Last night, @oakland @mayorbarbaralee joined us at the #KaporCenter to celebrate the launch of @ericriesactual newest book, Incorruptible!

The author sat down with @iphonz, Founder of @spillmob, for an engaging conversation about why good companies go bad, and what it takes to build organizations that stay true to their mission.

Thanks to all the founders, investors, and community builders who joined us! taken in Kapor Center by @kaporcenter

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5 months ago

We joined @kaporcapital, @smash_program, and @kaporfoundation in #SanDiego at the 2026 @asugsvsummit, where we connected with mission-aligned investors, partners, founders, and change-makers!

These moments of connection remind us why this work matters and why community is at its center. Thank you to everyone who joined us! We're leaving inspired and ready to keep pushing forward together. by @kaporcenter

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6 months ago

In Oakland, a new event is collapsing the distance between culture and capital. @drejball reports on “All People Powered,” a concert and pitch competition inspired by @cofoundersthemusical—the Oakland-born hip-hop musical about two unlikely partners chasing startup dreams in Silicon Valley.

After a sold-out run, the production began bleeding into real-world conversations about policy and investment, with backing from leaders including Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee. Now that idea becomes literal: on April 11, the @hjkcenterforarts will host a live event where performance meets entrepreneurship.

Billed as “Soul Beat meets Shark Tank,” the program features three Bay Area startups pitching community-driven ideas between musical sets. Read more at the link in our IG stories, online at eastbayexpress.com or in print by picking up this week’s issue! 🎶💰📰👀✨

Photos:
1-3) courtesy of @cofoundersthemusical
4-7) by Bosko Kante & Ryan Austin

#eastbaylove #eastbayexpress #eastbay taken in East Bay, California by @kaporcenter

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6 months ago

Too often, #tech innovation bypasses the communities that need it most. That's why we're launching P.R.I.M.E. Alliance, a bold, multiyear #KaporCenter initiative that connects #GapClosing startups with cities and states ready to drive real change.

Led by @chikeaguh, we couldn't think of a better place to launch than #Oakland, CA, alongside @mayorbarbaralee, Dr. Freada Kapor Klein, gap-closing founders Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins and Ben Bear, Former Mayor @levarstoney, and @kaporfoundation CEO Allison Scott, Ph.D.

We're ready to put inclusive entrepreneurship and #technology at the center of how governments innovate, creating billions in economic impact and improving millions of lives. Join us: kaporcenter.org/primealliance
#PRIMEAlliance taken in Kapor Center by @kaporcenter

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7 months ago

The 2026 #KaporCenterInvestments GP Convening brought #GapClosing GPs and our broader ecosystem of mission-aligned LPs, partners, and founders together to strengthen connections and deepen our shared commitment to closing gaps of access and opportunity for low-income communities and communities of color.

From market initiatives to gap-closing innovation and more, we exchanged candid insights and reaffirmed our commitment to using the power of #VC to rebuild a more inclusive #tech ecosystem for all. taken in Oakland, California by @kaporcenter

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8 months ago

This #BlackHistoryMonth, we reflect on the legacy of Black innovation while investing in the future of a more equitable #tech ecosystem. From expanding pathways into #STEM to supporting inclusive entrepreneurship, our work centers communities that have historically been excluded from the benefits of #tech.

Join us as we continue building a future where opportunity in innovation is accessible to all. Click the link in our bio to learn more. by @kaporcenter

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8 months ago