Fifth Star Funds

Unlocking Black Wealth in America

Fifth Star Funds is a Chicago-based venture philanthropy organization built on the conviction that brilliant ideas shouldn't be limited by background or access. They empower underrepresented founders, particularly Black tech entrepreneurs, by providing "Friends & Family" capital and critical support.

Unlike traditional venture capital, Fifth Star champions transparency, meritocracy, and community, dismantling systemic barriers and ensuring every star has the chance to shine. They are the launchpad for untapped potential, igniting the power of diverse voices to transform communities and rewrite the narrative of the tech world.

Securing the Foundation

When we began our partnership with Fifth Star Funds, their existing branding, while strong, was underutilized. There was a lack of a cohesive application of the design system across various marketing channels. This made it difficult to carve out a consistent brand presence in the mind of diverse founders and prospective Limited Partners.

To remedy this, we rooted our visual execution in a comprehensive visual direction while also increasing their marketing communications by more than 10x quarterly.

Our Tactic: Maximizing Reach

To effectively reach Black and Brown founders and high-wealth individuals who could support their cause, we developed a strategic content marketing approach. This included:

  • Monthly Social Posts: Engaging and informative social media content was created to highlight the stories of Fifth Star Funds' founders, share industry insights, and drive awareness of their mission.

  • LinkedIn Articles: Thought-provoking articles were published on LinkedIn to position Fifth Star Funds as industry leaders and thought leaders. These articles discussed relevant topics, such as diversity and inclusion in tech, venture philanthropy, and entrepreneurship.

  • Newsletters: Tailored newsletters were sent to subscribers to keep them updated on Fifth Star Funds' activities, fundraising initiatives, and success stories.


  • Email Sequences: To increase engagement and drive donations, we implemented targeted email sequences. These sequences consisted of a series of emails sent to potential donors over a specific period. The emails featured compelling content, such as founder spotlights, impact stories, and donation appeals. By nurturing leads through personalized email communication, we were able to guide them towards the donation page and increase conversion rates.

Additionally, we created a dedicated landing page for donations, making it easily accessible and prominent on the Fifth Star Funds website. This improved user experience and made it simpler for visitors to contribute to the cause.

Closing the Wealth Gap

By partnering with Fifth Star Funds, we were able to create a strong and impactful brand presence raising awareness of the organization's mission and attracting the attention of potential donors.


If you are passionate about empowering underrepresented founders and making a positive impact on the tech industry, we encourage you to visit the Fifth Star Funds and learn more about how you can support their mission. Together, we can create a more equitable and inclusive future.

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Brand Strategy + Branding: Tradewind Data Science