Wealth isn’t just built through income. It’s built through ownership, equity, and access to capital.

It isn’t just about access to money, but about changing who gets to decide where money goes.

And venture capital sits at the center of that equation.

In this episode of the Brown Way To Money podcast, Alejandra Rojas sits down with venture capitalists and investors including Laurel Mintz, Ashley Balla, and Julissa Germosén, to unpack the realities behind venture capital, Latina founders, and the systemic barriers shaping who gets funded.

Together, they move beyond surface-level conversations about entrepreneurship to explore something deeper: how power, representation, and capital intersect, and what it actually takes for women of color to build scalable wealth.

This isn’t just about startups. It’s about rewriting who gets to participate in wealth creation.

It’s about challenging the idea that opportunity is neutral.

And it’s about building systems where more women don’t just enter the room, but have the power to shape what happens inside it.

Because when capital changes hands, the future changes with it.

We often hear that funding is about “the best ideas winning.”

But the data, and lived experience, tell a different story.

Latina and Latino founders receive only a small fraction of total venture capital funding. Women overall receive a similarly limited share.

And yet, when diverse founders do receive funding, they often outperform.

So, the question isn’t capability. It’s access.

As Laurel Mintz explains, this gap isn’t just a social issue, it’s a business inefficiency:

“We make a dollar stretch to five. So, when we do get money, we make it return.”

This insight reframes the conversation entirely.

The problem isn’t a lack of talent.

It’s a system that wasn’t designed to recognize or fund it.

One of the most overlooked dynamics in wealth building is this: Who controls capital determines what gets built.

Ashley Balla highlights that a very small percentage of venture decision-makers are women, and even fewer are Latina.

This matters because investors tend to fund what they understand.

Which means:

• • Lived experience becomes an advantage, or a barrier
  • Entire markets go overlooked
  • Innovation is limited by perspective

When more diverse investors enter the space, something shifts.

Capital begins to flow differently.

And with it, new ideas, industries, and solutions emerge.

Venture capital often presents itself as merit-based.

But in practice, the rules are more complex. Founders are evaluated not only on their ideas, but on:

• • Networks and proximity to power
  • Confidence and communication style
  • Pattern recognition (who they “remind” investors of)

This is why two founders with similar ideas can receive very different outcomes.

And why many women, especially women of color, are told to “improve their pitch”, when the real barrier is structural.

Understanding this doesn’t remove responsibility. But it adds context.

And context changes how women navigate these spaces.

Beyond the pitch decks and numbers, investors consistently highlighted a few deeper signals:

1. Real Problem Solving

Is the founder addressing a genuine, validated need?

2. Resilience & Adaptability

Have they navigated challenges, and learned from them?

3. Ecosystem Awareness

Do they understand how their business fits into a broader market?

4. Relational Capital

Can they build trust, with customers, partners, and investors?

But perhaps most importantly: Do they trust the founder?

Because at its core, investing is relational.

One of the most powerful themes in this conversation is ownership.

Julissa puts it simply:

“No one is coming to save us.”

This isn’t discouraging. It’s clarifying.

Because it shifts the mindset from waiting for access…to creating access.

We’re already seeing this happen:

• • More Latina investors entering venture capital
  • More founders funding each other
  • More community-driven capital ecosystems emerging

Wealth building, in this context, becomes collective.

Not just individual.

For many women of color, there’s a tension: “Do I lean into my identity… or downplay it to succeed?”

Ashley Balla challenges that directly: Your lived experience is not something to minimize. It’s your competitive advantage.

Because:

• • It gives you insight into underserved markets
  • It shapes solutions others can’t see
  • It builds authenticity and trust

In a landscape where differentiation matters, sameness is not the goal.

Clarity is.

If you’re building a business and thinking about venture capital, this episode offers clear direction:

1. Be Strategic About Where You Pitch

Not every fund is aligned with your vision.
Focus on those actively investing in diverse founders.

2. Show Proof. Not Just Potential

Bring data, traction, and community validation.

3. Don’t Get Defensive

Investor questions are part of the process, not a personal attack.

4. Build Relationships Before You Need Them

Warm introductions and networks matter more than cold outreach.

5. Position Your Business in Their Portfolio

Show how your company strengthens their overall investment strategy