cbrackeen21@nul.org

As GP at Lightship Capital, Candice Matthew Brackeen finds and funds high growth, minority-led companies operating in underserved ecosystems throughout the Midwest. Since the launch of the venture fund in 2020, Lightship Capital has raised more than $50MM for investment into underrepresented founders operating in the CPG, E-commerce, sustainability, artificial intelligence, and healthcare spaces. Candice also directs programming at Lightship Foundation, an inclusion-focused entrepreneur enrichment program that guides minority founders in product development, brand building, leveraging artificial intelligence for business. and fundraising. Candice expands upon her work driving representation in innovation with her role on the Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium for NASA, where she leads diversity of thought as new cultures and economies are developed. She also sits on the advisory committee and selection committees for technology for the Ohio State University and Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Medical Center.