The 25V Diversity Fund is launched in the Real Estate, Proptech and Fintech industries
EJ, Alex and Max at USF
We are looking for entrepreneurs and limited partners who show eagerness and perseverance. And we find these qualities quite often among entrepreneurs who belong to marginalized communities.
SAN MATEO, Calif. (PRWEB)
21 July 2022
Twenty Five Ventures today announced its first fund: the 25V Diversity Fund. The venture capital fund will invest up to $10 million in early-stage real estate, real estate and fintech startups led by Black, Latinx, Asian, LGBTQ+ and/or female entrepreneurs.
Twenty Five Ventures believes the 10-year fund – and subsequent series of funds – will help entrepreneurs build successful technology companies and accelerate growth in their respective industries and create a more level playing field for minority entrepreneurs and leaders.
“We look for founders and limited partners who demonstrate grit and perseverance. And we find these qualities quite often among entrepreneurs who belong to marginalized communities,” said founder of Twenty Five Ventures Maximillian Diez. “Investing in diverse founders benefits everyone and creates opportunities where other funds do not.”
Black and Latinx founders, for example, have historically had fewer funding opportunities than their non-minority counterparts. According to Crunchbase, these demographics have raised more than $15 billion since 2015—a scant 2.4% of all venture capital raised during the same time period. Diez’s 25V Diversity Fund aims to right that wrong – for altruistic reasons, but also for strong returns.
“Diversity in our investment pool is not only the right thing to do, it’s also smart business. We believe real estate agents have the pulse of the industry and can be better predictors of which companies will succeed because we live and breathe this business,” said 25V. Diversity Fund Co-Founder Alexandra Tieu. To be truly diverse, you have to open up the investment pool and change who decides where the capital goes.”
According to a recent McKinsey report: “Ethnic diversity in the management team and the board correlates with stronger profitability.” Diversity, fairness and inclusion also have a positive effect on work ethic. On average, employees approve of a diverse founder 12% more than those reporting to a non-minority founder, according to studies of Glassdoor reviews and dependent variables “CEO Approval,” “Recommend a Friend,” and “Career Opportunities.”
About twenty-five companies
Headquartered in San Mateo, California, Twenty Five Ventures is led by Maximillian Diez, a 44-year-old Filipino-American entrepreneur turned venture capitalist. Diez is an investment, real estate and proptech veteran who began his career managing the family trust of the late Arthur C. Zief, a prominent San Francisco attorney, when he was just 20. Since then, Max has held early leadership roles at Redfin and UpNest , and more recently, he served on the executive team that completed a buyout of US-based Movoto – which was acquired within two years.
Diez is joined by managing partners Alexandra Tieu, a Vietnamese-born investor with an impressive background as a real estate, prop and legal director; where she held executive roles at Keller Williams, Movoto, Propy, Brevitas and JLG Advokater. EJ Pineda, a Salvadoran American who is an experienced real estate technology executive who has held leadership roles at Redfin, UpNest and Movoto. Learn more at
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