Meet Angel Investor and ABC Shark Tank’s Head of Diversity Rodney Sampson

Hundreds of thousands of angels and venture capitalists are writing checks every day. Yet, less than 1% percent of all private equity in America is invested in black-owned companies each year. How then do startups raise the much needed seed capital and established companies raise the much needed capital to scale and grow. At the conference Sampson will address this issue by leading a panel session created for entrepreneurs and aspiring angel investors to help them learn how and when to engage with the investment ecosystem, how to get and stay in the “right room” of angels and venture capitalists, and how to create a new culture of black, brown and women owned angel investors.

In addition, select companies attending the conference will be able to schedule one-on-one sessions with active angel investors and check writers.

“Angel investing is important to the entrepreneurial and investment ecosystem, particularly as it relates to job creation, disrupting poverty and closing the wealth gap in America,” says Sampson, who wrote Kingonomics: Twelve Innovative Currencies for Transforming Your Business and Life Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Sampson encourages black accredited investors to become angels and to learn how to invest or co-invest (via seed and venture funds). He recently created blackangels.US as an extension of his Opportunity.UP: Unleashing Private Equity conference program.

Sampson says that blackangels.US exists to identify, inspire, train, mentor and activate a new investor class amongst black high net worth individuals (HNI), corporations and private institutions. Initially blackangels.US will target existing government contractors and companies that procure contracts from large corporations via supplier diversity opportunities.

“Our message to these companies is that they have a responsibility to engage in the entire business ecosystem and cycle. Investing is the ultimate way to give back and has the greatest opportunity to create generational wealth and sustainability opportunities for generations to come.”

Join the Small Business Revolution by registering NOW to the 2014 Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference + Expo hosted by Nationwide Insurance, May 14-17, at the Hyatt Regency Columbus, Ohio — with confirmed speakers including entertainment media mogul T.D. Jakes, CEO of TDJ Enterprises and Valerie Daniels Carter, president and CEO of V&J Holding, one of the largest women- and African American-owned restaurant franchise operators in the US. Expect innovative sessions, high-powered speakers, and an early peek at the products, trends, and services you’ll need to stay ahead of the curve. Be sure to enter our Elevator Pitch Competition to qualify for the $10,000 grand prize. To register and find out more, visit www.blackenterprise.com/ec/