Get to know the 2025 "A Candle in the Dark" Gala Honorees: RASHAUN WILLIAMS '01 Bennie Trailblazer Award

Rashaun Williams ‘01 is a trailblazing investor, entrepreneur, and financial literacy advocate who has carved out a unique role in the world of venture capital. Known as a guest Shark on ABC's Shark Tank, he is also a limited partner of the Atlanta Falcons and a seasoned venture capitalist with a remarkable record of over 170 investments—resulting in more than 50 successful exits. His family office, Value Investment Group, and his role as a general partner in the MVP All-Star Fund have made him a highly regarded figure among both emerging and established investors.

However, Rashaun’s journey was not always filled with achievements and opportunities. He was raised on the South Side of Chicago, surrounded by some of the toughest circumstances imaginable—poverty, crime, and instability were constant hurdles in his path. He can still picture stepping off the school bus only to find his family’s belongings on the curb after an eviction notice or coming home to an apartment without heat or lights. Yet rather than letting these challenges define him, they sharpened his focus and ignited a determination to rise above. They pushed him to ask crucial questions about moneyand why some families struggled while others thrived—and sparked his resolve to find solutions that could uplift not only his loved ones but also his entire community. It was this unyielding drive that led him to Morehouse College, where he graduated at the top of his class, and propelled him into a successful career in finance. Through it all, Rashaun transformed hardship into motivation, emerging from his roots as a beacon of hope and possibilities.

As a co-founder of Queensbridge Venture Partners, Rashaun was an early backer of transformative companies like Robinhood, Coinbase, Casper, Ring, PillPack, Lyft and, Dropbox. In 2018, he was honored as Black Enterprise's Investor of the Year, recognizing his impact on the venture capital industry.

With a career spanning over 20 years, Rashaun’s expertise in driving capital into diverse and alternative markets is exceptional. He has cultivated a unique perspective on finance and investing through his work at Wall Street institutions, including Goldman Sachs, Wachovia Securities, and Deutsche Bank. In 2007, he launched Dixsville Partners, a private equity fund dedicated to infrastructure and mineral investments across West Africa, underscoring his commitment to global economic development and high-impact projects.

Rashaun is equally passionate about community empowerment and financial literacy. In 2001, he founded the Kemet Institute, a nonprofit organization committed to delivering free financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and life skills education to underserved communities and schools. His mission to bridge the knowledge gap continued with the founding of Antimatter Business Partners in 2023, designed to help professional athletes and entertainers establish and operate their private equity family offices.

An active leader and listener in his community, Rashaun currently serves on the Board of Directors for The Atlanta Opera. As a graduate of Morehouse College, he is also a dedicated member of Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc., embodying both academic excellence and community leadership.

On Saturday, February 15th, Rashaun Williams and five other individuals will be honored at the 37th annual "A Candle in the Dark" Gala.

To learn more about events during Founder's Week, please visit morehouse.edu/founders-week.