Stacy Brown-Philpot’s Cherryrock Capital focuses on investing in underinvested entrepreneurs, providing smaller Series A and B checks to overlooked founders. With more than 2,000 companies in the pipeline, Cherryrock closed its debut fund in February 2025 and has backed five companies so far. The fund targets 12 to 15 investments, taking a measured approach compared to other funds. Brown-Philpot’s emphasis on underinvested founders aligns with a new California diversity reporting law, requiring VC firms to report demographic data. As Cherryrock prioritizes diverse founders, compliance is seen as “table stakes.”

Brown-Philpot’s investments include Coactive AI and Vitable Health, reflecting her focus on supporting diverse founders. She acknowledges the challenges of going public and emphasizes the value of acquisitions. In 2026, Cherryrock is actively deploying capital to support Series A and B companies that have achieved product-market fit at scale. Brown-Philpot remains focused on finding great founders, regardless of their background or location.

Read more at Yahoo Finance: In a changed VC landscape, this exec is doubling down on overlooked founders