Justin Dawkins is a full-stack engineer turned investor at Collab Capital who built and shut down his own startup before becoming Google's first Digital Coach in Atlanta, where he personally coached thousands of small businesses on digital growth. He positions Collab Capital as a new institution that combines venture capital with structured support programming specifically designed to create durable wealth-building pathways for Black founders, while frequently addressing the mental health and psychological challenges that come with Black entrepreneurship.
What they've been talking about across their social media accounts

- Emphasis on seamless user experience over raw technical specifications. He views successful technology, including AI, as something that should feel native and invisible to the user, much like how we take complex innovations like GPS or 5G for granted until they stop working.
- Dedication to the Atlanta ecosystem and its civic infrastructure. He actively builds community through events like local tech dinners and frequently discusses how urban planning issues, such as a lack of investment in public transportation, impact the city's economic mobility and social equity.
- Passion for basketball with a specific, analytical appreciation for the WNBA and NBA. He pays attention to game mechanics and individual skill sets, such as admiring A'ja Wilson's footwork and midrange touch or critiquing defensive setups, rather than just watching for entertainment.
- Advocacy for founders receiving tangible access rather than just sympathy. He believes the startup ecosystem relies on entrepreneurs more than investors and expresses frustration when VCs offer emotional support instead of closing the gap on opportunity and resources.
- Focus on character, accountability, and faith-driven purpose. He respects individuals who value humility and integrity over ego, often reflecting on the importance of guarding one's heart and maintaining strong personal ethics alongside professional ambition.
About their Fund
Sectors
Under-represented founders, Health, Fintech, Transportation, Future of Work
Rounds
Pre-Seed - Seed
Avg Check Size
$500K - $750K
Notable Investments
Collab Capital uses a proprietary "SPACE" structure that blends profit-sharing with equity and allows Black founders to buy back equity as they return multiples of capital, rather than following the traditional binary exit-or-zero VC model. The fund targets high-density Black entrepreneur cities like Atlanta, Detroit, and Houston that have low risk capital access, and structures deals to return capital to investors by year three through portfolio company profitability instead of waiting for exits.
Notable Fund
Investments
No items found.
Is this information out of date? Let us know
Popular Investors
investor name
Active in
Rounds
Avg. Check
Links
Deeptech / Hardware
Robotics
Biotech
+
12
View more in profile...
Unknown
Pre-Seed - Seed
Unknown
$400K - $2M
Unknown
Defense
Deeptech / Hardware
Energy
+
7
View more in profile...
Unknown
Pre-Seed - Series A
Unknown
$100K - $5M
Unknown
Defense
Deeptech / Hardware
Energy
+
7
View more in profile...
Unknown
Pre-Seed - Series A
Unknown
$100K - $5M
Unknown
Biotech
Health
Deeptech / Hardware
+
2
View more in profile...
Unknown
Pre-Seed - Seed
Unknown
$250K - $2M
Unknown
Climate
Deeptech / Hardware
Materials
+
4
View more in profile...
Unknown
Pre-Seed - Seed
Unknown
$400K - $1.5M
Unknown
Deeptech / Hardware
Robotics
Biotech
+
7
View more in profile...
Unknown
Pre-Seed - Seed
Unknown
$400K - $2M
Unknown
Deeptech / Hardware
Robotics
Biotech
+
2
View more in profile...
Unknown
Pre-Seed - Seed
Unknown
~$750K
Unknown
Fintech
Deeptech / Hardware
Devtools
+
2
View more in profile...
Unknown
Pre-Seed - Series A
Unknown
$250K-$1M
Unknown
Or automatically find your investor matches
Upload your pitch deck to get your best investor matches in minutes.
Reveal the very best VCs to pitch for your startup
Get matching investors' email addresses
No ads. No catch. Free from VC Sheet.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Success. Check your email in 5 minutes.



















.jpeg)







.jpeg)











































































.png)
























































































































.jpeg)









.jpeg)


















































































.jpeg)

