A seasoned technology leader, Michael Julve is CoFounder of BuiltFirst along with GoGrow and has been interviewed by the BBC and Entrepreneur. He speaks about investing in diversity, specifically why backing immigrants, women and under-represented founders creates greater returns. Growing up in New Jersey as the son of Latino immigrants, Julve gained an understanding of the need for tenacity and resilience when starting all over again, in a new country.
On podcasts and keynotes, Julve outlines an inspiring case for why venture capitalists and angels should be looking to immigrants and minority founders for the next wave of potential unicorns. Julve relies on data, citing; in 2022 immigrants had created more than half (319 of 582, or 55%) of America’s startup companies valued at $1 billion or more. Drawing on this, Julve champions similar results for the coming generations, reasoning that with more investor focus and backing, the future is looking to diversity.
Thematically as a speaker, Julve underscores the importance of human grit in overcoming adversity and challenges and why these qualities are parallel and prevalent in both immigrants, and the highest performing entrepreneurs. In his formative years, Julve worked 2 jobs while sleeping on the floor, and underscores why grit is an entrepreneurial mindset. He cites success stories of America’s most inspiring immigrants, veterans, women and POC business owners, and how they have blazed a path for the new generation rising now.
With multiple scholarships and while working, Julve graduated Magna Cum Laude from Columbia University. He credits his background of serving in the US Marine Corps Reserve for 6 years as an Intelligence Specialist as being key to his entrepreneurial journey, with his story featured by the BBC and Entrepreneur.
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