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Shila Burney
Venture Capitalist and Founder at Zane Venture Fund
Shila Nieves Burney is the Founder and General Partner of Zane Venture Fund, a venture capital firm based in Atlanta that focuses on investing in diverse entrepreneurs and early-stage founders.12
Professional Background
Shila has over 20 years of experience advocating for marginalized groups and working with organizations to address disparities through investment in human capital.3 She founded Zane Venture Fund in March 2018 with the goal of closing the funding gap for underrepresented founders while generating high returns for investors.2
Zane Venture Fund
As the managing partner of Zane Venture Fund, Shila invests in diverse entrepreneurs to help them scale their businesses and grow sustainable revenue.2 The fund focuses on investing in tech-enabled solutions in sectors such as housing, climate, digital health, and financial inclusion.4
Zane Access
In addition to the venture fund, Shila also founded Zane Access in February 2019.2 Zane Access is the non-profit arm of Zane Venture Fund that provides a comprehensive capital readiness program for emerging pre-seed companies with less than $10,000 in annual revenue.25
Recognition and Influence
Shila has gained recognition in the venture capital industry, particularly in the Southeast region:
- Named one of 2022's "Top 101 Black Titans in Tech" by BAM Communications2
- Received Atlanta Inno's "Fire Award" in 20212
- Honored with the "Unsung Heroes Champion Award" by Female Founders Alliance in 20202
- Featured in publications such as Forbes, Bloomberg, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and TechCrunch2
Additional Roles
Shila holds several advisory and board positions:
- Advisor at Endeavor Atlanta (since December 2023)2
- Board Member at CED (Council for Entrepreneurial Development) (since October 2023)2
- Executive-in-Residence at Harvard Ventures2
- VC mentor for Pipeline Angels investment group2
Through her work with Zane Venture Fund and Zane Access, Shila Nieves Burney is actively working to create wealth-building opportunities for underrepresented founders and address the capital gap in health equity.24
Highlights
