The folks who make it all happen.

Melissa L. Bradley is a tri-sector leader and Managing Partner at 1863 Ventures with more than 20 years of entrepreneurship, investment and leadership experience. She is an Adjunct Professor at the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University where she teaches impact investing, social entrepreneurship, P2P economies and innovation. Melissa has served as a Presidential Appointee under Presidents Clinton and Obama. Under Clinton, Melissa served as Financial Regulatory Affairs Fellow at the Department of Treasury, Office of Thrift Supervision, where she researched the impact of welfare reform and micro-enterprise lending on the financial industry and authored “IDA Strategy for Asset Accumulation”

Rodney Williams is the Head of Platform at 1863 Ventures, overseeing all business accelerators and education courses. In this role, he also services the community of entrepreneurs by providing growth opportunities through learning and resources, assisting with business development, and creating new programs. Rodney graduated from Drexel University with a degree in Entrepreneurial Studies. Following his graduation, he pursued a successful career in professional basketball, playing in countries such as Spain, France, Israel, and Sweden. Upon his retirement in 2020, Rodney earned his MBA from the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC). Prior to his current role, Rodney partnered with the Small Business Administration and worked as the Director of the Capital Region Small Business Development Center in Richmond, VA, where he helped over 400 businesses annually achieve their entrepreneurial goals. Additionally, he founded Athlete 2 Boardroom, a platform dedicated to helping transitioning athletes develop new career paths. Rodney’s diverse experiences in entrepreneurship, professional sports, and business development uniquely position him to drive impactful initiatives and support the growth of emerging businesses at 1863 Ventures.

Sherica Sampson is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of 1863 Ventures, where she leverages her extensive experience in Operations, Human Capital and Entrepreneurship to foster strategic growth and scalability within the New Majority Community. In her role, Sherica is responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations, implementing effective business strategies, building and recruiting top talent while ensuring that the organization achieves its long-term objectives. With 15+ years in HR & 18+ years of experience as a Licensed Realtor, Sherica developed a deep understanding of market dynamics and client relations, skills that she now brings to her strategic role at 1863 Ventures. Her expertise in hr & real estate complements her diverse business acumen, strategic decision-making and operational management skills that enhance her ability to lead and innovate. Sherica's career includes serving as the COO of YASTYS Inc, where she played a crucial role in optimizing operations and driving growth. She also excelled as the Global Recruiting Manager at Techstars, leading a team responsible for global recruitment in Engineering and Accelerator Investments. In addition to her corporate roles, Sherica is the founder of Zoe Queen Swim, an online store that reflects her entrepreneurial spirit and passion for fashion. She also serves as an advisor for the Kenya Women and Children Wellness Centre in Africa, demonstrating her commitment to social impact and improving lives in underserved communities. Sherica holds a Bachelor's Degree from AIU, which underpins her strategic vision and operational expertise. Her broad experience, ranging from real estate and entrepreneurship to social impact, positions her as a transformative leader at 1863 Ventures.

Adeleke Omitowoju serves as Principal at 1863 Ventures, an early-stage investment firm focused on investing in New Majority founders. Adeleke has invested in high-growth technology-enabled companies across several verticals including enterprise SaaS, HealthTech, FinTech, and Food Tech. Prior to 1863 Ventures, Adeleke served as Managing Director at BVCC, an early-stage venture capital fund and training platform for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) students. Adeleke brings over a decade of experience across enterprise sales, private equity, and startup advisory. He began his career at Avenue Capital Group as an analyst in New Delhi, India. He then joined IBM as a Client Executive, where he led complex deals in healthcare, energy, and utilities sectors. Adeleke attended Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU), where he earned his undergraduate degree and MBA with a concentration in finance. He currently lives in Washington DC with his wife and two sons.

Kayla Howard is the Narrative Change Manager at 1863 Ventures. She leads the development and execution of research plans that align with the organization’s strategic goals. In this role, she works closely with entrepreneurs to amplify their stories, understand their needs, and shift the narrative around New Majority entrepreneurship. With extensive research experience and a proven track record in leading projects, Kayla holds a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Women’s Studies from Spelman College.

Alana Hinkston is currently a Principal - Ops & Investment at 1863 Ventures. She has prior experience in investing at Kapor Capital and M13 Ventures as well as working with start-ups DayBird and Brij leading working on expanding sales channels. Prior, she was the Lead Accelerator Pipeline Manager on the Target Accelerator team, overseeing recruitment for all Accelerator programs and cultivating a pipeline of potential consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies for Target. Alana also initiated and led the Target Forward Founders program, which aimed to empower under-resourced founders and provided support to the Target Technology program. Alana began her career at Target in 2015 as a Marketing Analyst, gaining valuable experience across various business areas, including loyalty programs, multicultural marketing, localization marketing, corporate responsibility initiatives, store remodels, and guest experiences. During her tenure, she played a crucial role in the communication efforts of the Black Employee Resource Group (AABC) and founded Target's young millennials internal consulting group (Glassbox). Alana holds a Master in Business Administration from Harvard Business School as well as a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, with a minor in retail, from Santa Clara University, where she actively serves on the Alumni Board of Directors.

Kara Cotto is the Program Manager at 1863 Ventures, where she leads accelerator programming focused on fostering innovation and growth for New Majority Founders. With over seven years of experience in marketing, communications, and operations management, Kara is a results-oriented professional dedicated to driving impactful change. Prior to joining 1863 Ventures, she was a Senior Project Manager at Freddie Mac, where she led high-profile integrated marketing campaigns and organized large-scale cross-regional events for audiences exceeding 5,000. Kara also served as Lead Creative Producer at EBONY magazine, where she developed and produced a social-first series spotlighting Black-owned businesses. Outside of work, Kara enjoys cooking, traveling, and exploring art. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications with a minor in Psychology from Old Dominion University.