Shila Nieves Burney photo
Investor profile

Shila Nieves Burney

General Partner, Zane Ventures

About

Shila Nieves Burney spent over 20 years as an operator focused on human capital and DEI before becoming a VC, and she approaches investing with a talent-development and systems-change lens rather than a traditional finance background. As a Black Latinx woman, she created both Zane Ventures and Zane Access specifically to dismantle systemic barriers to capital for underrepresented founders, building her own deal preparation pipeline through structured pre-capital education programs rather than relying on traditional sourcing channels. Shila Nieves Burney spent over 20 years as an operator focused on human capital and DEI before becoming a VC, and she approaches investing with a talent-development and systems-change lens rather than a traditional finance background. As a Black Latinx woman, she created both Zane Ventures and Zane Access specifically to dismantle systemic barriers to capital for underrepresented founders, building her own deal preparation pipeline through structured pre-capital education programs rather than relying on traditional sourcing channels.

Works at

Investment focus

Stages
Pre-Seed
Seed
Sectors
Health
FinTech
Education
Climate
Diversity focus
Under-represented founders

Investment details

Avg check size$50K - $500K
Can lead rounds
No
Geographies
USA