GK Fund announced today its partnership with the law firm Hinckley Allen to provide legal counsel for GK Fund grantees. In a poll conducted by GK Fund, BIPOC and women founders cited legal services as their top priority, particularly as the companies are approached by venture capital and angel investors. The GK Fund currently operates a micro grant program, which selects a cohort of BIPOC, and women founded startups each quarter based on a set of key evaluation metrics. Each cohort receives $10,000 in unrestricted funding, mentorship, marketing, and now legal services.

“This is a true commitment to racial and gender equity on behalf of Hinckley Allen. It sends a signal to investors that companies receiving GK Fund grants are not only vetted, talented and promising – but also well represented with world class legal counsel. Most law firms give pro bono work to the causes of social justice and criminal justice, but this is a first of a kind partnership to help BIPOC, women and veteran entrepreneurs. We are grateful for the leadership of the firm’s partner Jay Gonzalez who spearheaded this initiative for Hinckley Allen.” – Colette Phillips, President and Co-Founder of GK Fund.

“Hinckley Allen is thrilled to be partnering with the GK Fund to support BIPOC, women and veteran owned businesses. We believe in the GK Fund’s mission and efforts to close the racial wealth gap, and we look forward to working with the exciting and impressive companies it is funding.” – Jay Gonzalez, Former Partner at Hinckley Allen and GK Fund Governance Chair

The partnership will offer legal services to GK Fund’s grantees with access to corporate attorneys specializing in areas such as: intellectual property, contracts, tax law, real estate, and mergers and acquisitions.

Learn more about the firm’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion efforts.