Shila Nieves Burney

Founding and Managing Partner, Zane Venture Fund

Atlanta

Shila Nieves Burney, an award-winning project manager, is the Founding and Managing Partner of Zane Venture Fund. Shila spent her 20+ year career advocating for marginalized groups. She has worked closely with leading organizations and exceptional talent to create solutions that address disparities through investment in human capital.

Shila founded ZANE Venture Fund, a seed fund that invests in underrepresented founders with the goal of closing the funding gap while generating high returns for investors. Shila also founded Zane Access which provides early-stage companies led by diverse teams access to cross-functional experts, resources, best practices and customized content critical to accelerating growth. Shila is an Executive in Residence at Harvard Ventures and VC-mentor for Pipeline Angels.

Shila is also the recipient Atlanta Inno's 2021 Fire Awards and the winner of the 2020 Unsung Heroes' Champion Award by the Female Founders Alliance. Shila is a sought after speaker who has been called on to speak across the world about the changing dynamics of venture capital and the missed $4T opportunity of investing in diverse founder and teams.