Himalaya Rao-Potlapally is the Managing Director and Solo General Partner of The BFM Fund, a $10-million seed-stage investment fund focusing on Black founders. After earning her MBA from Willamette University, Himalaya received specialized training in Venture Finance and progressed in her career at seven firms as an Associate, Deal Lead and eventually Fund Manager.
NVCA/Venture Forward recognized her as one of the Rising Stars in Venture Capital for her work creating equity within venture capital, and she was named one of the Forty Under 40 by the Portland Business Journal in 2021. In 2022 she was selected as one of 12 2022 VCI Fellows. Himalaya’s passion for expanding accessibility of entrepreneurship to BIPOC and rural communities comes from her understanding that it is a pathway for economic development and builds wealth that improves opportunities for generations.
