Candice Matthews Brackeen

Candice Matthews Brackeen is a dynamic leader in economic development, venture capital, and entrepreneurship. She serves as the General Partner at Lightship Capital, a Cincinnati-based firm that invests in innovative companies led by underrepresented founders across the United States. Her efforts have garnered recognition from major organizations, including the Cincinnati Bengals, who awarded her the 2022 Inspire Change Changemaker Award, and Doritos and PepsiCo, who named her a 2023 Doritos Change Maker.

As the Founder and CEO of Lightship Foundation, Candice has led the organization in supporting over 200 growth-stage tech startups led by women, entrepreneurs of color, LGBTQ+, and disabled founders, helping them secure more than $120 million in funding. Lightship Foundation offers comprehensive programming such as the Lightship Accelerator, Lightship Bootcamp, and Black Tech Week, all designed to empower minority entrepreneurs with the resources, mentorship, and capital needed to scale their businesses. In 2023, Matthews' leadership was instrumental in bringing Black Tech Week to Cincinnati, OH, and Detroit, MI, engaging thousands of founders and creating a substantial economic impact, including a $7.8 million boost to the Cincinnati region.

Matthews serves on several influential boards, including the Cincinnati Innovation District Advisory Council, the Endeavor Northwest Arkansas Board of Directors, and as a University of Cincinnati Kautz Uible Fellow. Her recent efforts include revitalizing the minority innovation economy in Tulsa, Oklahoma, through investments exceeding $2 million in fast-growing tech companies.