The First 200 Tue, 30 Jun 2026 16:48:50 -0400 https://www.thefirst200.com/ en-us © 2026 The First 200 yes 07fe49aa-5c0b-5aae-923e-dbada62821db The First 200 episodic false The First 200 is a media platform and podcast documenting entrepreneurs from distinct backgrounds who have raised more than $1 million in venture capital funding. 


The first season of the podcast focuses on the first 200 Black women founders in the United States to raise more than $1 million in a single venture round.


We’ll discuss what it actually takes to build a venture-backed company and explored topics including fundraising, leadership, growth, pivots, execution, and the realities of scaling a business when the odds aren’t always in your favor.

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Entrepreneurship, Startups, Venture Capital, Women Founders, Black Women Entrepreneurs, Startup Funding, Founder Stories, Tech Startups, Female Entrepreneurs, Fashion Business, Beauty Business The First 200 https://storage.buzzsprout.com/zhbokbqmrbouzngz0vr5rou1baur?.jpg The First 200 https://www.thefirst200.com/ Tanya Van Court: Why Financial Literacy Is the Greatest Investment You Can Make Tanya Van Court: Why Financial Literacy Is the Greatest Investment You Can Make What does it take to build a venture-backed fintech company in an industry that wasn't built for you to win?

In this episode of The First 200, host Amira Rasool sits down with Tanya Van Court, Founder and CEO of Goalsetter, the family financial education platform she has raised more than $30 million in venture capital to build. Backed by investors including NBA legends Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul, Tanya is on a mission to help families build generational wealth through financial literacy while reimagining who financial products are designed to serve.

Together, the entrepreneurs discuss building a fintech company with purpose, raising venture capital, why Black women startup founders are uniquely positioned to transform financial services, navigating industries that often work to exclude underrepresented founders, and creating products that leave a lasting impact on future generations.

FOLLOW THE FIRST 200
Website: thefirst200.com
Instagram: @firsttwohundred
TikTok: @firsttwohundred

SPONSORED BY THE FOLKLORE
The Folklore helps brands sell better and market smarter with technology that powers retail distribution, affiliate commerce, and AI-powered marketing tools.

Start your free trial: https://thefolklore.com/pages/join-us

]]> What does it take to build a venture-backed fintech company in an industry that wasn't built for you to win?

In this episode of The First 200, host Amira Rasool sits down with Tanya Van Court, Founder and CEO of Goalsetter, the family financial education platform she has raised more than $30 million in venture capital to build. Backed by investors including NBA legends Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul, Tanya is on a mission to help families build generational wealth through financial literacy while reimagining who financial products are designed to serve.

Together, the entrepreneurs discuss building a fintech company with purpose, raising venture capital, why Black women startup founders are uniquely positioned to transform financial services, navigating industries that often work to exclude underrepresented founders, and creating products that leave a lasting impact on future generations.

FOLLOW THE FIRST 200
Website: thefirst200.com
Instagram: @firsttwohundred
TikTok: @firsttwohundred

SPONSORED BY THE FOLKLORE
The Folklore helps brands sell better and market smarter with technology that powers retail distribution, affiliate commerce, and AI-powered marketing tools.

Start your free trial: https://thefolklore.com/pages/join-us

]]> The First 200 Buzzsprout-19426649 Tue, 30 Jun 2026 15:00:00 -0400 3245 Financial Literacy, Tanya Van Court, Goalsetter, Fintech, Venture Capital, Entrepreneurship, Black Women Founders, Personal Finance, Wealth Building, Founder Story, Startup Funding, The First 200 1 3 full false Cheraé Robinson: How to Balance Passion and Profit as a Founder Cheraé Robinson: How to Balance Passion and Profit as a Founder What does it take to build a venture-backed company in an industry few investors understand?

In this episode of The First 200, host Amira Rasool sits down with Cheraé Robinson, Co-Founder and former CEO of Tastemakers Africa, the travel experiences marketplace she raised $2.6 million in venture capital funding for. Through Tastemakers Africa, Cheraé helped connect travelers with authentic experiences created by locals and became one of the only Black women to raise venture capital in the travel industry.

Together, the entrepreneurs discuss building a company in the travel sector, raising venture capital, the opportunities for members of the diaspora to build businesses in Africa, taking risks, and the power of community in entrepreneurship.

FOLLOW THE FIRST 200
Website: thefirst200.com
Instagram: @firsttwohundred
TikTok: @firsttwohundred

SPONSORED BY THE FOLKLORE
The Folklore helps brands sell better and market smarter with technology that powers retail distribution, affiliate commerce, and AI-powered marketing tools.

Start your free trial: https://thefolklore.com/pages/join-us

]]> What does it take to build a venture-backed company in an industry few investors understand?

In this episode of The First 200, host Amira Rasool sits down with Cheraé Robinson, Co-Founder and former CEO of Tastemakers Africa, the travel experiences marketplace she raised $2.6 million in venture capital funding for. Through Tastemakers Africa, Cheraé helped connect travelers with authentic experiences created by locals and became one of the only Black women to raise venture capital in the travel industry.

Together, the entrepreneurs discuss building a company in the travel sector, raising venture capital, the opportunities for members of the diaspora to build businesses in Africa, taking risks, and the power of community in entrepreneurship.

FOLLOW THE FIRST 200
Website: thefirst200.com
Instagram: @firsttwohundred
TikTok: @firsttwohundred

SPONSORED BY THE FOLKLORE
The Folklore helps brands sell better and market smarter with technology that powers retail distribution, affiliate commerce, and AI-powered marketing tools.

Start your free trial: https://thefolklore.com/pages/join-us

]]> The First 200 Buzzsprout-19388829 Wed, 24 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400 4007 Cheraé Robinson, Tastemakers Africa, African Travel, Travel Startup, Entrepreneurship, Venture Capital, Startup Founder, Diaspora Entrepreneurship, Business Leadership, Community Building, Women Founders, Travel Tech, Fundraising 1 2 full false Tiffany Dufu: Why Community Is the Key to Business and Personal Success Tiffany Dufu: Why Community Is the Key to Business and Personal Success How do you build a successful company and a successful life? According to Tiffany Dufu, you don't do it alone.

In this episode of The First 200, host Amira Rasool sits down with Tiffany Dufu, Founder and former CEO of The Cru, the peer coaching platform she launched in 2018, raised $4 million to build, and successfully exited through its acquisition by Luminary in 2023. Today, Tiffany serves as President of the Tory Burch Foundation, helping empower the next generation of women entrepreneurs.

Together, they discuss the power of community, raising venture capital, leadership, navigating an acquisition, and why meaningful relationships are often the foundation of both business and personal success.

FOLLOW THE FIRST 200
Website: thefirst200.com
Instagram: @firsttwohundred
TikTok: @firsttwohundred

SPONSORED BY THE FOLKLORE
The Folklore helps brands sell better and market smarter with technology that powers retail distribution, affiliate commerce, and AI-powered marketing tools.

Start your free trial: https://thefolklore.com/pages/join-us

]]> How do you build a successful company and a successful life? According to Tiffany Dufu, you don't do it alone.

In this episode of The First 200, host Amira Rasool sits down with Tiffany Dufu, Founder and former CEO of The Cru, the peer coaching platform she launched in 2018, raised $4 million to build, and successfully exited through its acquisition by Luminary in 2023. Today, Tiffany serves as President of the Tory Burch Foundation, helping empower the next generation of women entrepreneurs.

Together, they discuss the power of community, raising venture capital, leadership, navigating an acquisition, and why meaningful relationships are often the foundation of both business and personal success.

FOLLOW THE FIRST 200
Website: thefirst200.com
Instagram: @firsttwohundred
TikTok: @firsttwohundred

SPONSORED BY THE FOLKLORE
The Folklore helps brands sell better and market smarter with technology that powers retail distribution, affiliate commerce, and AI-powered marketing tools.

Start your free trial: https://thefolklore.com/pages/join-us

]]> The First 200 Buzzsprout-19388823 Wed, 24 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0400 3920 Tiffany Dufu, The Cru, Tory Burch Foundation, Women Founders, Entrepreneurship, Venture Capital, Startup Founder, Business Leadership, Community Building, Women in Business, Founder Stories, Personal Development 1 1 full false Introducing The First 200: The Black Women Who Broke Venture Capital's Funding Barrier Introducing The First 200: The Black Women Who Broke Venture Capital's Funding Barrier What does it take to become one of the first? Hosted by entrepreneur Amira Rasool, The First 200 is a podcast documenting the stories of founders from distinct backgrounds who were among the first 200 in their communities to raise more than $1 million in venture capital funding.

Each year we explore a different cohort of trailblazing entrepreneurs, preserving the stories behind the milestones and uncovering the lessons, challenges, and opportunities that shaped their journeys. Through candid conversations, listeners will gain insight into fundraising, leadership, company building, exits, resilience, and what it takes to scale high-growth startup.

Season one focuses on the first 200 Black women founders in the United States to raise more than $1 million in venture capital funding. These founders have built businesses across technology, healthcare, fintech, fashion, beauty, commerce, media, travel, and more—collectively raising billions of dollars while creating lasting impact across industries.

In this special trailer episode, Amira shares why she launched The First 200, the vision behind the platform, and what listeners can expect from the conversations ahead.

The first two episodes premiere on June 24th. New episodes for season one will be released every Tuesday thereafter.

Watch or listen wherever you get your podcasts, and explore the founder index, reports, and more at thefirst200.com.

Because before there were thousands, there were The First 200.

]]> What does it take to become one of the first? Hosted by entrepreneur Amira Rasool, The First 200 is a podcast documenting the stories of founders from distinct backgrounds who were among the first 200 in their communities to raise more than $1 million in venture capital funding.

Each year we explore a different cohort of trailblazing entrepreneurs, preserving the stories behind the milestones and uncovering the lessons, challenges, and opportunities that shaped their journeys. Through candid conversations, listeners will gain insight into fundraising, leadership, company building, exits, resilience, and what it takes to scale high-growth startup.

Season one focuses on the first 200 Black women founders in the United States to raise more than $1 million in venture capital funding. These founders have built businesses across technology, healthcare, fintech, fashion, beauty, commerce, media, travel, and more—collectively raising billions of dollars while creating lasting impact across industries.

In this special trailer episode, Amira shares why she launched The First 200, the vision behind the platform, and what listeners can expect from the conversations ahead.

The first two episodes premiere on June 24th. New episodes for season one will be released every Tuesday thereafter.

Watch or listen wherever you get your podcasts, and explore the founder index, reports, and more at thefirst200.com.

Because before there were thousands, there were The First 200.

]]> The First 200 Buzzsprout-19382059 Mon, 22 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400 107 The First 200, Entrepreneurship, Startups, Venture Capital, Startup Funding, Women Founders, Black Women Founders, Black Entrepreneurs, Female Entrepreneurs, Founder Stories, Business Leadership, Business Growth, Tech Startups, Innovation, Fundraising, Ve 1 trailer false