Defy Ventures, Inc.

Defy (v.): To challenge or dare a person to do something deemed impossible.

Defy Ventures provides carefully selected, ambitious men who have criminal histories with life-changing entrepreneurship, leadership, and career opportunities.

Defy Ventures is funded and managed by a group of entrepreneurs and venture capitalists who recognize that many former drug dealers and gang leaders share similar skill sets and talents with top business leaders. Through an intensive internship program that includes MBA-like training, executive mentoring, leadership development, and career placement, Defy Ventures offers its interns a legitimate chance to succeed as income earners, entrepreneurs, fathers, and role models in their communities. Defy’s signature program engages interns in a series of business plan competitions that award up to $150,000 in seed capital to winning ventures.

Defy Ventures is a New York City-based nonprofit organization that is entirely privately funded by executives, foundations, and other generous donors.