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Fearless Fund founder Arian Simone will bring global leaders, celebrities and changemakers together Sept. 22 for a first-of-its-kind gathering during the United Nations General Assembly, with the goal of reimagining economic power as a shared global right.
The Fearless Global Initiative (FGI), staged at the Glasshouse Chelsea in Manhattan, is billed as a historic half-day convening. It will position economic inclusion at the center of the world’s most visible diplomatic stage. Backed by UPS and produced by Barkue Tubman-Zawolo, the event is expected to draw more than 150 leaders from business, government, culture and activism.
Simone, a prominent advocate for women of color in venture capital, has secured transformative investments from institutions such as J.P. Morgan Chase and Mastercard. Through Fearless Fund, she invests in under-resourced entrepreneurs—especially women of color-led businesses—typically in pre-seed, seed and early Series A rounds. The firm’s initial investment size generally does not exceed US$3 million, and it usually seeks at least 10% ownership in portfolio companies.
Since its founding, Fearless Fund has backed dozens of companies spanning consumer products, beauty, health tech, fintech and sustainability. Portfolio names include Slutty Vegan, Live Tinted, Bread Beauty, Partake Foods, The Lip Bar, Zimi, and R+R Skincare.
In 2023, Fearless Fund reported having invested approximately US$27 million in around 40 businesses led by women of color since its inception, and awarded roughly US$3.7 million in grants.
Tubman-Zawolo — Liberia’s Special Envoy for National Branding, Strategic Partnerships and Economic Diplomacy — is co-hosting. Known for forging powerful cross-cultural connections, she also founded BeAfricaLuxury, which promotes African creatives globally, and Power WalkHER Global, a platform uniting women leaders worldwide.
The lineup includes civil rights attorney Ben Crump, actress and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Kat Graham, Global Black Economic Forum CEO Alphonso David, sociologist and author Anna Malaika Tubbs, humanitarian Gwen Madiba, Liberia’s Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti, and strategist Rachel Noerdlinger. Their presence, say event organisers, amplifies FGI’s mission to push equity and economic freedom into mainstream global dialogue.
As nations set forth commitments during UNGA week, Simone’s initiative aims to ensure economic justice remains part of those promises. By convening artists, CEOs, heads of state and advocates under one roof, the Fearless Fund hopes to spark collaborations that cross borders — and reset expectations for what inclusive economic power can look like.
