Meet Our Team
The leadership team behind Project Wellspring has collectively managed over $5 billion in assets and deployed over $500 million in venture capital. This experience directly supports the project’s mission to address wealth disparities in underinvested communities.
By unlocking dormant philanthropic capital—over $230 billion in DAFs—and blending it with private investments, the team is positioned to achieve its $1 billion funding goal. Their strategic focus on key areas like food systems, franchising, venture capital, and real estate will drive wealth creation. Additionally, the project’s partners, including Living Cities and SDG Global Impact, bring years of expertise and resources to further amplify Project Wellspring's impact and foster systemic change.
Who We Are
Brooke Daniels
Managing Partner
Brooke Daniels - Brooke Daniels has been a pioneer in various domains. With an impressive career spanning over 15 years in Silicon Valley, Brooke has held leadership roles in tech, real estate investing, and venture capital, including as an Executive at Salesforce Ventures, where she was part of the senior leadership team managing a portfolio of over $5 billion in assets under management (AUM). She brings a wealth of experience in scaling companies, driving growth, and strategically investing in socially and economically disadvantaged founders.
Brooke has served as a mentor for Techstars, Pharrell Williams' Black Ambition, and as a Steering Committee Member for BLCKVC. She is also an advisor to the Justice Technology Association and an Investment Committee Member for Cap Table Coalition, an angel investing group focused on diversifying VC. She was also a participant in the prestigious U.S. State Department Youth Ambassador Program (CBYX) to Germany and holds an Executive MBA from Kenan-Flagler at the University of North Carolina (UNC).
Qiana Patterson
Managing Partner
Qiana Patterson - Qiana Patterson is a powerhouse investor, operator, and visionary leader driving inclusive innovation. As Managing Partner at Nayah—a Family Office Venture Studio—she has propelled early-stage ventures toward sustainable growth with exceptional strategic and operational expertise.
She has deployed nearly $45 million with the Cap Table Coalition to diversify venture capital and has held pivotal roles as COO, Interim CEO, and VP of Strategy. Qiana also champions community impact through transformative initiatives like unrestricted grants for founders of color in SouthLA and engaging programming that draws hundreds. A sought-after speaker and storyteller—from Harvard events to fireside chats with top leaders—she exemplifies the power of possibility and the drive to create an economy shaped to fit the needs of most that delivers both maximum impact and financial returns.She is a graduate of the University of Washington, Seattle, University of California, Los Angeles and the University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business.
Dia Simms
Founding Partner
Dia Simms - Dia Simms is a skilled operator with a proven track record of building and scaling successful businesses and catalytic initiatives, coupled with a strong entrepreneurial drive and a commitment to creating positive change.
She is currently Co-Founder and Board Chair of Pronghorn, an American business solution offering a forward-thinking model to effectively diversify any industry for ubiquitous success. Launched in 2021, a modern and disruptive 10-year initiative cultivating the next generation of underrepresented founders, executive leaders, and entrepreneurs. The first case study focuses on the spirits industry and the diverse communities, with outputs expected to have far-reaching impacts on other industries and communities. With the goal to generate $2 billion in economic value in the U.S., Dia and Pronghorn co-founders launched this transformation journey with an immediate focus on sustainable investment, incubation, and cross-functional industry recruitment. Drawing inspiration from its namesake, the pronghorn—the fastest North American land mammal capable of sustaining high speeds over long distances—Pronghorn embodies the philosophy that meaningful change is a marathon, not a sprint.
Rachel Wilson
Founding Partner
Rachel Wilson - Rachel Wilson is an operations and capital access strategist with over a decade of experience spanning automotive, healthcare, technology, and consumer products. Having raised and managed over $100M in venture and non-dilutive funding, she architects governance models that drive sustainable growth across sectors.
Her work bridges philanthropic, private, and public networks to create equitable funding pathways for underrepresented founders—from WNBA stars to tech entrepreneurs. Rachel's collaborative approach has produced tangible results through national supplier diversity initiatives with the National League of Cities and innovative capital programs with emerging and global venture capital firms. Her expertise in redemptive and regenerative capital is further amplified through curating 50+ ecosystem-building events and serving as an advisor to organizations, families, founders, and ESOs worldwide.Her leadership extends to board service and prestigious fellowships with Milken IIE, Margaret Atwood's Practical Utopias, and NAIC Women in Alternatives. An active NASP member with Bloomberg ESG Certification, Rachel brings a data-driven approach to sustainable market reporting. Rachel holds a B.A. in Economics and Business from Agnes Scott College and an M.S. in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology.