Uriridiakoghene “Ulili” has a beautiful name, derived from Urhobo language in Nigeria meaning glory be to God. The strength of her name transcends into her presence and even into her passion for her work, something she’s gained through personal life experiences.
“ I think there were a couple of things in my life that I saw as obstacles but really were impactful and helped shape my identity.”
As a young child, Ulili was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. She became very familiar with the insides of hospitals and emergency rooms, witnessing healthcare inequities first hand. Now as one of very few Black female Partners in venture capital, Ulili leads the Kapor Capital healthcare portfolio, just one of the many ways she works to have a positive social impact, something that’s also apart of the Kapor Capital thesis.
Through her investments, Ulili aims to help families and individuals avoid healthcare disparities and financial burdens due to healthcare treatment that she experienced herself growing up.
“You shouldn’t have to make the decision between am I’m going to let my light bill go off because I have to buy medicine. Here at Kapor Capital, I’m working on products that hopefully will help people not have to make those decisions.”
From the Hunter’s Point neighborhood of San Francisco to the University of California, Berkeley as a Level Playing Field Institute IDEAL scholar, to the Duke Fuqua School of Business, and now Kapor Capital, Ulili says that her distance traveled story is one of knowledge. Watch the video above to learn more about Ulili and to hear her distance traveled story.