About Richards Capital
Life, wealth & impact
We enable founders to live authentically, abundantly and with purpose, and we invest in the communities they come from.
Our legacy
From the South Side to Richards Capital
Richards Capital didn't start with a fund. It started with a family business, and a belief that ownership is how families and communities build wealth that lasts.
25+ years
Chris Richards Sr. builds a business
For more than 25 years, Chris Richards Sr., a Black business owner from Chicago's South Side, owned and ran a heating and air conditioning company. The business built wealth for the Richards family and helped other local businesses grow alongside it.
The foundation
Wealth generation, passed down
More than a company, Chris Sr. built a blueprint: own what you build, invest in the people around you, and create wealth that carries forward. That blueprint was passed on to the next generation.
2015-2021
Christopher builds & sells Prisma Systems
Christopher Richards put that blueprint to work, founding his first company, the e-commerce technology business Prisma Systems, and selling it in 2021.
Today
Founder & CEO of UX Brite
With more than a decade in product development, marketing and entrepreneurship, Christopher leads UX Brite, helping B2B teams build products customers love and go-to-market strategies that drive predictable revenue. More than 200 companies across SaaS, AI, e-commerce and HardTech trust his work.
The next chapter
Richards Capital
Richards Capital carries the family legacy forward. A Chicago native, Christopher has long championed minority business owners. Now our studio and fund give founders the capital, tools and partners to build generational wealth of their own.
Hear the story
From idea to acquisition
Christopher Richards shares his journey as a Black SaaS founder, from first idea to acquisition, and the lessons that shaped Richards Capital.
The premise we're changing
Capital hasn't followed talent
Black founders build companies in every industry, yet receive a sliver of venture capital. Richards Capital exists to change that premise, backing Black and underrepresented founders with capital, hands-on support and a network that shows up.
- of U.S. venture funding went to startups with a Black founder in 2025
- 0.32%
Source: Crunchbase, May 2026
Our mission 2025-2030
Equitable & accessible investment for underrepresented founders
We exist to provide equitable and accessible investment to underrepresented founders and communities. By 2030, we aim to:
- Fund 25 companies in Chicago and major U.S. cities
- Grow our partner network to at least 100 trusted accredited investors and limited partners
- Form community partnerships with 50+ organizations nationwide and across the Midwest
- Help close the founder racial wealth gap, growing minority business owners' personal net worth by $5MM+
Our impact
Helping founders grow & scale
Proven coaching
Founders get proven training and coaching through our studio, turning goals into results.
Access to capital
Founders gain access to capital, and investors get connected with opportunities.
Market-ready innovation
Our resources help founders transform industries with market-ready solutions.
2030 & beyond
Envisioning a brighter future
Richards Capital is uniquely positioned to be a catalyst for growth, and not just for Midwest companies. Over time, we plan to expand our studio and investment offerings to a global reach.
What guides us
Our values & commitment to founders
Transparency
We build trust by being honest and transparent in our relationships with startups and partners.
Innovation
We admire those who find new ways to empower people and improve lives.
Diversity
We are a team of leaders from different backgrounds who bring different strategies to our work and our portfolio.
Build with us
Founders, investors and community partners: let's make visions a reality, together.