5 Ways Brian Hollins Is Reshaping Tech: From Goldman Sachs To Collide Capital

As of December 2025, Brian Hollins stands as one of the most dynamic figures at the intersection of venture capital, technology, and social impact. Far from being a single-track professional, Hollins has leveraged his deep financial background from institutions like Goldman Sachs to build a powerful ecosystem dedicated to funding overlooked founders and mentoring the next generation of Black leaders in tech. His current work as the Managing Partner of Collide Capital and the CEO of The Takeoff Institute defines a new era of purpose-driven investment.

This comprehensive profile dives into the life and career of the entrepreneur and investor Brian Hollins, detailing his crucial roles in bridging the capital gap for underrepresented communities. While the name is also shared by a professional golfer, this article focuses on the visionary who is actively deploying millions into early-stage companies and pioneering diversity initiatives across the tech landscape.

Brian Hollins: Investor, Founder, and Visionary Profile

Brian Hollins has established a formidable career across finance and entrepreneurship, focusing on creating equitable opportunities within the venture capital ecosystem. Below is a detailed look at his professional and personal background:

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• Primary Role: Founder and Managing Partner at Collide Capital.
• Non-Profit Role: Founder and CEO of The Takeoff Institute.
• Previous Experience: Spent six years at Goldman Sachs, primarily focused on Growth Equity and building a VC coverage arm for growth stage software businesses.
• Fellowship: Kauffman Fellow, Class 26.
• Board Membership: Founding Board Member at BLCKVC.
• Education: Graduate of Stanford University.
• Hometown: Washington, D.C.
• Interests: Travel, golf, and scuba diving.
• Philanthropic Focus: Democratizing resources, mentorship, and financial literacy for the Black undergraduate population.

The Investment Thesis: Collide Capital and Intersectional Funding

Collide Capital, co-founded by Brian Hollins and Aaron Samuels, is a venture capital firm that has quickly made a significant impact since its founding in 2021. The firm recently closed its first seed stage fund, which totaled an impressive $66 million, a testament to the market's belief in their investment philosophy.

The core of Collide Capital’s strategy is its focus on intersectional founders—entrepreneurs whose unique life experiences and diverse perspectives give them an edge in identifying and solving complex market problems. This focus moves beyond simple diversity metrics to a belief that varied lived experiences lead to superior investment returns.

Key Investment Verticals and Market Focus

Collide Capital targets early-stage companies, typically investing from pre-seed through Series A rounds. Their investment portfolio is strategically aligned with several high-growth, business-to-business (B2B) sectors, reflecting Hollins's background in Growth Equity and software analysis.

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The firm concentrates on four main verticals:

• Enterprise SaaS (Software as a Service): Investing in scalable software solutions for businesses.
• Fintech (Financial Technology): Supporting innovations that disrupt traditional financial services.
• Supply Chain and Logistics: Targeting technologies that improve efficiency and resilience in global supply chains.
• Future of Work: Backing companies that are redefining how people work, collaborate, and learn.

By focusing on these areas, Collide Capital not only seeks financial returns but also aims to inject capital into a diverse group of founders who are often overlooked by traditional Silicon Valley venture capital firms.

The Takeoff Institute: Building the Pipeline of Black Tech Talent

Hollins's commitment to equity extends beyond capital deployment through his work with The Takeoff Institute, an organization he founded in 2020. This non-profit is built on the critical mission to empower Black undergraduate students across the country, helping them to successfully launch their careers after graduation.

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The inspiration for The Takeoff Institute came directly from Hollins’s own experiences. After graduating from Stanford University and spending six years in the demanding environment of Goldman Sachs, he recognized the profound importance of having the right resources and mentorship. He saw a systemic gap in access for Black students, particularly in areas of financial literacy and high-level career training.

The Impact of the Summer Fellowship Program

The core of the Institute’s efforts is its intensive 8-week Summer Fellowship Program. This program is designed to provide selected students with personalized advisors, one-on-one mentorship, and comprehensive career training. The program’s curriculum is specifically tailored to equip fellows with the skills and network necessary to thrive in competitive fields like technology, finance, and venture capital.

By democratizing access to these essential tools, The Takeoff Institute is actively cultivating a new generation of Black leaders, ensuring that the talent pipeline feeding into the tech and finance industries is more diverse and robust.

Brian Hollins’s Transition from Wall Street to Venture Capital

Brian Hollins's professional journey provides a compelling blueprint for the modern investor. His six-year tenure at Goldman Sachs was instrumental in shaping his perspective on technology investment. Working within the firm's Growth Equity team, he gained deep expertise in analyzing and backing high-potential software businesses. This experience gave him a crucial understanding of the mechanisms of large-scale finance and the importance of strategic capital deployment.

His transition to founding Collide Capital and The Takeoff Institute was a deliberate move to apply institutional rigor to a more purpose-driven model. As a Kauffman Fellow, he joined a prestigious network of venture capitalists dedicated to accelerating innovation, further cementing his role as a thought leader in the industry.

Hollins's dual focus—running a successful, high-growth venture fund while simultaneously managing a non-profit dedicated to systemic change—positions him as a powerful force in the conversation around diversity in technology. He is not just talking about the need for more Black founders and funders; he is actively building the infrastructure to make it happen through both capital and education. His work with BLCKVC, an organization dedicated to empowering Black investors, further underscores his commitment to creating a more equitable ecosystem.

Ultimately, Brian Hollins is demonstrating that financial success and social impact are not mutually exclusive. His investment in intersectional founders and the future talent pipeline is a long-term strategy set to reshape the landscape of early-stage investments and the overall representation of Black professionals in venture capital for years to come.