Aih. Our Team
Leading the Way in Investment
Skot Welch
Founder & Co-Managing Partner
Co-Founder of New Community Transformation Fund, Founder & President of Global Bridgebuilders
Skot is the Principal/Founder of Global Bridgebuilders (GBB) A firm focusing on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion utilizing a continuous improvement model, anchored in metrics and focused on innovation. Global Bridgebuilders is an international team providing services to enterprises across the globe.
Skot has also served as Vice President of Business Development and Benchmarking Services for DiversityInc magazine in New Jersey, working with many of the Fortune 500’s biggest global brands.
He is a nationally published author of several books and publications including: 101 Ways to Enjoy The Mosaic, Plantation Jesus – Race, Faith and a New Way Forward; The Ross School of Business - University of Michigan: Diversity Management as a Generative Strategic Process and “Unfractured: A Christ- Centered Action Plan for Cultural Change (11/7/23 release). He is also co-founder and managing partner of The New Community Transformation Fund a $25M Venture Capital Fund focusing on entrepreneurs of color and founder & president of The National Black MBA Association, Inc. (NBMBAA) - Greater Michigan Chapter
Skot received his bachelor’s degree (B.A.) from Albion College and his master’s in management (M.M.) and international marketing with honors from Aquinas College.
Forrest P. Branch
Managing Director (Namibia)
SADC Region VC Fund Inv. Committee Chair, Africa Multi-Sector Portfolio Lead
Forrest is an innovator and recognized industry expert in Africa’s telecoms infrastructure, and agribusiness value chains throughout Southern Africa. For more than a decade, he has successfully raised and managed growth capital for portfolio companies in these sectors.
He has provided direct advisory guidance for the launch of Namibia’s second national fiber optic cable infrastructure between Namibia and Botswana, data centres in Angola, and value added, commercial-scale agribusiness operations in Namibia, Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Kingdom of Lesotho. Forrest also co-founded EMH Capital, a NAMFISA licensed asset management company with funds peaking at N$2B in assets under management, and serves as a business mentor for the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN).
Forrest holds an MBA (cum laude) in Finance and Corporate Innovation Strategy, and a B.S. in Quantitative Economics. He is based in Windhoek, Namibia and has extensive venture capital fund management experience serving as investment committee chair of the only state- backed VC fund in Namibia. His skills set includes business concept ideation, financial modelling, growth capital raise strategies, and portfolio management. Forrest speaks basic Portuguese, and is fluent in spoken and written English.
Joe Matthews
Co-Managing Partner
Gentex, VentureWell Mentor Commune and Angels Charter Member
Joe is currently the vice-president of diversity, equity and inclusion at Gentex. Prior to that, he was the vice-president of purchasing from 2014 through 2022 where his team was responsible for all direct and indirect material goods and services, logistics spend, customs compliance and supplier diversity spending.
Previous supply management roles include positions at Delphi (Aptiv), Whirlpool Corporation and Management Engineers (now PwC Strategy&). Matthews received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. He has a master’s of engineering, industrial engineering and operations research degree and an MBA from Cornell University.
Beyond Joe’s corporate responsibilities, he has been a life-long entrepreneur. He is a charter member of CommuneAngels , an angel investing group, and been a mentor in residence for VentureWell’s Aspire program for start-ups.
Joe serves on the boards for Institute of Supply Management, Lighthouse Immigrant Advocates, Momentum Center, Fund for Hoosier Excellence, Corewell Health Zeeland Community Board and OESA’s Diversity & Inclusion Council.