A Bold Reminder of Why We Build
This week reminded me why courage, diversity, and conviction are so important. Innovation thrives when we stop following the crowd. My aunt used to call me a skeptic because I questioned everything. My dad called me Negative Nelly. I see now that I was always a contrarian, working against the grain and choosing a different path. That same instinct drives my belief in diverse founders. They challenge convention, see opportunity where others see risk, and push industries forward. I believe the future belongs to those willing to think differently and lead with purpose.
Thank you to everyone who made Power Forward LA an unforgettable experience. To the founders who pitched bold ideas and to the 75 investors, operators, and friends who showed up ready to engage, you turned this from an event into a movement.
Twenty Five Ventures, Equity Angels, partners, and 22 visionary founders. July 2025. Los Angeles. Fairmont Century Plaza.
Out of 22 companies on stage, ARKI walked away with the win. Their vision and flawless execution spoke for themselves. What mattered most was the energy in the room. A shared conviction that real estate innovation and PropTech are still at the starting line.
Mehdi, Natalya Bakaeva, Max Diez, from left to right
I’ll be honest: This past year tested me. I questioned if doubling down on diverse leadership was a false signal. I watched companies pull back on what we know drives performance: diversity of thought and experience. Sometimes quietly through language. Sometimes, cutting entire DEI teams overnight can be done loudly. It was hard not to wonder if the progress we fought for was slipping away.
The data proves it, but the founders we celebrated a few weeks ago embody it every single day.
Then Power Forward happened. Every conversation, every founder on stage, every investor leaning in proved the point: diversity is not a social program. It is a business advantage.
Maximillian Diez, Power Forward, Fairmont Century Plaza, LA
I said something in LA that I will repeat because I believe it.
“The future of venture is inclusive, intentional, and impossible to ignore.”
When I think about this, I think about history. The Founding Fathers were immigrants or the children of immigrants. They built a nation on risk and resilience. America leads in technology because we embrace bold ideas and the people who bring them to life. We should never forget this; it is what this country was built upon.
“The future of venture is inclusive, intentional, and impossible to ignore.”
As the son of an immigrant—second generation from the Philippines—I carry that truth with me every day. Innovation and progress have always been rooted in courage: the courage to believe in something better, to take risks, and to welcome different perspectives. That’s what built this country, and that’s what will define the future we’re building together.
A Special Shout-Out
Stacy Spikes’ powerful keynote on navigating adversity to Lesley Paterson’s story of perseverance, and panels like “The $84 Trillion Shift: Unleashing the Power of Cultural Wealth,” every moment of this summit sparked connection and growth.
Lesley Paterson, Stacy Spikes, Power Forward, Fairmont Century Plaza, LA
Thank you to those who made this inaugural summit possible.
• Katherine “Kat” Winston and Kenya Burrell-VanWormer for their leadership and commitment that made this event happen.
• To the Equity Angels advisors, Rose Redondo Graves, Jesse Garcia, and Ruel Macaraeg, for guidance every step of the way.
• My partners at Twenty Five Ventures, EJ Pineda and Alexandra Tieu, and our board advisors, Simon Chen, Stephanie Silcott, and Vince Wang, for believing in this vision.
Maximillian Diez, Simon Chen, Patrick Lee, CEO of Rotten Tomatoes
• Our Limited Partners for trusting us to lead and backing this mission from the beginning. Your support is the foundation of everything we are building together.
• Our partners and supporters Rod Watson at Distinct Property Management & Concierge, Kelly McHenry, Patrick Lee, Celenia Tapia, and Armello Rodriguez at Wells Fargo, Craig D’Cruze, Latittude Ventures, All-State Strategic Ventures, Thai Randolph, Katie Soo, BERG Collective, BlackTech Meetup, Asia Society Southern California, HumblePod, and Fairmont Century Plaza for elevating this event.
Finally, to every startup, funder, and advisor: thank you for showing up, leaning in, and proving the future we are building is bold, inclusive, and unstoppable.
See you at the next one!
xoxo,
Maximillian Diez, General Partner
Twenty Five Ventures
P.S. Stay with me on this journey.
If nothing else, thanks for reading.
