November 20, 2024 • Posted by Design Bay Area
It was announced yesterday on Designer Fund that Enrique Allen passed away after a battle with cancer. Enrique’s legacy is one of visionary leadership, where he championed the integration of human-centered design into the tech startup ecosystem, empowering countless designers and entrepreneurs to create innovative solutions that prioritize usability, aesthetics, and social impact.
As cofounder of Designer Fund in 2011, Enrique Allen played a key role in bridging the gap between design and venture capital. His work helped elevate design as a core value in the startup world, providing critical funding, mentorship, and resources to companies that prioritized design as a foundation for innovation. Allen’s leadership extended far beyond his organization; he worked tirelessly to advocate for designers to take leading roles in shaping the future of technology and business.
Designer Fund became a catalyst for the next generation of design-driven startups, creating an ecosystem where the integration of design was seen as crucial to success. Under Allen’s guidance, the organization empowered numerous entrepreneurs to prioritize user experience and societal impact, making design an integral part of their business strategies.
Read more via the links below.
Our thoughts are with his family, wife and son, co-founder Ben Blumenrose and the numerous members of the community who he interacted with over the years. His impact was great and he will be missed dearly.
Read Remembering Enrique Allen on Designer Fund by Ben Blumenrose