Sign In

McKeever (Mac) Conwell,II

Founder & Managing Partner at RareBreed Ventures

McKeever (Mac) Conwell II is the Founder and Managing Partner at RareBreed Ventures, a pre-seed venture capital fund based in Baltimore, Maryland. He has a background as a software engineer and previously worked as a contractor for the Department of Defense, where he held a top-secret clearance. Conwell is recognized for his dual experience as a founder, having launched two startups—one of which successfully exited by selling its intellectual property to a Fortune 100 company, while the other faced challenges that led to its closure.134

Career and Ventures

Conwell founded RareBreed Ventures in September 2020 after leaving the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO), where he was involved in seed-stage investments. His venture fund focuses on investing in exceptional founders, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, aiming to bridge the funding gap that minority entrepreneurs often face. RareBreed Ventures typically invests between $100,000 to $250,000 in early-stage startups.256

In addition to his role at RareBreed, Conwell serves as a board member for the Digital Harbor Foundation and has been an advisor for various initiatives aimed at supporting educational and entrepreneurial efforts in the community.27 He is also a Kauffman Fellow, which is a prestigious program designed for emerging leaders in the venture capital space.23

Education and Recognition

Conwell holds a degree in Computer Science from Morgan State University and completed the Venture Capital Unlocked program at Stanford University in 2019. He has received accolades such as the Baltimore Business Journal's Tech 10 award, recognizing his contributions to the local tech ecosystem.247

Personal Insights

Conwell's journey reflects his commitment to enhancing diversity in the startup landscape. He emphasizes the importance of uplifting underrepresented voices and believes that true diversity in thought can only emerge from diverse backgrounds. His experiences, both positive and negative, have shaped his approach to venture capital and community engagement, making him a notable figure in the Baltimore startup scene.67

Highlights

Oct 27 · twitter

Another @RarebreedVC founder doing RareBreed things. Shootout to Yinka founder of @Halobraid. Proud to be one of her first investors back in 2023. Black women are amazing BTW

https://t.co/74BuCmtpkJ

Oct 24 · twitter

I'v been asked: “Why would you invest in a wig company?”

The truth is — @TheRenatural isn’t a wig company. It’s a deep tech beauty manufacturer transforming how wigs are made.

When I first met @aasiyahjasmine a few years ago at a pitch competition at Harvard, she shared her vision for a radically new approach to human hair wigs — one powered by a proprietary manufacturing device her team was building from the ground up.

She’s now done exactly that. Take a look at their innovation in action: https://t.co/PNxaz5uGxQ.

For context, most human hair wigs today are made by hand, a process that can take one to two weeks per unit. The Renatural’s technology allows the production of five or more wigs a day — a leap in both efficiency and scalability.

While they’ve started with their own line of wigs, the long-term vision is to license this device to brands and manufacturers worldwide. That’s a massive opportunity in an industry that has seen little innovation in decades.

From day one, I knew The Renatural would redefine its category — not because of what they sell, but because of the founder’s relentless vision and technical brilliance.

This isn’t about wigs. It’s about technology reshaping beauty manufacturing.

Related Questions

What inspired Mac Conwell to transition from software engineering to venture capital?
How does RareBreed Ventures identify exceptional founders outside of large tech ecosystems?
What are some notable investments made by RareBreed Ventures?
How did Mac Conwell's experience as a DOD contractor influence his approach to venture capital?
What are the key services provided by RareBreed Ventures to accelerate startup growth?
McKeever (Mac) Conwell,II
McKeever (Mac) Conwell,II, photo 1
McKeever (Mac) Conwell,II, photo 2
Add to my network

Experience

Founder & Managing Partner at RareBreed Ventures (September 2020 - Present)
Board Member at Digital Harbor Foundation (October 2017 - Present)

Education

Venture Capital Unlocked at Stanford University (2019), Computer Science at Morgan State University (2004 - 2007) - Honor Student

Location

Owings Mills, Maryland, United States