BVP Founders Go Global: Tokyo Recognition Fuels Global Expansion
Honored at Venture Café’s Global Gathering, Bison Venture Partners charts next chapter of community-powered innovation — with Nairobi up next.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PHILADELPHIA, PA — April 1, 2025
Bison Venture Partners (BVP) is going global. At the Venture Café Global Gathering in Tokyo, BVP and its Founder & Managing Partner, Garry Johnson III, were spotlighted during a global panel featuring innovation leaders from around the world.
The recognition came from Alix Passage of the University City Science Center, who praised BVP’s consistent collaboration — especially through its flagship brand, BVP Coffee Co., which has catered all quarterly Board Meetings at the Science Center.
🌍 A GLOBAL GATHERING OF INNOVATION
The Venture Café Global Gathering brought together a powerful, international community of changemakers:
✅ 1,000 visitors joined the event
🌐 Representing 80+ countries worldwide
🤝 3,000+ new connections made
💼 Attendees included investors, startups, corporates, researchers, and policymakers
BVP’s presence in Tokyo was a proud moment of recognition and reconnection — reinforcing its global vision for community-powered innovation.
💬 PARTNERSHIP THAT ACTIVATED A CITY
University City Science Center’s SVP of Strategy and Partnerships shared:
“Garry, from speaking at Funding the Hustle to your Program Leadership and co-creating the BVP Coffee Co. Pop-Up experiment, your impact has been felt across many moments. Your partnership was a defining part of what made this work so meaningful and impactful. Through every pivot, gathering, and experiment, you’ve helped shape something that truly activated Philly’s innovation ecosystem. While Venture Café Philadelphia is ending, the momentum continues. ”
✈️ WHAT’S NEXT: GLOBAL GATHERINGS, LOCAL IMPACT
With the recent closure of Venture Café Philadelphia, Bison Venture Partners is stepping up to keep the energy alive — launching a series of weekly gatherings, city activations, and community-based innovation experiences.
BVP’s next destination? Nairobi, Kenya — May 2025.
Founder & Managing Partner, Garry Johnson III, will travel to Nairobi as part of a University of Delaware and Horn Entrepreneurship Siegfried Initiative-funded research experience. He’ll focus on studying Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs) and community-powered innovation models across Kenya’s innovation ecosystem.
While on the ground, he’ll also be exploring strategic opportunities to expand the BVP enterprise globally, including:
🚀 Venture Support Services for ESOs and Innovators
☕ Direct trade relationships for BVP Coffee Co.
🎓 Education partnerships for BVP University
This cross-continental activation is part of BVP’s commitment to building global bridges — connecting ecosystems through culture, entrepreneurship, and shared prosperity.
🎁 GIVEAWAY: TOKYO TREASURES FROM BVP COFFEE CO.
To celebrate the Tokyo expedition, BVP Coffee Co. is launching a Spin-to-Win Giveaway with:
🍯 A limited edition jar of gourmet Tokyo Honey
🗻 A handcrafted Mount Fuji sake glass
🎁 Other specialty items
→ Subscribe to BVP Coffee Co.’s Substack for updates.
🤝 LET’S COLLABORATE
Bison Venture Partners is actively seeking visionary partners ready to activate innovation with culture, connection, and community at the core.
If you’re interested in bringing BVP’s signature blend of venture support, coffee culture, and education to your city, let’s talk.
📩 Contact Garry Johnson III at garry@bv.partners or review our Venture Support Services to explore partnership opportunities.
ABOUT BISON VENTURE PARTNERS
Bison Venture Partners is a community-powered innovation studio on a mission to create, scale, and invest in bold ideas rooted in culture, technology, and collective wealth creation. From local pop-ups to global activations, BVP creates new paths for ownership, storytelling, and sustainable growth.
Media Contact:
Garry Johnson III
Founder & Managing Partner
📧 garry@bv.partners
