Inspiredu Atlanta’s Post

Twenty-three is a game-changing number — ask Michael Jordan and Lebron James. Since 2021, Resource has graduated two cohorts comprising 23 BIPOC-led Entrepreneur Support Organizations – raising over USD 23M in operating capital. Our report with Black Innovation Alliance, “Shifting the Center,” embodies both the current work and future vision for Resource – an initiative to back the entrepreneur support organizations that support entrepreneurs of color. The notion of shifting the center is what the ESO leaders we support do daily in disrupting systemic economic inequity. We envision a future where Black, Latinx, and indigenous-led ESOs have the necessary resources to mobilize investment capital to the startups they support. Read the report to learn more about this vision for Resource’s next chapter and learn five ways you can join us: https://lnkd.in/d-J-HpiK 

📺✨ In case you missed it! Joe Cecala and Dwain J. Kyles Kyles rocked the airwaves on Scripps Networks Interactive, delving into the historic movement that's reshaping the entrepreneurial game! 🌐💡 Catch the replay to learn how Dream Exchange is making waves, breaking barriers, and bringing unprecedented access to capital. 🌟💰 Don't miss the highlights of this groundbreaking discussion! 🔗 #DreamExchange #AccessToCapital #ScrippsTV #FinancialInnovation #BusinessLeaders #BlackHistoryMonth #LegacyBuilding

I'm thrilled to announce that Honey Beauty has completed the 2024 Pitch Fifteen: New York Grant Application by Fifteen Percent Pledge. This pitch competition is dedicated to supporting our Business Equity Community. Black entrepreneurs continue to face systemic barriers when it comes to accessing funding to grow their businesses. In 2023, Black founders in the U.S. received just 0.48% of all venture capital dollars. These barriers also extend into our banking systems, where 57% of Black business owners are denied a bank loan during the formation of their business. Fifteen Percent Pledge is working to close that gap. To date, the Pledge has awarded over $650,000 in direct funding to Black-owned businesses, empowering founders to make their own decisions about how and where to invest in order to scale their production. The winner of this competition will walk away with a $15,000 grant, supported by Nordstrom, to power the growth of their business. We're excited about this opportunity and the potential it holds for Honey Beauty. As we look to expand into retail, this grant will serve as a stepping stone to build meaningful business relationships that will elevate the brand and make it more accessible to our audience. Thank you for supporting our journey! Learn more: https://lnkd.in/g_C7CqdB #HoneyBeauty #FifteenPercentPledge #BlackOwnedBusiness #Entrepreneurship #PitchCompetition #BusinessEquity #SupportBlackBusiness

Samantha Ettus was on a mission: to enable recurring revenue streams for women and others operating as independent contractors. She used a unique hiring strategy to achieve it: In 2018, Ettus launched Park Place Payments, offering payment solutions to small businesses. One piece of her growth strategy particularly stood out: how she recruited her team. Instead of relying on conventional hiring, Ettus ventured into online universities, sought individuals ensnared by multi-level marketing schemes, and leveraged her digital presence to build a national sales team for her startup. Using $4 million in VC funding, she brought on 1,500 account executives as independent contractors in all 50 states. The result? Sales representatives who resonated with local business nuances, advocating for the brand at a grassroots level. By 2023, annual revenue grew to $3 million. But then the funding market dried up. To keep growing, Ettus decided to sell – and stay at the new company to continue building the brand. She sold for about $7 million in an all-stock deal, with about two-thirds of the payout contingent on a performance-based earn-out. More details in our full story. Link in the comments.

We're excited to bring you an exclusive interview with Dana Rosenberg, Managing Partner at CQL Capital, LP and chair of the upcoming Business Transitions Forum in San Diego. Dana shares invaluable insights into the world of business transitions, offering guidance for entrepreneurs and business leaders. Key Takeaways: ➡️ Challenges for Family-Owned Businesses: The dynamics of family-owned businesses have shifted. Dana highlights, "There are fewer and fewer businesses handed down to the next generation." This shift creates new challenges and opportunities for business owners. ➡️ Liquidity Needs and Generational Shifts: Founders often have their net worth tied up in their business, making growth difficult without additional capital. Dana notes, "What they’re looking for is some level of liquidity to diversify risks and unlock cash flow." ➡️ Preparing for the Future: The Business Transitions Forum (BTF) has been educating entrepreneurs since 2015. Now expanding into the US, starting with San Diego, BTF offers strategies to grow businesses and enhance shareholder value through M&A. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gKj38WK6

We’re proud to name that the Treasury department - through an initiative led by Vice President Kamala Harris - is among Symphonic Capital’s Limited Partners! We collaborated with Madame Vice President as part of a federal initiative to invest in underrepresented founders in North Carolina. Both Sydney and Shruti are proud graduates of North Carolina Universities – Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Shruti Shah is based in North Carolina and we’re so excited be connected to the startup community there! By investing in founders building health and wealth solutions for the 99%, we know that North Carolina – and other regions – will experience positive ripple effects far greater than any one founder’s exit or financial success.  And we’re not done yet. Who are the fintech or digital health companies we should connect with, especially in regions most VCs overlook? Tag them below. 👇🏾 #northcarolina #northcarolinavc #impactinvesting

You can’t beat a couple of days down in LDN! Even as a true Northerner, I absolutely love this city! There’s so much going on, there’s so many people to meet and you even get a bit of sunshine! Whether you are a founder or investor, based outside of LDN, you have two choices: 1️⃣ Complain that most of the VC capital goes into LDN and the South; or 2️⃣ Hop on that two hour train every couple of weeks or months and build some real relationships with people who love investing into great businesses, regardless of where they are, and showcase the great stuff going on in the regions. Personally, I find the second option much more energising than the first! For anyone who I missed this time, I’m back down on May 8th and I have a couple of hours still open. Hit me with a message if you want to meet up. _____________________________________ 💭 Agree? Disagree? Let me know in the comments. 🔔 Like my content and want to see more? Follow or connect. ♻ Found this post useful and think your network will to? Please hit that repost button. #vc #venturecapital #founders #founderstories #raisingequity 

Read and re read that first line. Then take action. On everything.

The singular trait that successful founders share is grit. The ability to smile when told “you just don’t fit our investment profile” time and again. What does that mean? Don’t overthink it. To reschedule when the person taking the meeting had a last minute change, to put another expense on apersonal credit card to preserve precious equity. The celebrations are few in the early days, but it’s the tough days that make the moments of success that much sweeter. It’s been an amazing few months running the hamster wheel of seeking to close our Seed round ($250k still up for grabs!), meeting people and potential partners in Australia, working to on-board our pilot customers, all while being a part of an amazing cohort of 20 female founders over the last 12 weeks with Ministry of Awesome, culminating this week in the Electrify Showcase today (where I pitched!) and the conference tomorrow. I am beyond blessed to have a tribe of women who are my personal cheerleaders and mentors. But I also have a pride of lion men who have given me encouragement and strength to take a risk, stand with my power, help open doors, believe in the vision, and never say no when I ask for their thoughts or help. This post is a special recognition flex to the men who selflessly support women like me on their wild entrepreneurial journey and have been champions of Vester to help bring this dream to life. Thank you. 🙏 Candace Kinser (BTW, if you haven’t seen the incredible documentary Show Her The Money, please do. It’s a sobering and deeply inspiring look at the inherent determination, resilience and passion that women bring to the world of entrepreneurship, and those who support them.) #dreamscometrue #keepswimming #investible #propeltheworld #fintech #manifest #diversify To name a few of the extraordinary men on my journey: Robbie Adams Paul Le Roy Richard Wyke Andrew Mitchell Will Malan 🌱 Rod Drury Rob Everett Craig Stobo Chris Thomas Pete Weaver James Lee Jacques Richter Zach Warder-Gabaldon

I sold my company to a PE firm, and this is why… It really comes down to support. In the early days of my business (Studio Pia) I thought I had to be seen to know it all (when I knew nothing!). I struggled to admit that I might not have all the answers, and I fumbled my way along hoping my best was good enough. It worked for a while and got us to profitability, but it wasn’t enough to maintain at that level in a tough economy. Honestly the last couple of years post-covid have been challenging to say the least. My team worked incredibly hard to grow, but the reality was we’d been living hand-to-mouth, never having enough to invest in the areas we know we needed to. I’d found myself spending less and less time doing the things I’m am really strong at (creative) and couldn’t help feeling it was having an impact on the product. I was yearning for more high-level team support, but we simply couldn’t afford it. In the last year, having joined 2 amazing communities: Female Founders Rise and BUY WOMEN BUILT, I’ve found comfort amongst my peers, and built the confidence to ask for help without shame. I also learned a ton about investment and exit events though the insightful webinars and panel discussions they both provide. When the acquisition offer was made, it seemed too good to be true! I would remain in position as head the company, with the support of a board of experts in commerce and finance, and further access to team who could help with marketing, hr, tech and more. What’s more is we’d finally have the funds for those growth levers we’d been desperate to pull 🤩 It was an easy YES! It’s only been a couple of weeks and already I feel a weight has been lifted knowing that we have the team and financial support we need to thrive. I’m energised and so excited to see where it can take us next. Dare I use a rocket emoji? 🚀 What could you do with more support? It’s a question I wish I’d asked myself a lot sooner 😅