rewriting the script on how we invest

Responding to a LI post shared over the weekend, and thank you Daniel Smith, MBA for prompting my response.

"In the first half of 2024, Black-founded U.S. startups secured $228 million in funding, accounting for just 0.3% of the nearly $79 billion raised by U.S. startups overall... This marks a 60% drop from H1 2023 and is a long fall from the $4.5 billion raised by Black founders in 2021. Venture deal flow is also at an all-time low, with only 66 deals completed in the first half of 2024—down 53% from last year. Despite ongoing discussions around diversity in venture capital, these numbers show that the gap is only widening. Black-founded startups are on pace to raise less than half a billion dollars in 2024, setting a new low in the past decade."

~ LI post referencing this Crunchbase article

"We say we seek greater diversity and equality innovation yet we continue to act without a priority of true inclusion or the appetite for intentional risk needed to expand, growth, and truly transform systems and society."

I left the investment services industry in 2000 seeking MORE alignment, consistently demonstrated, between how people invest and where they say their values and priorities are.

It felt better to me to forge a new and unknown path than to stay in a system that didn't feed my soul or wasn't actively working towards new, more inclusive pathways of possibilities that are hopeful, solutions-focused, and strengths-based.

Reflecting back on this almost 25-year journey, here's My Top 5 when asked, "How do you think this will be accomplished?"

• Money is merely a measurement (evidence) of where we place our priorities. As our priorities shift, the dollars will shift. There's been much focus on trying to shift the dollars. I would suggest more energy needs to go towards shifting priorities. #MoreFromMedia
• How do we shift priorities? As decision-makers wake up to the fact that if we want different results, different decisions must be made. Sounds simple, but the practice isn't for the weak. This is an entire podcast conversation which I'd be happy to dive into with folks who truly want to go there.
• Find your people. There is a growing population of brilliant folks who are seeing that every single thing is interconnected. If we want a different future 50 years from now, we are the ones in this generation to re-route the ship. Find your people, and put your energy, attention, expertise, and focus there.
• Use a generational lens. What seeds are we planting now that our grandkids will thank us for? That's where true innovation lies. We are brave enough to reach beyond ourselves and work on transformative measurements so big they may not be fully realized in our lifetime? #legacy
• Be aware of your messaging. Messaging directly affects our mindset. Mindset affects our decisions. Change our messaging. Change our decisions. As a two-time founder now in my 50's, my focus on the narrative-shifting power of regenerative media. It MUST be tied to what we care deeply about and place so much value on that we will consider making different decisions.

Here's the invitation - Pull yourself up to 30,000': You are a human being about to walk into 2025 on this planet. What do you want to be remembered for? The pandemic gave us pause and an opening in our consciousness to shift our societal trajectory. There is a softening and an openness to do things differently. Let's go there.

If you'd like to connect and learn more about regenerative media and our vision that intentionally intersects the proactive, positive use of media to fuel greater well-being and human agency, please DM me or visit regenimpactmedia.com.