20/30 Visions
A series in which we ask global thought-leaders: how do we build a more sustainable and inclusive world by 2030?
The world of sustainability and impact has come a long way in the two decades since Bridges launched in 2002. But given the scale of the challenges we face, it's not enough.
If we are to have any hope of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 (the theoretical target) – or getting anywhere close to Net Zero – we need to go much further, much faster.
Our 20/30 Visions series explores what this needs to look like in practice. In each episode, we speak to a different expert or thought-leader from around the globe, and ask them: what needs to change if we want to build a more sustainable and inclusive future in the next decade? And how do we make that change happen?
20/30 Visions
20/30 Visions: Kim Folsom on financing more diverse founders
In this episode, we're focusing on a critical aspect of building a more inclusive economy: ensuring that more funding flows to businesses led by diverse founders. The stats are stark: although venture capital investment hit record highs last year, businesses led by black, Latinx and female entrepreneurs accounted for a disproportionately small amount of this - low single digit percentages at best. According to Morgan Stanley, this means we are missing out on a $4 trillion opportunity in the U.S. alone!
To discuss how we can fix this, we're delighted to welcome Kim Folsom, CEO of US-based Founders First Capital Business. A successful entrepreneur in her own right, Kim is now focused on using revenue-based financing to help over 1,000 diverse entrepreneurs access the capital and knowledge they need to build sustainable businesses. In our interview, we discuss:
- Her own journey as an entrepreneur,, and the challenges she had to overcame
- The scale of the capital gap facing diverse founders, and why it exists
- The disadvantages of traditional debt funding for communities of color (and the benefits of revenue-based financing)
- The need for more education and awareness-building
- Why funding diverse founder-led businesses is not about philanthropy
- And more
Produced & presented by James Taylor
Editing by Jake Hatt @ Free Bird Film
Watch the videos at www.bridgesfundmanagement.com/2030visions