Shows
Capital InsightEpisode 68: How to Choose Your Compliance StrategySummary:
In this episode, Jenny and Michelle give an overview of securities compliance law and how to determine which compliance pathway might be right for you. Unpacking decision points such as if you want to advertise your raise publicly, how much you’re raising, where your investors are located, and more, Jenny and Michelle guide you through factors that will help determine which compliance options best fit your needs.
Get In Touch:
Website: https://www.jennykassan.com/
https://crowdfundmainstreet.com/
https://www.opportunitymainstreet.com/
https://www.theselc.org/
https://www.thenextegg.org/...2023-06-2634 minCapital InsightEpisode 67: How to Decide What to Offer to InvestorsSummary: What should you be thinking about when designing your offering to investors? In this episode of Capital Insight Podcast, Jenny and Michelle dive into the five decision points to consider when crafting your term sheet for investors. From how you structure your entity to choosing the economic rights of your investors, these decision points can help guide you in creating a customized offering that best fits you and your business. Listen to the full episode here.
Get In Touch:
Website: https://www.jennykassan.com/
https://crowdfundmainstreet.com/
https://www.opportunitymainstreet.com/...2023-06-0626 minCapital InsightEpisode 66: How Perpetual Purpose Trusts Can Preserve Your MissionSummary: In this episode Jenny talks about what a Perpetual Purpose Trust is, the mechanics of using one, and why you might want to set one up for your company.
Get In Touch:
Website: https://www.jennykassan.com/
https://crowdfundmainstreet.com/
https://www.opportunitymainstreet.com/
https://www.theselc.org/
https://www.thenextegg.org/
Socials:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jennykassan
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennykassan/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekassangroup/
Additional Resource:
Angels of Main Street is a community of investors...2023-05-0914 minCapital InsightEpisode 65: Is Investment Crowdfunding a New Economic Development Tool?Summary: In this episode of the Capital Insight Podcast, co-host Michelle Thimesch interviews Pink Bench Distillery founders about their handcrafted business model that was designed to bring prosperity to north west Montana.
Get In Touch:
Website: https://www.jennykassan.com/
https://crowdfundmainstreet.com/
https://www.opportunitymainstreet.com/
https://www.theselc.org/
https://www.thenextegg.org/
Socials:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jennykassan
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennykassan/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekassangroup/
Additional Resource:2023-04-1232 minCapital InsightEpisode 64: Local Economic Development and the Dangers of Mega-corporation GreedSummary: In this episode of the Capital Insight Podcast, co-host Michelle Thimesch talks about Local Economic Development and the dangers of mega-corporation greed.
Get In Touch:
Website: https://www.jennykassan.com/
https://crowdfundmainstreet.com/
https://www.opportunitymainstreet.com/
https://www.theselc.org/
https://www.thenextegg.org/
Socials:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jennykassan
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennykassan/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekassangroup/
Additional Resource:
Angels of Main Street is a commun...2023-04-1116 minCapital InsightEpisode 63: Raising Investment Funds for Inclusive Financial Services with Andy PosnerSummary: In this episode of the Capital Insight Podcast, hosts Jenny and Michelle chat with Andy Posner, Founder and CEO of the nonprofit Capital Good Fund. The fund’s mission is to create pathways out of poverty and advance a green economy through inclusive financial services.
Get In Touch:
Website: https://www.jennykassan.com/
https://crowdfundmainstreet.com/
https://www.opportunitymainstreet.com/
https://www.theselc.org/
https://www.thenextegg.org/
Socials:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jennykassan
Li...2023-01-1726 minCapital InsightEpisode 62: Driving Community Investment for Sustainable Agriculture with Rebecca BusanskySummary: In this episode of the Capital Insight Podcast, hosts Jenny and Michelle chat with Rebecca Busansky, Senior Program Manager at Franklin County Community Development Corporation, about her role in supporting local investing in farms and agricultural businesses in Western Massachusetts.
Get In Touch:
Website: https://www.jennykassan.com/
https://crowdfundmainstreet.com/
https://www.opportunitymainstreet.com/
https://www.theselc.org/
https://www.thenextegg.org/
Socials:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jennykassan
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennykassan/
2022-11-2121 minCapital InsightEpisode 61: Gaining Confidence to Ask for an InvestmentSummary: In this episode of the Capital Insight Podcast, cohosts Jenny Kassan and Michelle Thimesch share a method to boost your confidence to ask for investment.
Get In Touch:
Website: https://www.jennykassan.com/
https://crowdfundmainstreet.com/
https://www.opportunitymainstreet.com/
https://www.theselc.org/
https://www.thenextegg.org/
Socials:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jennykassan
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennykassan/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekassangroup/
Additional Resource:
Angels of Main Street is a...2022-10-2529 minCapital InsightEpisode 60: Raising Capital Step Two: Identify the Right InvestorsSummary: In this episode of the Capital Insight Podcast, cohosts Jenny Kassan and Michelle Thimesch explore the second step of designing your strategy to raise capital on your terms: identifying the right investors for your business.
Get In Touch:
Website: https://www.jennykassan.com/
https://crowdfundmainstreet.com/
https://www.opportunitymainstreet.com/
https://www.theselc.org/
https://www.thenextegg.org/
Socials:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jennykassan
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennykassan/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekassangroup/
2022-10-1825 minCapital InsightEpisode 59: Convertible Income Share Agreements with Will StringerSummary: In this episode of the Capital Insight Podcast, hosts Jenny and Michelle chat with Will Stringer, Founder of Chisos Capital, about the innovative tool he’s developed to help entrepreneurs raise capital.
Get In Touch:
Website: https://www.jennykassan.com/
https://crowdfundmainstreet.com/
https://www.opportunitymainstreet.com/
https://www.theselc.org/
https://www.thenextegg.org/
Socials:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jennykassan
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennykassan/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekassangroup/
Additional Resource:...2022-10-1032 minCapital InsightEpisode 58: Raising Capital for Co-ops with Greg BrodskySummary: In this Capital Insight Podcast episode, hosts Jenny and Michelle chat with Greg Brodsky, Founder and Co-Director of Start.coop, an accelerator for shared ownership companies. Greg shares his journey with cooperative businesses and his focus on promoting socially just businesses funding.
Get In Touch:
Website: https://www.jennykassan.com/
https://crowdfundmainstreet.com/
https://www.opportunitymainstreet.com/
https://www.theselc.org/
https://www.thenextegg.org/
Socials:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jennykassan
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennykassan/
...2022-10-0321 minCapital InsightEpisode 57: The First Step In Raising Capital: Clarify Your Goals and ValuesSummary: In this episode of the Capital Insight Podcast, cohosts Jenny Kassan and Michelle Thimesch explore the first step of raising capital on your own terms: clarifying your goals and values.
Get In Touch:
Website: https://www.jennykassan.com/
https://crowdfundmainstreet.com/
https://www.opportunitymainstreet.com/
https://www.theselc.org/
https://www.thenextegg.org/
Socials:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jennykassan
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennykassan/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekassangroup/
Additional...2022-09-1921 minCapital InsightEpisode 56: Economic Democracy through Community Capital with Mica FisherSummary:
What would it take to achieve economic democracy? On this episode of the Capital Insight Podcast, hosts Jenny Kassan and Michelle Thimesch chat with Mica Fisher, the Managing Director of the National Coalition for Community Capital (NC3) about how to create a healthy economy for all.
Get In Touch:
Website: https://www.jennykassan.com/
https://crowdfundmainstreet.com/
https://www.opportunitymainstreet.com/
https://www.theselc.org/
https://www.thenextegg.org/
Socials:
Twitter: https://twitter.com...2022-08-2921 minCapital InsightEpisode 55: Taking Ethical Investing Seriously with Tom AboodSummary:
In this episode of the Capital Insight Podcast, we chat with impact investor, Tom Abood about his journey with values-aligned investing.
Get In Touch:
Website: https://www.jennykassan.com/
https://crowdfundmainstreet.com/
https://www.opportunitymainstreet.com/
https://www.theselc.org/
https://www.thenextegg.org/
Socials:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jennykassan
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennykassan/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekassangroup/
Additional Resource:
Angels of Main Street is a community of i...2022-08-2224 minCapital InsightEpisode 54: Grassroots Fundraising with Tom MorozSummary:
On this episode of the Capital Insight Podcast, Tom Moroz, founder and director of Stonehedge Holistic Learning Center, shares his journey with grassroots fundraising and the challenges and surprises he’s encountered along the way.
Get In Touch:
Website: https://www.jennykassan.com/
https://crowdfundmainstreet.com/
https://www.opportunitymainstreet.com/
https://www.theselc.org/
https://www.thenextegg.org/
Socials:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jennykassan
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennykassan/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/th...2022-08-0819 minCapital InsightEpisode 53: Questioning Customary Investment Terms: The Role of FoundationsSummary:
On this episode of the Capital Insight podcast, hosts Jenny Kassan and Michelle Thimesch explore foundations as funders and whether their investment term sheets align with their impact missions.
Get In Touch:
Website: https://www.jennykassan.com/
https://crowdfundmainstreet.com/
https://www.opportunitymainstreet.com/
https://www.theselc.org/
https://www.thenextegg.org/
Socials:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jennykassan
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennykassan/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekassangroup/
Additional Resource:
...2022-07-2822 minCapital InsightEpisode 52: Raising Capital Using Intuition with Logan YonavjakIn this episode of the Capital Insight Podcast, financial services professional, social entrepreneur, author, and angel investor, Logan Yonavjak shares what led her to impact investing and what she’s learned about raising capital. Throughout her career, she’s assumed many roles, but her goal has always been raising capital for change: “All along the way my focus has been asking this question: how do we change our economic system?”2022-07-1830 minCapital InsightEpisode 51: Investing in Underrepresented Social Entrepreneurs with Pooja MehtaSummary:
On this episode of the Capital Insight Podcast, hosts Jenny Kassan and Michelle Thimesch are joined by social entrepreneur Pooja Mehta who shares her experience being a woman in the investment industry, what she’s learned as an angel investor, and how she’s supporting other social entrepreneurs.
Get In Touch:
Website: https://www.jennykassan.com/
https://crowdfundmainstreet.com/
https://www.opportunitymainstreet.com/
https://www.theselc.org/
https://www.thenextegg.org/
Socials:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jennykassan
LinkedIn: http...2022-07-0921 min
Capital InsightEpisode 50: Growing the Community Investing Movement with Stephanie GellerSummary:
In this episode of the Capital Insight Podcast, Stephanie Geller, Founder of Community Wealth Builders in Baltimore, Maryland shares the mission and inspiration behind her company. Community Wealth Builders is a nonprofit initiative that focuses on bringing new ideas, policies, and models to her hometown of Baltimore City as a way to build a more equitable, sustainable, and resilient local-based economy.
Get In Touch:
Website: https://www.jennykassan.com/
https://crowdfundmainstreet.com/
https://www.opportunitymainstreet.com/
https://www.theselc.org/
https://www.thenextegg.org/2022-06-2818 minCapital InsightEpisode 49: Exploring Economic Justice with Steve DubbSummary: In this episode of the Capital Insight podcast, hosts Jenny Kassan and Michelle Thimesch are joined by Steve Dubb, a senior editor of economic justice at Nonprofit Quarterly (NPQ), to explore what it takes to build an economy that works for people and the planet.
Bio: Steve Dubb is a senior editor of economic justice at NPQ, where he writes and edits for Nonprofit Quarterly (including his Economy Remix column) and curates a monthly webinar series, Remaking the Economy. Throughout his career with cooperatives and nonprofits, Steve has authored, co-authored, and edited numerous reports; participated in...2022-06-2119 min
Superpowers for Good: Empowering Changemakers for Social Impact via Regulated Investment Crowdfunding from the SuperCrowd.Expert: '99.7% of the Investors in Our Country Are Not Professional'Devin: What is your superpower?Jenny: I think one of my biggest superpowers is seeing the potential that exists in people, just seeing the gifts they have to share with the world and helping them see it, too.Jenny Kassan, President of The Kassan Group, has devoted her impressive career to helping people accomplish more for the greater good of their communities and humanity. She is a partner in Crowdfund Mainstreet and Opportunity Mainstreet and helps lead Angels of Mainstreet. She’ll also be speaking at SuperCrowd22 in September.Explaining her work at Th...2022-06-2126 minCapital InsightEpisode 48: Crowdfunding Regulations and Noncompliance: Breaking Down FINRA’s Million-Dollar FinesSummary: On this episode of the Capital Insight podcast, Jenny and Michelle discuss recent important developments in crowdfunding regulations in light of significant fines issued against two major fundraising portals.
Get In Touch:
Website: https://www.jennykassan.com/
https://crowdfundmainstreet.com/
https://www.opportunitymainstreet.com/
https://www.theselc.org/
https://www.thenextegg.org/
Socials:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jennykassan
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennykassan/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekassangroup/
Additional Resource:2022-06-0829 min
Superpowers for Good: Empowering Changemakers for Social Impact via Regulated Investment Crowdfunding from the SuperCrowd.This Social Entrepreneur May Appear Scattered But She's Laser FocusedDevin: What do you think of within that skill set as being your superpower?Michelle: I am a very practical problem solver. The analytical thinking from the legal training side is something that definitely helps evaluate things. I’m a practical problem solver. I believe there are solutions to all problems. So for me, it’s about communication, openness and problem-solving. I guess that’s multiple superpowers, but I see it under the umbrella of communication.You could be forgiven for thinking Michelle Thimesch is a bit scattered. She is working on several major projects right...2022-05-1933 min
Capital InsightEpisode 47: Questioning Assumptions About Retirement Investing with Janelle OrsiSummary: In this episode, Capital Insight co-hosts and securities attorneys Jenny and Michelle talk to Janelle Orsi who discusses whether retirement accounts in the U.S. are irreparably broken and new ways to think about retirement.
Bio: Janelle Orsi is a cartoonist, lawyer, and advocate focused on cooperatives, land trusts, housing justice, community-owned energy, and democratizing finance. She is Co-Founder of the cooperatively-structured nonprofit Sustainable Economies Law Center, which facilitates the growth of more sustainable and localized economies through education, research, and advocacy. Most of her time is spent learning and creating with inspiring groups who are adva...2022-05-1626 min
Capital InsightEpisode 46 The Evolution of Crowdfunding with Devin ThorpeSummary: In this episode, Capital Insight co-hosts and securities attorneys Jenny and Michelle talk to Devin Thorpe, who has been involved in crowdfunding since the '90s, about what is working well and what still needs to happen for crowdfunding to reach its full potential.
Bio: Devin is a bestselling author who calls himself a champion of social good. He travels extensively as a volunteer doing service, as a new-media journalist finding heroes, and as a speaker sharing what he’s learned. As a Forbes Contributor, he covered social entrepreneurship and impact investing, reaching an audience of ov...2022-05-0933 min
Capital InsightEpisode 45: What Happens When You Get Your First Yes From An Investor?In this episode, Jenny and Michelle discuss some of the unexpected things that can come up when you get your first yes from an investor and some tips on how to prepare.
For more on mindset challenges in fundraising check out Episode 6!2022-05-0217 min
Capital InsightEpisode 44: How To Determine Your Company's Valuation And Projected CapitalizationIn this episode, Jenny and Michelle use a hypothetical scenario to describe how they help entrepreneurs determine (1) their company valuation; (2) how to price stock; (3) whether to set aside stock for future early employees; (4) how to calculate percentage ownership; (5) how to create a capitalization table; and more!2022-04-2517 min
Capital InsightEpisode 43: Community Economic Development and Small Business Finance with Jenny Kassan and Michelle ThimeschIn this episode, Capital Insight co-hosts and securities attorneys Jenny Kassan and Michelle Thimesch discuss what community economic development is, how it can be done effectively, and the role of small business finance in a successful community economic development program.
Key quotes:
“The minute we put public dollars into promoting [venture capital models], that’s taking money away from the 99.9% of businesses that are not VC-backable tech startups, that really need more resources just to survive, and that give so much back to the community: they create more jobs, they are more philanthropic, and they create that...2022-04-1223 min
Capital InsightEpisode 42: How to Create a Small Business Funding Ecosystem with Jenny Kassan and Michelle ThimeschIn this episode, Capital Insight co-hosts and securities attorneys Jenny Kassan and Michelle Thimesch sit down to have a chat about creating an ecosystem for small business by taking seriously the adage that change moves at the speed of trust.
Key take-aways:
“Lack of sufficient capital is the number one reason for business failure. Without adequate funding – and not just any funding but funding that allows them to grow their business without too much pressure – they’re probably just not going to make it. The tools are there to raise large amounts of money for any small bu...2022-04-0429 min
Capital InsightEpisode 41: Lessons from Decades in the Movement to Move Money from Wall Street to Main Street with Michael ShumanIn this episode, Capital Insight co-hosts and securities attorneys Jenny Kassan and Michelle Thimesch talk with Michael Shuman, economist, attorney, author, and entrepreneur, and a leading visionary on community economics. Michael is one of our nation's leading thinkers, speakers, and writers on the movement to move money from Wall Street to Main Street.
Key Takeaways:
“What I see now are a number of unhealthy mutations in our capital system, where most of the money is going to Wall Street, even though Wall Street and the companies it represents are a relatively small fraction of our economy - a...2022-03-2836 min
Capital InsightEpisode 40: Using Impact Investment to Build Community with David LynnSummary: In this episode, Capital Insight co-hosts and securities attorneys Jenny Kassan and Michelle Thimesch talk with David Lynn of Mission-Driven Finance, an impact investing firm created to fill the gap between philanthropy and traditional investments in order to accelerate positive social change.
Bio: David Lynn co-founded Mission Driven Finance in 2016 after spending 20 years working in the financial and philanthropic sectors and looking for a way to blend those two worlds. Prior to focusing on impact investing, David specialized in family office investment portfolios including both private investments and risk management through derivatives. Most recently, David has...2022-03-2128 min
Capital InsightEpisode 39: How Culturally Enforced Notions of Risk Shape the Future of Small Business with Kevin BayukIn this episode, Capital Insight co-hosts and securities attorneys Jenny Kassan and Michelle Thimesch talk with Kevin Bayuk of LIFT Economy, an impact consulting firm whose mission is to create, model, and share a racially just, regenerative, and locally self-reliant economy that works for the benefit of all life. Kevin shares about his journey from young tech start up founder in Silicon Valley to permaculture designer to social enterprise advisor and expert and what he learned along the way about how finance can be in service of the greater good.
Key quotes:
“The cultural and structural man...2022-03-1445 min
Capital InsightEpisode 38: How Foundations can Make Catalytic Investments in Small Business with Jonathan ColemanIn this episode, Capital Insight co-hosts and securities attorneys Jenny Kassan and Michelle Thimesch talk with Jonathan Coleman of Untours, an outside-the-box travel company that prioritizes immersion in local communities rather than funneling tourist dollars into big hotels that do not benefit small businesses owned and operated by locals.
Bio: Jonathan Coleman grew up in small-town middle America, in a family that didn’t travel much. Now, he has lived in Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East while working in education and youth-focused initiatives. He received his MBA in International Economic Development and spent years at th...2022-03-0724 min
Capital InsightEpisode 37: Making Sound Investments for a Prosperous Planet with Nicole Middleton HollowayIn this episode, Capital Insight co-hosts and securities attorneys Jenny Kassan and Michelle Thimesch talk with Nicole Middleton Holloway, a hands-on, nurturing CFP (certified financial planner) who helps progressive investors live abundantly and make a positive impact with their wealth – in their families, in their communities, and in the world – through socially responsible investing.
Bio: Prior to her work in finance, Nicole Middleton Holloway spent the first 10 years of her professional career working in the entertainment industry. She helped produce popular shows for FX Networks, and later served as a producer and communications director for actor and acti...2022-02-2829 min
Capital InsightEpisode 36: Getting Money Working for Justice with Morgan SimonSummary: In this episode, Capital Insight co-hosts and securities attorneys Jenny Kassan and Michelle Thimesch talk with Morgan Simon, co-founder of Candide Group, an investment firm working with families, foundations, athletes, and cultural influencers who want their money working for justice.
Bio: Morgan Simon has two decades of experience making finance a tool for social justice. In that time she has influenced over $150B and is a regularly sought out expert on impact investing. Her book, Real Impact: The New Economics of Social Change has been featured everywhere from Harvard Business School to the United Nations. She...2022-02-2122 min
Capital InsightEpisode 35: Closing the Racial Wealth Gap through Real Estate Investing with Avery Ebron of The GuildIn this episode, Capital Insight co-hosts and securities attorneys Jenny Kassan and Michelle Thimesch attend the Force For Good 2022 investor webinar hosted by LIFT Economy, an impact consulting firm whose mission is to model racially just and locally self-reliant economies that benefit communities rather than corporations. Today, they hear a presentation from the Guild, a socially minded real estate developer taking a systems approach to creating collaborative, inclusive, and sustainable communities with the aim of addressing the root causes of economic inequality.
Bio:
Avery Ebron loves opportunities to collaborate with under-appreciated communities to develop products...2022-02-1419 min
Capital InsightEpisode 34: Raising Millions for Community-Based Real Estate Projects with Ojan Mobedshahi and Annie McShiras of East Bay Permanent Real Estate CooperativeIn this episode, Annie McShiras and Ojan Mobedshahi discuss East Bay Permanent Real Estate Cooperative, a community-centered development coop that removes real estate from the speculative market to create permanently affordable, community-controlled commercial and residential projects. They share how they raised over $4 million for Esther’s Orbit Room, a historic venue in West Oakland, and plans to raise more under their Regulation A+ offering.
Key Takeaways:
"We've raised $4.3 million. We're about $600,000 shy of our goal. . . . The same seller who sold us [Esther's] owns 26,000 square feet of vacant property two parcels down. . . . This whole corridor is gettin...2022-02-0713 minCapital InsightEpisode 34: Force For Good 2022 Investor WebinarIn this episode, Capital Insight co-hosts and securities attorneys Jenny Kassan and Michelle Thimesch attend the Force For Good 2022 investor webinar hosted by LIFT Economy, an impact consulting firm whose mission is to model racially just and locally self-reliant economies that benefit communities rather than corporations. Today, they hear presentations from investees including East Bay Permanent Real Estate Cooperative, Community Services Unlimited, and The Guild.
Bio(s): Present on this call were LIFT team members Ryan Honeyman and Kevin Bayuk.
Ryan Honeyman is a Partner / Worker-Owner at LIFT Economy and coauthor of The B Corp...2022-01-311h 33
Capital InsightEpisode 33: The Growth of Main Street Capital with Jason WienerSummary: In this episode, Capital Insight co-hosts and securities attorneys Jenny Kassan and Michelle Thimesch talk with attorney Jason Wiener about his work with clients to design and implement values-aligned funding strategies .
Bio: With more than a dozen years of experience as an attorney – including several years in Big Law litigation, and as a labor lawyer – Jason’s range of expertise and experience brings an innovative approach to solving client issues. He has served on executive strategy, human resources, finance and other management level teams and on the board of nonprofits, cooperatives and corporations. Jason has published more t...2022-01-2429 min
Capital InsightEpisode 32: Integrating Money and Meaning with Maggie KulykSummary: In this episode, Capital Insight co-hosts and securities attorneys Jenny Kassan and Michelle Thimesch talk with Maggie Kulyk of Chicory Wealth, an investment advisory firm that helps people align their values with how they understand their financial stewardship. Maggie shares insights about the diversity of investors she works with and what they care about.
Bio: Maggie Kulyk has worked in the financial industry since the early 2000s, but her main interest is in people – getting to know them, listening to them, and helping them balance their finances with the rest of their lives in a way that...2022-01-1738 min
Capital InsightEpisode 31: Structuring Equity Investment for a Business That Puts its Workers First with Matt KreutzSummary: In this episode, Capital Insight co-host and securities attorney Jenny Kassan talks with Matt Kreutz about his experiences growing his business and raising values-aligned funding that grows worker wealth and allows the business to focus on the mission to provide good jobs to people that are formerly incarcerated and formerly homeless.
Bio: Matt Kreutz is the CEO and Founder of Firebrand Artisan Breads. Matt turned his lifelong passion for baking and working in the food service industry into Firebrand in 2007. Matt grew up in the kitchen, spending hours helping his mom make meals for the family. At...2022-01-1024 minCapital InsightEpisode 30: Raising Capital for a Radically Transformational Business with Katrina SpadeSummary: In this episode, Capital Insight co-hosts and securities attorneys Jenny Kassan and Michelle Thimesch talk with Katrina Spade of Recompose, a full-service funeral home specializing in human composting. Listen to catch Katrina’s insight into the process of raising capital for a business that was still not legal when it started and how to stay true to your vision even when you need large amounts of capital to get your business off the ground.
Bio: Katrina Spade is a designer and the inventor of a system that transforms the dead into soil (aka human composting). In 2017, Ka...2022-01-0424 minCapital InsightEpisode 29: The Activist-to-Creative Finance Expert Journey with Dan FiresideSummary: Dan Fireside is a key player in the world of creative financing strategy, but he does not come from a high finance or private equity background. After working as a program officer at Rights Action, a grassroots NGO based in Guatemala and Peru, Dan went on to work at Equal Exchange, the worker-coop, Fair Trade coffee company where he helped raise over $17 million in mission-aligned equity and debt. Now, he’s sitting down with hosts Jenny Kassan and Michelle Thimesch to discuss how he applied the skills he learned as an activist to help co-ops and other mission-driven bu...2021-12-2744 min
Capital InsightEpisode 28: The Economic Development Potential of Investment Crowdfunding with Bill HustonSummary: In today’s episode, Capital Insight co-host and securities lawyer Michelle Thimesch sits down with investment crowdfunding strategist Bill Huston to talk about the tools we have at our disposal to dismantle oppressive economic systems and build more equitable ones.
Bio: Bill Huston is an INC. Magazine top 19 global crowdfunding expert, author, speaker, and educator with over a decade of crowdfunding experience. He founded Crowd-Max, an investment crowdfunding accelerator and incubator to introduce and educate Black founders on how to successfully use investment crowdfunding to raise capital and build Black wealth with one goal in mind: to...2021-12-2057 minCapital InsightEpisode 27: How to Raise Funding from Supportive, Values-Aligned Investors with the Berkeley Chamber of CommerceIn mid-October, Capital Insight co-host Jenny Kassan was asked to speak at the Berkeley Chamber of Commerce about the advantages of choosing community-based methods of fundraising rather than venture capital. In this episode, we revisit Jenny’s Berkeley presentation as she breaks down how to raise funding from the right investors.
Key quotes:
“When people tell me I do non-traditional or alternative finance, I tell them no, venture capital is non-traditional and alternative. What I do is something that humans have done for a very long time.”
Bio: The Berkeley Chamber of Commerce is a privat...2021-12-1345 minCapital InsightEpisode 26: Moving Money in Regenerative Finance with Sean CampbellIn this episode, Capital Insight co-host and securities attorney Jenny Kassan talks with Sean Campbell about his journey from Wall Street investor to regenerative finance expert.
Sean Campbell is the founder of Capital for Communities, an advisory and consulting firm that works to broaden access to capital and create a just, equitable financial system that supports thriving communities and works for everyone. His engagements include advice on fund and financial product structuring, strategic advice on the financial markets, and advice on and management of individual project financings; his clients include social enterprises, government agencies, financial institutions, and...2021-12-0642 minCapital InsightEpisode 25: Stakeholder Capitalism with David FerranDavid Ferran, Founder & CEO of the Torrey Project, shares his background in venture capitalism and his motivation for pivoting to conscious stakeholder capitalism. Together with Jenny Kassan and Michelle Thimesch, David walks us through an understanding of stakeholder capitalism as a model for sustainable value creation.2021-11-2927 minCapital InsightEpisode 24: Social Impact Investing with Laina GreeneLaina Greene is a Social Impact Investor & Tech Entrepreneur. In this episode, Laina shares her journey and background on social impact investing and why she believes in funding resilient and resourceful women entrepreneurs in indigenous communities.2021-11-2220 minCapital InsightEpisode 23: Fundraising for Sustainable Business with Jocelyn Gaudi QuarrellIn this episode, GO Box CEO Jocelyn Gaudi Quarrell shares her plans to eliminate waste for to-go food and drinks, her journey in fundraising, how her company's core value of sustainability impacts her management decisions, and her strategy to get investors on board.
Though Jocelyn is no stranger to fundraising, she shares why she approached Jenny Kassan and her team to be guided and gain more insights into the best way forward.2021-11-1525 minCapital InsightEpisode 22: Community-Funded Real Estate Investing with East Bay Permanent Real Estate CooperativeIn this episode, hosts Jenny and Michelle interview Annie McShiras and Noni Session from EB PREC about how they are working to bring more equality to real estate.2021-11-0849 min
Capital InsightEpisode 21: The Relationship Between Investing & Community Economic Development With Angela BarbashIn this episode, Angela Barbash shares her tips and strategies for those who are interested in economic development and enhancing their communities through investing.2021-11-0133 minCapital InsightEpisode 20: Empowering Female Angel Investors With Suzanne AndrewsSuzanne Andrews is an angel investor and an ecosystem builder in the finance innovation space, with a particular focus on women and money. In this episode, Suzanne shares her mission to empower women and teach them to shift their mindsets so they can see themselves as investors.2021-10-2526 minCapital InsightEpisode 19: Raising Compliance in Regulation Crowdfunding with Securities Lawyer Elizabeth CarterIn this episode, hosts Jenny and Michelle are joined by fellow securities lawyer Elizabeth Carter as they spill the tea on regulation crowdfunding platform missteps they have witnessed as well as the first major compliance action against a crowdfunding platform. They discuss why this is a serious issue for small businesses gaining access to funding, and how crowdfunding platforms could work more collaboratively with lawyers who represent small businesses so that everyone wins.
#fundraising #investmentcrowdfunding #investment #raisingcapital #RegulationCrowdfunding #regcf #EquityCrowdfunding #capitalraising #jennykasan #capitalinsight #securitieslaw #startups
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Jenny Kassan is a bu...2021-10-1837 minCapital InsightEpisode 18: Investing in People: The Importance of Community & Relationship Based Investing with Babbie JacobsBabbie Jacobs is an experienced angel investor based in New York. In this episode, Babbie shares how and why she has centered her investing strategy around community and relationships.2021-10-1129 minCapital InsightEpisode 17: Investing & The Slow Money Movement with Claude ArpelsIn this episode, Claude Arpels shares the story of how he became an angel investor. When Claude sold his last business, he vowed not to go back into another luxury venture, instead deciding to seek out something that felt more meaningful to him personally — which turned out to be angel investing and the slow money movement.2021-10-0429 minCapital InsightEpisode 16: How to Attract the Socially Conscious Investor with Mickey WilesMickey Wiles began to raise capital for his first business with an investment crowdfunding offering on a Vermont-based platform called Milk Money offering. About a year ago, Mickey and his team wanted to grow the business and needed capital to do so, but realized the mainstream method of startup fundraising wasn’t appealing to them. That led them to seek out investors that were much more geared toward social impact investing.2021-09-2730 minCapital InsightEpisode 15: Exploring the Steward-Ownership Investor Model With Keren FlavellKeren Flavell is a seasoned entrepreneur with achievements in media, tech, and community. In this episode, Keren shares her approach to the Steward-Ownership Investor Model and why it's beneficial for startups to explore non-traditional fundraising strategies to raise capital.2021-09-2023 minCapital InsightEpisode 14: How to Invest without Being an Accredited Investor with Laura OldanieLaura Oldanie is a socially conscious wealth coach who blogs at Rich & Resilient Living, where she explores money and lifestyle choices for a regenerative future. In this episode, Laura shares how she got started investing, the ideas behind slow money, and the resources available to non-accredited investors.2021-09-1327 minCapital InsightEpisode 13: Aunnie Patton Power Shares Why the VC Model Doesn’t Work For Most Small BusinessesIn this episode, Host Jenny and Michelle interview Aunnie Patton Power, the founder of Intelligent Impact. Aunnie shares her views on why the traditional venture capital model doesn’t always work for small businesses and what alternatives she’s found to be more successful.2021-09-0636 minCapital InsightEpisode 12: What You Need to Know About Investing Your Retirement FundDid you know you have the legal right to invest your retirement fund however you want? In this episode, hosts Jenny and Michelle discuss the different options you have for investing your retirement fund.2021-08-3024 minCapital InsightEpisode 11: Embracing Non Traditional Fundraising Models With Absinthia Vermut“A woman in booze is quite different from a man in tech”. In this episode, In this episode, Absinthia Vermut discusses how she realized that the mainstream route of finding investors wasn’t the right fit for her business and why she decided to pursue a more customized approach. She shares how this journey of raising capital for her business has helped her become a more confident leader.2021-08-2318 minCapital InsightEpisode 10: What Is an Exit Strategy, and Why Do You Need One?In this episode, hosts Jenny and Michelle define what an exit strategy is in regard to investing and why it’s important to create one that works for both your investors and you as the entrepreneur. Learn about the different models and strategies you can implement when it comes to paying your investors with or without selling your business.2021-08-1620 minCapital InsightEpisode 9: How Restorative Investing Can Be Used To Support Socially Conscious Companies With Kai NorteyIn this episode, Michelle and Jenny interview Kai Nortey, a visionary and socially conscious Black woman business leader who is tenaciously building an ethnically inclusive food justice and health economy in the Oakland-Bay Area of California.
Kai shares how she built her business based on a triple bottom line model: restorative economics, racial and gender equity, and climate justice. Learn about how Kai sought out investors and how she raised capital to scale and grow kubé.2021-08-0938 minCapital InsightEpisode 8: How to Make Your Fundraising Offer Attractive to Angel Investors With Nancy HayesIn this episode, Nancy Hayes shares the process she developed when deciding to become an angel investor. She breaks down the different factors that come into play for her when deciding what companies to invest in and tips for entrepreneurs on how to create an irresistible offer. 2021-08-0221 minCapital InsightEpisode 7: Key CrowdFunding Lessons For Social Entrepreneurs With Brahm AhmadiBrahm Ahmadi is a social entrepreneur working to build healthier and more equitable inner-city communities by bringing change and innovation to critical facets of the food system. When traditional fundraising methods proved an ill fit for his company, Brahm decided to look elsewhere to raise capital. In this interview, Brahm shares the unique challenges he and his team faced and how they targeted their messaging to attract investors that aligned with their mission and values.2021-07-2627 minCapital InsightEpisode 6: Strengths & Challenges With FundraisingIn this episode, hosts Jenny Kassan and Michelle Thimesch discuss the different skills and challenges they have seen entrepreneurs master during the fundraising process. Your hosts consider some of the mindset issues that could be holding you back from growth, including imposter syndrome, indecision, and over-attachment to one’s comfort zone. They also share suggestions you can utilize in order to overcome these mindset challenges so that you can successfully raise capital for your business.2021-07-1938 minCapital InsightEpisode 5: Tips From an Impact Investor On How to Make Your Company More Attractive to Potential Investors With Kristin HullKristin Hull is the founder and CEO of Nia Impact Capital, a women-led Registered Investment Advisor leading the charge to change the face of finance by hiring and training women and people of color in sustainable and transformative investing. An impact Investor since 2007, Kristin oversaw the investment process for the first family foundations as they moved their endowment assets into 100% alignment with their philanthropic mission. In 2010 Kristin went on to found Nia Community, a 100% mission-aligned impact investment fund focused on social change and environmental sustainability in her hometown of Oakland, California.2021-07-1216 minCapital InsightEpisode 4: Steps To Finding Investors Aligned With Your Values With Shaun ChavisWhen Shaun Chavis started her first company, LVNGbook, she decided to try the bootstrap method to fund her company. Shaun knew that she wanted to grow her company slowly, so she chose from the beginning not to go the venture capital route. Instead, it was important to her to grow the company to align with her values and fit with her vision of the company culture she wanted to create. That led her to look for angel investors or individuals interested in the company and its mission.2021-07-0528 minCapital InsightEpisode 3: How Raising Money Has Intangible Benefits, Outside of Just Money With Darren SmithWhen Darren Smith started his business, there weren’t the same resources for non-technical founders trying to do technical things. After getting involved with some local organizations to help with the technical side, it became clear that revenue alone wouldn’t be enough to support the app to what they wanted it to be. That realization is what led them to try to raise capital. Darren has now been raising money on and off for several years, and he shares the challenges he faced, the tips and tricks he used along the way, and his advice for anyone looking to r...2021-06-2828 minCapital InsightEpisode 2: Ways to Use Value Alignment to Increase Business and Investing Success with Mike HanniganIn this episode, Mike Hannigan shares his background and experience in building a value’s aligned business model and how that carried over to his investing strategy. Mike was born in Pensacola, Florida. He earned his B.A. in Philosophy from U.C. San Diego and his M.A. in Criminology from U.C. Berkeley. He began work for the Xerox Corporation and built his career in management for business products companies for the next decade until starting GSB.2021-06-2140 minCapital InsightEpisode 1: Building Relationships and Raising Capital With Chel LoydChel Loyd is the Co-Founder + CPO of the dopest Women-owned, Black-owned, and Veteran-owned coffee company in America. In this episode, Chel shares her experience with investment crowdfunding, not just once but twice. Chel’s first company went with the bootstrap method, which left them in a bad place. Once she and her partner launched Dope Coffee, she realized their mission and vision were much bigger than just the two of them. This led them to seek out investors in a new way. Chel shares the challenges she faced, the tips and tricks she used along the way, and her ad...2021-06-1418 minCapital InsightCapital Insight TrailerJenny Kassan and Michelle Thimesch, securities lawyers and capital raising experts, will be interviewing fundraising veterans—both entrepreneurs and investors—and sharing success stories and cautionary tales of creative/outside-the-box capital raising.
Jenny Kassan is the author of Raise Capital on Your Own Terms: How to Fund Your Business without Selling Your Soul and served on the SEC Advisory Committee on Small and Emerging Companies.
Michelle Thimesch is the CEO of Crowfund Mainstreet, a regulated investment crowdfunding platform.
Do you have questions for Jenny and Michelle to answer on the podcast? Call the PODC...2021-05-1800 min
Superpowers for Good: Empowering Changemakers for Social Impact via Regulated Investment Crowdfunding from the SuperCrowd.Two Social Entrepreneurs Built Equity Crowdfunding Site For Triple Bottom-Line Businesses Like Yours - #1048Never miss another interview! Join Devin here: http://bit.ly/joindevin.Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2FkG0of.Michelle Thimesch, 55, CEO of Crowdfund Mainstreet and her business partner Jenny Kassan, both attorneys, have a track record of social entrepreneurship themselves. They are passionate about reducing the funding disparities between male and female-led companies and between white and minority-led companies in America.So, when Thimesch invited Kassan to join her in launching Crowdfund Mainstreet, a Regulation Crowdfunding platform governed by FINRA, it was an easy decision...2019-01-1022 min
The Social Impact Podcast - Your Mark on the World with Devin ThorpeTwo Social Entrepreneurs Built Equity Crowdfunding Site For Triple Bottom-Line Businesses Like Yours - #1048Never miss another interview! Join Devin here: http://bit.ly/joindevin.
Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2FkG0of.
Michelle Thimesch, 55, CEO of Crowdfund Mainstreet and her business partner Jenny Kassan, both attorneys, have a track record of social entrepreneurship themselves. They are passionate about reducing the funding disparities between male and female-led companies and between white and minority-led companies in America.
So, when Thimesch invited Kassan to join her in launching Crowdfund Mainstreet, a Regulation Crowdfunding platform governed by FINRA, it was an easy decision. Their mission is to help triple-bottom-line companies...2019-01-1022 min
Piloting your LifeHow to create Tailored Funding strategies for Female Founders and Business Owners with Jenny Kassan Terri talks to Jenny Kassan about alternative funding mechanisms for female founders and small business owners and how she works with them to provide tailored fundraising strategies. Who is Jenny Kassan? Jenny Kassan has over two decades of experience as an attorney and advisor for mission-driven enterprises and is a certified coach. She has helped her clients raise millions of dollars from values-aligned investors. She is the author of Raise Capital on Your Own Terms: How to Fund Your Business without Selling Your Soul (Berrett-Koehler, October 2017). She served on the SEC Advisory Committee on Small and Emerging Co...2018-12-0441 min