Access Ventures

We're proud to have supported Endeavor Midwest and are celebrating this huge milestone with them!

Excited to be in NYC for the Multicoin Capital?Summit with 200+ of my new friends learning about the future of the industry. 2024 has already been one of the most transformative years in the history of blockchain…2025 looks even more promising as we work to reduce transaction costs, time and improve access for more people everywhere.

For 80 years, U.S. securities laws prevented the vast majority of Americans from investing in startups. You could invest in public companies like Starbucks on Wall Street, but not in your neighborhood coffee shop on Main Street. Until recently. Combine this with the reality is that only 1% of new businesses ever raise venture capital, and only 16% secure traditional bank financing, we need a blended capital strategy to build a thriving ecosystem and to meet entrepreneurs where they are. In 2020, we launched Render Capital as an intentional regional investment strategy to address this reality and increase entrepreneurs’ access to capital. Access Ventures raised $15M to launch Render Capital and what is now known as the “Louisville Community Fund:" a blended finance strategy that recognized that the capital needs of every entrepreneur are unique. The Louisville Community Fund included traditional equity and debt, but also recognized the need for alternatives to these traditional methods of funding startups and therefore launched the first in the nation community round match fund. The goal of this match fund was to unlock creative ways of supporting founders, catalyze new investment within the region, and cultivate a much larger community of micro-angel investors, excited to support local founders. The Results? See for yourself: download our playbook for the nation's first-ever community round #matchfund

Access Ventures was proud to partner with SoLo Funds and its mission to help increase access to capital through an innovative peer-to-peer lending marketplace, furthering our vision of supporting an equitable economy. Not only have we invested, but we're also lenders, supporting the dreams of many Americans as they work to provide for themselves and their families. Listen to SoLo's CEO, Travis Holoway, share how social trust in lending has the potential to transform neighborhoods and beyond on the More Than Profit podcast.

Since 2014, we've been dedicated to elevating transformational leaders who challenge the status quo. In a world where the obstacles to progress can sometimes feel overwhelming, the Access Ventures Fellowship is for young leaders committed to solving systemic challenges and contributing to human flourishing. This year, we are thrilled to announce the selection of five incredible individuals who stood out from a highly competitive pool of applicants. Their passion, drive, and dedication to their communities exemplify the spirit of the Access Ventures Fellowship. Su Jean Park, Aundré Wright, Joyeuse Senga, MScPH, Sergio Glory, and Brynn Mackay https://lnkd.in/ejdxK9wz

What if financial freedom could be built on trust, not credit scores? That’s exactly what Maurice Camara discovered when he joined SoLo Funds. Maurice came to the U.S. with big dreams and an unstoppable drive, but like so many people, he faced challenges along the way. Through SoLo’s peer-to-peer lending platform, he found the support he needed without getting caught up in high-interest debt or past credit history. Since joining, Maurice has used SoLo to help bridge financial gaps, advance his career, and even launch his own wellness business- Ultimove LLC! Now, he’s in a position to give back—Maurice has become a lender, supporting others in the same way he was once supported. Check out Access Ventures LLC full article on Maurice’s journey and listen to our Co-Founder Travis Holoway Holloway on their More Than Profit podcast (linked in the comments). Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/gUc95sxQ

Great catching up with Brendon Maxwell of UTOPIAN Coffee Co. and grateful to have him on the Access Ventures board. Some really neat things happening in Fort Wayne, IN! Lots of passionate people all about placemaking and compassionate change.

In 2004, Maurice moved to the United States from Mali to pursue his education, but after graduating with a general business degree and exploring a path in finance, a course on coding sparked a passion in Maurice to make his way in the tech industry. Yet, in taking the time to pursue these opportunities he found himself in a precarious position: “I went through a time where I was very underemployed, which happened to coincide with when I found SoLo Funds, cause I was in dire financial straits at the time.” SoLo Funds first launched in 2018 as a platform where people could lend and borrow money without getting trapped by debt or straining family relationships. Maurice joined the platform as a borrower, requesting loans to help him make ends meet as he was pursuing career changes and education goals. Read on to discover how community lending through SoLo Funds enabled Maurice to pursue job opportunities, career changes, business ventures, and so much more:

Had a wonderful time at another Hope Summit at Belmont University, learning from other change makers on shaping a more hopeful world.?Bryce Butler shared about the impact of place-based investing on our neighborhoods and communities.

It’s a fun week at AV. Join us in celebrating TJ Abood's 10th year helping us influence more capital for good, and the first week on the team for our new Staff Accountant, Bruno M. ??