Dreamward Group

Calling all Washington State founders! Apply to compete at the Flywheel Investment Conference for a chance to win over $150,000 in investment awards. It’s free to apply, and the competition is open to startups from any industry. Top finalists will receive free conference tickets, hotel accommodations, and the opportunity to compete live from May 21-23 in Wenatchee. Applications are due March 17 — apply today:?https://lnkd.in/gwZDsAem

Dreamward Group Managing Partner Jesse Posey putting the word out on the Innovation Blueprint Podcast.

On this MLK Day, I’m inspired by Dr. King’s example of direct action—his commitment to not just dream of a better future, but to actively build it. As we reflect on his legacy, we are reminded that the work of justice is ongoing, and each of us has a role to play. In the world of business and investing, that role is clear: We have the power to shift the balance of resources toward underrepresented founders—those who have been historically sidelined by traditional funding structures. In addition to financial returns; it’s about creating ecosystems where community and equity come first. This where Dreamward Group gets its name—A vector of progress in the direction of MLK's dream in which opportunity is distributed by the content of one's character rather than skin color. The data highlights the disparity, but here are a few ways we can take action today: * Invest our time, skills, and capital to back entrepreneurs who reflect the diversity of our communities and have the potential to drive positive, sustainable change. * Support local entrepreneurship by prioritizing businesses that reinvest in their communities rather than funneling wealth into oligopolies that perpetuate inequality. * Organize for long-term impact by fostering cooperative business models that create shared ownership and collective prosperity, not just individual wealth. *Amplify voices of marginalized communities in decision-making processes, ensuring that wealth and resources are used to uplift, not extract. * Rebuild trust in our institutions—whether through ethical business practices or by advocating for policies that hold corporations accountable for their impact on local economies. Together, we can invest in a future where the entrepreneurial spirit isn’t just a tool for the privileged few, but a force for the collective good. Let's make 2025 a year where we actively shape a more equitable and inclusive economy—one founded on the principles Dr. King championed.

??Happy Holidays from Dreamward Ventures!?? As we wrap up another year, we want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible spirit of innovation and collaboration that defines the Pacific Northwest startup ecosystem. It’s been a year of growth, challenges, and meaningful connections, and we’re proud to be part of such a vibrant community. To all the founders, investors, mentors, and support organizations — thank you for your hard work, resilience, and commitment to building a stronger, more inclusive future. This holiday season, we encourage you to take time to recharge, enjoy time with loved ones, and celebrate the progress we’ve made together. We look forward to an exciting year ahead, filled with new ideas, partnerships, and continued growth. Wishing you all a joyful and restful holiday season, and here’s to an even brighter 2025!

Insights from the final day of Africa Bitcoin Conference in Nairobi: * Today at ABC, the Firefighters union in Kenya became the first labor union in Africa to hold Bitcoin on their balance sheet via a grant of satoshis from “Proof of Workforce” an organization led by Dom Bey of the Santa Monica fire department with the mission of protecting wage earners from being short-changed for their labor/time by currency inflation. * Because the US Dollar is the global reserve currency we take for granted the ability to exchange it for other currencies. This is not the case with many other currencies. Also, in some places US Dollars are scarce so you can’t even get them from a bank to use as an intermediary currency to convert. * Biggest uses for Bitcoin in Africa: 1) It connects people and businesses across borders. 2) Hedges against local currency devaluation *African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) is rolling out. AfCFTA is expected to expand the size of Africa’s economy to US$29 trillion by 2050. As of February 2023, 46 of the 54 signatories have deposited their instruments of ratification for the agreement, making them state parties to the agreement. * Must read- “The Bitcoin Leap: How Bitcoin Is Transforming Africa” by Charline Fadirepo

Top takeaways from Africa Bitcoin Conference Day 2 in Nairobi: * Kenya’s ubiquitous M-pesa digital payment solution which operates in Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Afghanistan, Lesotho, DRC, Ghana, Mozambique, Egypt, and Ethiopia predates most e-cash solutions having launched commercially in 2007 (almost 2 decades ago) where the Bitcoin white paper was published in 2008 and Venmo launched in 2009. M-pesa/Safaricom branding in Nairobi is impressively more pervasive than Starbucks, McDonalds, and Coca-Cola combined in the US. * By 2050 1 in 4 people on earth will be African. AI, internet proliferation, and tech-driven reform by a youthful average population make Africa poised to develop a powerful middle class similar to the rise of China as other powers see declines in population and retirees as a higher portion of their population. Nigeria is the fastest adopter of cryptocurrency in the world. Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Africa are in the top 30 nations adopting cryptocurrency. * Where in many developed countries the adoption of crypto as a currency is speculative, investment-oriented, and futurist, in Africa the necessity that breeds breakthrough innovation is being experienced now. Government regimes are blatant in corruption and skimming in an adversarial relationship to industrial development today. Remittance payments are happening today. Banking is broken today. Rapid devaluation of local currencies and commerce-prohibitive regulations on cross-border currency distributions are slowing and halting livelihoods today. The amount of Bitcoin mining hashrate from Africa has increased from .15% to 3% within the last 12 months. Cryptocurrency adoption in Africa is authentic and booming. *Implementations of zone currencies like the West African Franc (CFA) centralize monetary policy and braintrust in European nations that have everpresent neocolonial conflicts of interest. The CFA for example required that countries keep at least 50% of their foreign reserves in the French Treasury. Bitcoin as an alternative decentralizes, abstracts, and opens the door for more authentic self-determination for citizens of young countries without enabling local governments to inflate and devalue the currency.

#BTrustDevDayNairobi Looking forward to learning how crypto is influencing the African continent. Day 1 on the ground at the Bitcoin Africa conference just as Bitcoin reaches $100k.

?? Venture Black Q4 Conference Wrap-Up! ?? A huge thank you to our incredible community for making the SOLD OUT Venture Black Q4 Conference such a memorable success! From inspiring talks and panels to fierce pitch competition, we came together to support diverse founders and foster a vibrant ecosystem of innovation. Here’s a quick recap of the day: ?? Keynote by Evan Poncelet on "Creating a Culture of Venture" — Evan shared his vision for a collaborative, scalable startup culture to help close the racial wealth gap. ?? Panel Discussion – "From Idea to Funding" featured amazing insights from: Keisha Credit, MSE: 5X founder and Shark Tank alum on resilience in fundraising Tosin Dada: CEO at GMJ Technologies, sharing expertise in NSF grant funding Teddy Johnson: UW ITHS Director, advancing tech from lab to clinic Chris Groves: Mission Acceleration Center, driving innovation in defense tech ?? Pitch Competition – Congratulations to Bridge Jackson, MBA and OUInvest, our pitch competition winners, who captivated the audience with their visionary ideas! Thanks to our valued sponsors – Washington State Microenterprise Association ~ Official, Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership (IFEL), Technology Alliance, UW Consulting and Business Development Center, and UW Foster School of Business – for making this possible! We can’t wait to see what’s next for our community. Tickets are available for the Venture Black Q1 Venture Conference in March, hit the link below to rsvp.?Let’s continue to inspire, innovate, and impact the world together! Interested in joining or sponsoring? Connect with us! RSVP today--> https://lu.ma/tjt3w859 Evan Poncelet David Garner Louis Newkirk Jesse Posey #VentureBlack #InclusiveInnovation #DiverseFounders #Q4Conference

Looking forward to speaking on the B.E.L.L.E panel on AI, Equity, and Innovation: Shaping the Future of Technology and Venture Capital. Dreamward Group, Venture Black, and HCDE UW’s Black Community Advisory Board have been mapping out a lot of opportunities to align AI with equity while dampening the historical inertia of racism, so there’s a lot to discuss!

Just a sample of all that was our Venture Black Q4 Venture Conference. I’m over the moon at the support and turnout of the community we’ve been building throughout the year. We’ve come a long way in such a short time! Forever grateful for how the community has stuck with us through our pivots and growth into what we are today ???????????? I’ll be dropping more videos and footage over the coming days but this was one of those events you didn’t want to miss! Over 100 likeminded people on the journey to grow Black venture in the PNW. Thank you so much to our panelists for a riveting panel Tosin Dada Keisha Credit, MSE Teddy Johnson Chris Groves. Thank you to our pitchers David Robicheaux Taylor Tate AJ Peper Ridwan Grimes Chad Link and congrats to Bridge Jackson, MBA for being pitch winner!!?? Our gracious sponsors Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership (IFEL), Washington State Microenterprise Association ~ Official ~, Technology Alliance and the UW Foster School of Business Special thanks to our phenomenal volunteers and ambassadors: Doris M. Ajima Olaghere Elizabeth Cross Nichol, Tierra Bonds, Wealth Building Financial Coach JASPER KINNAY Lastly to the rest of our amazing team who’ve been with it from the jump. We would be here without each of us and we’re destined for big things all next year!! David Garner Evan Poncelet Jesse Posey