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Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions. When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work.Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.Devin: What is your superpower?Webb: ResiliencePlastic has become an omnipresent part of childhood, with most toys made from this enduring material. But what if there were a better way—something sustainable, durable, and just as fun? Webb Knudsen, CEO and founder of Playper, has created a solution. Playper produces planet-friendly, buildable toy sets made from an innovative material called “Playper board.” These toys not only spark children's imagination but are also designed to reduce plastic waste.Webb explained, “Playper is award-winning, planet-friendly, buildable playsets and storytelling card sets designed for imagination-inspiring pretend play.” He continued, “We make our toys out of a material called Playper board. It's durable, thick, and flexible… you can spill water, ketchup, whatever on it and wipe it right off.”Playper's toys are designed to endure even the roughest play while inspiring creativity. They feature a unique tongue-and-groove slotting system, creating a satisfying “click” when assembled. This system ensures that kids can build and rebuild their toys, offering hours of hands-on engagement.The company has already gained traction, with products available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Walmart.com, and in dozens of independent toy stores. Webb's mission to create sustainable toys has resonated with parents seeking alternatives to plastic. “There's a lot of demand for more sustainable toy options,” Webb said. “The majority… of all toys are made out of plastic. I really felt like there had to be a better way.”In addition to its environmental focus, Playper emphasizes education. Webb described how the toys' storytelling elements and social-emotional learning features set them apart. “They teach kids about their emotions,” he said. “That's a real big segment within toys.”Playper is also raising capital through WeFunder, allowing everyday people to invest in the company. “I wanted the average person to be able to invest in our business,” Webb explained. “It really is the type of business that resonates with normal everyday people.”By creating toys that prioritize sustainability and imagination, Webb and Playper are building a better future for kids and the planet.tl;dr:Playper creates durable, eco-friendly toys from paper to reduce plastic waste and inspire kids' creativity.The toys are available nationwide, including at Barnes & Noble, and emphasize storytelling and education.Webb Knudsen credits his success to resilience, adapting through challenges to refine Playper's products.Playper is raising capital via WeFunder, inviting everyday people to invest in its sustainable mission.Webb's leadership, team-building skills, and passion for innovation drive Playper's growth and impact.How to Develop Resilience As a SuperpowerWebb Knudsen identifies his resilience as a key superpower, enabling him to persevere through challenges. “When things don't go well, I get back up, brush myself off, and keep going,” he shared. Webb keeps two motivational reminders at his desk: an image of a frog refusing to be swallowed with the caption “never give up,” and a quote from tennis player Vitus Gerolitis, “Nobody beats Vitus Gerolitis 17 times in a row.” These keep him grounded, reminding him to stay persistent despite setbacks.Webb shared that Playper's journey has not been an overnight success. The company has faced numerous challenges, from refining its materials to pivoting product lines. Through trial and error, Webb and his team found the right formula for sustainable, buildable toys. Their persistence paid off, with Playper now sold nationwide at Barnes & Noble and in independent toy stores. Webb's ability to adapt and keep moving forward, even after setbacks, exemplifies his resilience.Tips for Developing Resilience:Focus on the Bigger Picture: Remind yourself of your mission and the purpose behind your work.Stay Motivated with Visual Cues: Use quotes or images that inspire perseverance to keep you grounded during tough times.Adapt and Pivot: Learn from failures and try new approaches until you find what works.Celebrate Progress: Acknowledge milestones, even small ones, to maintain momentum.Draw Inspiration from Loved Ones: Spend time with those who remind you of your “why,” like Webb does with his kids.By following Webb Knudsen's example and advice, you can make resilience a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!Guest ProfileWebb Knudsen (he/him):CEO & Founder, PlayperAbout Playper: Playper is a forward-thinking toy brand that makes build-it-yourself storytelling playsets designed to spark imagination and parent-child bonding - with zero plastic waste. Our products use PlayperBoard®, a unique ultra-durable material that's kid-safe, toxin-free, and recyclable. Our “Buildable Storytelling” format is STEAM-accredited and built for brand expansion. We're backed by the former CEOs of Fisher Price, J. Crew, and Dell, and Chief Brand Officer of Mattel. We're led by former execs from Mattel, LEGO, Spin Master, and more.Website: playper.comX/Twitter Handle: @PlayperKidsCompany Facebook Page: facebook.com/PlayperToysOther URL: wefunder.com/playperBiographical Information: Webb Knudsen is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with a deep track record in consumer brands.As Vice President at the private equity firm Partnership Capital Growth (PCG), Webb leads deal sourcing and investment strategy. PCG, an 18-year-old firm focused on health and wellness brands—from food & beverage to supplements and fitness—has made 35 investments and deployed over $500M across three funds and SPVs, achieving a 2x+ MOIC through 18 exits and six thriving portfolio companies.Webb is also Founder and Managing Partner of Knudsen Capital (KC), a bicoastal family office investing in early-stage, high-growth companies aiming to improve lives. Under his leadership, KC has backed about 40 consumer brands, with four acquisitions and standout returns including one company valued at 10x and another at 30x. The KC portfolio has realized a 3.3x MOIC across its investments.Before investing, Webb built a dynamic operating career across entertainment, tech, and media—holding leadership roles in sales, BD, and marketing at companies like Lucasfilm, Crisp, Aarki, and Millennial Reach. He began in film and media at Walden Media and CAA, and co-founded two startups before stepping in as CEO of Playper, a sustainable toy company for kids.Webb holds a dual degree in Sociology and Speech Communication from Pepperdine. He's a dad of four, Cub Scout Den Leader, dog lover, snowboarder, and music lover, and has lived in 4 countries and 20 cities.X/Twitter Handle: @WebbKnudsenPersonal Facebook Profile: facebook.com/webb.knudsenLinkedin: linkedin.com/in/webbknudsenInstagram Handle: @WebbKnudsenSupport Our SponsorsOur generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today's advertisers include FundingHope, Kingscrowd, and Crowdfunding Made Simple. Learn more about advertising with us here.Max-Impact MembersThe following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support:Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Pearl Wright, Global Changemaker | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Scott Thorpe, Philanthropist | Matthew Mead, Hempitecture | Michael Pratt, Qnetic | Sharon Samjitsingh, Health Care Originals | Add Your Name HereUpcoming SuperCrowd Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on June 17, 2025, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.SuperCrowdHour, June 18, 2025, at 12:00 PM Eastern. Jason Fishman, Co-Founder and CEO of Digital Niche Agency (DNA), will lead a session on "How to Spin $1 of Advertising into $10!" He'll reveal proven strategies and marketing insights drawn from years of experience helping successful crowdfunding campaigns. Whether you're a founder planning a raise or a supporter of innovative startups, you'll gain actionable tips to boost visibility, drive engagement, and hit your funding goals. Don't miss it!Join us on June 25, 2025, at 8:00 PM Eastern for the Superpowers for Good Live Pitch—streaming on e360tv, where purpose-driven founders take the virtual stage to present their active Regulation Crowdfunding campaigns to a national audience of investors and changemakers. Selected startups are chosen for their commitment to community, alignment with NC3's Community Capital Principles, and their drive to create real-world impact. Thanks to sponsors DNA and DealMaker, this event is free to watch and amplifies the voices of underrepresented and mission-aligned entrepreneurs. Don't miss this inspiring evening where capital meets purpose—tune in to discover and support the next wave of impact-driven innovation.SuperCrowd25, August 21st and 22nd: This two-day virtual event is an annual tradition but with big upgrades for 2025! We'll be streaming live across the web and on TV via e360tv. Soon, we'll open a process for nominating speakers. Check back!Community Event CalendarSuccessful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events.Devin Thorpe is featured in a free virtual masterclass series hosted by Irina Portnova titled Break Free, Elevate Your Money Mindset & Call In Overflow, focused on transforming your relationship with money through personal stories and practical insights. June 8-21, 2025.Join Dorian Dickinson, founder & CEO of FundingHope, for Startup.com's monthly crowdfunding workshop, where he'll dive into strategies for successfully raising capital through investment crowdfunding. June 24 at noon Eastern.Regulated Investment Crowdfunding Summit 2025, Crowdfunding Professional Association, Washington DC, October 21-22, 2025.Call for community action:Please show your support for a tax credit for investments made via Regulation Crowdfunding, benefiting both the investors and the small businesses that receive the investments. Learn more here.If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 9,000+ changemakers, investors and entrepreneurs who are members of the SuperCrowd, click here.We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe
Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions. When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work.Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.Devin: What is your superpower?Nicole: Willingness to take bold leaps and embrace the unknown.Imagine a world where cancer is as treatable as the flu. That's the vision Nicole Paulk, the founder and CEO of Siren Biotechnology, is working tirelessly to bring to life. Driven by groundbreaking science, Nicole's company is on the brink of launching clinical trials for a revolutionary cancer treatment.Nicole's work leverages engineered viruses—those that don't make you sick—to deliver genetic medicines directly to cancer cells. These “good viruses” act as a delivery system for anti-tumor drugs, targeting difficult-to-treat cancers like recurrent high-grade gliomas, a fatal brain cancer. “We started to see data that looked really promising in this space,” Nicole explained, adding, “We felt a moral obligation to go after this cancer where there's just this huge unmet need.”Siren Biotechnology's approach is designed to have broad applications. Unlike treatments that target specific genetic mutations, their method has the potential to work on various tumor types. Nicole describes it as using viruses like a “little FedEx delivery truck” that can be engineered to deliver medicine precisely where it's needed in the body.This innovation didn't happen overnight. Nicole, a former professor of virology at UCSF, took the bold step of leaving academia to launch Siren Biotechnology. “I decided to resign from my faculty position and go be the founder and CEO just because I was so excited about the data and what we had so far,” she shared.In addition to traditional venture capital funding, Siren Biotechnology is inviting the public to invest through a regulated investment crowdfunding campaign. This unique opportunity allows patients, families, and supporters touched by cancer to be part of their journey. “We wanted to bring patients and their families onto our cap table,” Nicole said. “It's a way to involve them in the conversation much earlier.”Siren Biotechnology's work could redefine cancer care and inspire a new model for patient-centered innovation. With clinical trials just months away, the future looks brighter for those battling cancer—and for all of us who dream of a world where cancer is no longer a death sentence.tl;dr:Nicole Paulk's Siren Biotechnology transforms viruses into targeted cancer therapies with universal potential.The company focuses on recurrent high-grade gliomas, a fatal brain cancer with no standard treatment.Nicole left academia to lead Siren, leveraging her groundbreaking virology research to launch the company.Siren's unique crowdfunding campaign lets patients and families invest in the fight against cancer.Nicole's superpower, fearless innovation, drives her bold mission to revolutionize cancer care.How to Develop Fearless Innovation As a SuperpowerNicole's superpower is her willingness to take bold leaps and embrace the unknown. After spending nearly two decades building her academic career, Nicole left her position as a virology professor at UCSF to start Siren Biotechnology. She explained, “I feel like my superpower is just kind of being willing to jump off the cliff without a parachute and be like, we're going to figure it out. We're going to make it work.”Nicole exemplified fearless innovation when her research led to a groundbreaking discovery about the biology of a virus, one that required rewriting existing textbooks. Initially met with skepticism, her work was later validated and became a foundation for Siren Biotechnology's cancer treatment. This pivotal moment highlights Nicole's courage to challenge conventional knowledge and pursue transformative ideas.Tips for Developing This Superpower:Be willing to question conventional wisdom and explore new paths.Take calculated risks, even if it means stepping away from a well-defined career path.Embrace discomfort and uncertainty as a necessary part of innovation.Engage others by communicating your vision in relatable and accessible ways.By following Nicole's example and advice, you can make fearless innovation a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!Guest ProfileNicole Paulk (she/her):CEO, Founder, President, Siren BiotechnologyAbout Siren Biotechnology: We are combining two transformative therapeutic technologies – AAV gene therapy and cytokine immunotherapy – into a single, reimagined modality that overcomes key challenges and redefines how we destroy tumor cells and elicit anti-tumor immunity.This is the first AAV gene therapy drug product that can be made once and used in numerous indications – a huge leap forward for the field. This drastically reduces clinical development times, manufacturing timelines, and capital needs for each clinical trial. Most importantly, ‘universal' means countless solid tumor cancer patients – regardless of tumor type or mutations – may benefit from this breakthrough approach.Website: sirenbiotechnology.comX/Twitter Handle: @SirenBioCompany Facebook Page: facebook.com/SirenBiotechnologyOther URL: wefunder.com/siren.biotechnologyBiographical Information: Dr. Nicole Paulk is the CEO, Founder, and President of Siren Biotechnology and has dedicated her career to advancing the field of gene therapy. With nearly two decades of expertise, Nicole has been at the forefront of developing cutting-edge advances to propel the field of gene therapy forward for a wide range of diseases.Before founding Siren, Nicole held various leadership positions in academia and industry and most notably was an Assistant Adj Professor of AAV Gene Therapy in the UCSF Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics before leaving to found Siren. Nicole has a B.S. in Medical Microbiology, a Ph.D. in Viral Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine from OHSU, and completed her Postdoctoral Fellowship and Instructorship in Human Gene Therapy at Stanford University prior to starting her lab at UCSF. Nicole is a pioneer in the development of next-generation AAV platforms for gene repair, gene transfer and gene editing, directed evolution for novel engineered capsid evolution, and comparative multi-omic approaches to interrogate translational AAV biology.Nicole is a renowned expert in gene therapy and has consulted extensively for big pharma, written draft CMC guidance for the FDA, and sits on the Scientific Advisory Boards for Sarepta, Astellas, Metagenomi, Dyno Therapeutics, CEVEC, GRO Biosciences, Excision BioTherapeutics, WhiteLab Genomics, Johns Hopkins Gene Therapy Initiative, the Gene Therapy for Rare Disorders Searchlight Program, and several stealth startups. She has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, The Boston Globe, Endpoints, STAT, Phacilitate, GEN, BioPharma Dive, Evaluate Vantage, SF Business Times, WIRED, Drug Discovery World, MIT Tech Review, C&EN, and more. She sits on the Scientific Editorial Boards of the journals Gene Therapy, Human Gene Therapy, and Biopharma International Gene Therapy. She is the Chair of the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) Translational Science Committee, and a member of the ASGCT Cancer Cell and Gene Therapy Committee and the Biocom California Cell and Gene Therapy Committee. She has invented numerous AAV gene therapy technologies that have been shared or licensed to dozens of gene therapy companies and nonprofit groups working in rare diseases.Outside of work, you can find Nicole adventure traveling (think whitewater rafting meets backcountry trekking), snowboarding, planning elaborate Halloween parties complete with animatronics and ghoulish menus, tending her vegetable garden, and obsessing over the latest wearable gadgets. If you're trying to track her down at a conference and can't find her, it's because she snuck off to an oyster bar.X/Twitter Handle: @Nicole_PaulkLinkedin: linkedin.com/in/nicolepaulkInstagram Handle: @sirenbioSupport Our SponsorsOur generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today's advertisers include FundingHope, Kingscrowd and Crowdfunding Made Simple. Learn more about advertising with us here.Max-Impact MembersThe following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support:Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Pearl Wright, Global Changemaker | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Scott Thorpe, Philanthropist | Matthew Mead, Hempitecture | Michael Pratt, Qnetic | Sharon Samjitsingh, Health Care Originals | Add Your Name HereUpcoming SuperCrowd Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on June 17, 2025, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.SuperCrowdHour, June 18, 2025, at 12:00 PM Eastern. Jason Fishman, Co-Founder and CEO of Digital Niche Agency (DNA), will lead a session on "How to Spin $1 of Advertising into $10!" He'll reveal proven strategies and marketing insights drawn from years of experience helping successful crowdfunding campaigns. Whether you're a founder planning a raise or a supporter of innovative startups, you'll gain actionable tips to boost visibility, drive engagement, and hit your funding goals. Don't miss it!Join us on June 25, 2025, at 8:00 PM Eastern for the Superpowers for Good Live Pitch—streaming on e360tv, where purpose-driven founders take the virtual stage to present their active Regulation Crowdfunding campaigns to a national audience of investors and changemakers. Selected startups are chosen for their commitment to community, alignment with NC3's Community Capital Principles, and their drive to create real-world impact. Thanks to sponsors DNA and DealMaker, this event is free to watch and amplifies the voices of underrepresented and mission-aligned entrepreneurs. Don't miss this inspiring evening where capital meets purpose—tune in to discover and support the next wave of impact-driven innovation.SuperCrowd25, August 21st and 22nd: This two-day virtual event is an annual tradition but with big upgrades for 2025! We'll be streaming live across the web and on TV via e360tv. Soon, we'll open a process for nominating speakers. Check back!Community Event CalendarSuccessful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events.Devin Thorpe is featured in a free virtual masterclass series hosted by Irina Portnova titled Break Free, Elevate Your Money Mindset & Call In Overflow, focused on transforming your relationship with money through personal stories and practical insights. June 8-21, 2025.Join Dorian Dickinson, founder & CEO of FundingHope, for Startup.com's monthly crowdfunding workshop, where he'll dive into strategies for successfully raising capital through investment crowdfunding. June 24 at noon Eastern. Regulated Investment Crowdfunding Summit 2025, Crowdfunding Professional Association, Washington DC, October 21-22, 2025.Call for community action:Please show your support for a tax credit for investments made via Regulation Crowdfunding, benefiting both the investors and the small businesses that receive the investments. Learn more here.If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 9,000+ changemakers, investors and entrepreneurs who are members of the SuperCrowd, click here.We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe
Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions. When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work.Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.Devin: What is your superpower?Scott: Bias for actionFirefighters face life-threatening risks every day, and for too long, many of these dangers have gone unaddressed. Scott Holman, CEO and Founder of Red Line Safety, is on a mission to change that with innovative technology designed to protect firefighters in real time and improve their long-term health.Scott, a retired firefighter himself, brings decades of experience to this venture. His company builds wearable devices that gather physiological and environmental data, an advanced communication infrastructure to transmit the data, and a cloud-based dashboard for incident managers to monitor conditions and make data-driven decisions. "We create a solution that not only protects firefighters in real time but also helps them address long-term health issues," Scott explained during this episode of Superpowers for Good.The technology has already proven its potential. In one pilot test, Red Line Safety identified a critical health issue in a 24-year-old firefighter, enabling life-saving surgery. Scott shared, “When you tell firefighters these stories, they can't wait to use the technology. They want to know what they're exposed to, how they're responding physiologically, and they want to create an exposure record.”The market opportunity for Red Line Safety is enormous. Scott explained that the global market for firefighter safety equipment is valued at $20 billion. With patented technology and first-to-market status, Red Line Safety is poised to scale quickly. The company has already attracted attention from national and international organizations.To bring this life-saving technology to more firefighters, Red Line Safety is raising capital through a regulated crowdfunding campaign on Wefunder. Anyone interested in supporting this mission can visit s4g.biz/redline to learn more and consider investing.Every firefighter deserves to come home safely. Scott's vision, paired with Red Line Safety's groundbreaking technology, makes that goal closer to a reality.tl;dr:Red Line Safety develops wearable tech and cloud systems to protect firefighters in real time.Founder Scott Holman, a retired firefighter, brings decades of firsthand experience to the company's mission.The technology has already saved lives and provides invaluable data for long-term firefighter health.The $20 billion global market offers enormous potential for scaling Red Line Safety's patented solutions.A Wefunder campaign invites everyone to invest in this innovative, life-saving technology.How to Develop Bias for Action As a SuperpowerScott Holman describes his superpower as a “bias for action.” This stems from his Marine Corps training, which instilled a belief that he could accomplish any goal he set his mind to. “I came out of [boot camp] feeling extremely confident, like there's nothing I couldn't do,” Scott shared. This confidence has driven him to tackle challenges head-on, even in unfamiliar territory.Early in his life, Scott exemplified his bias for action by building a home for his family. Despite having no prior experience, he purchased a kit home, bought land in a rural community, and assembled the house largely on his own. “I realized we needed a house, and the only way I could do it was to build it myself. And I did,” he recalled, inspiring others to take bold steps as well.Tips for Developing the Superpower:Don't talk yourself out of trying something just because you haven't done it before.Believe in your ability to learn and adapt as you go.Build a support system—seek advice and collaboration from others with complementary skills.Don't fear failure; instead, view it as a learning opportunity, as Edison famously did.Take the first step and commit to seeing the project through, even if you need to pivot.By following Scott's example and advice, you can make a bias for action a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!Guest ProfileScott Holman (he/him):Founder & CEO, Red Line SafetyAbout Red Line Safety: Red Line Safety is a mission-driven technology company founded by a retired Fire Captain and U.S. Marine Corps veteran, dedicated to protecting those who protect us. We develop cutting-edge wearable technology and deployable communication networks that provide real-time data on firefighter location, environmental hazards, toxic exposures, and vital signs, especially in remote areas without cellular coverage. By equipping incident commanders and safety officers with actionable insights, Red Line Safety enhances operational effectiveness, firefighter health and wellness, and public safety during structure fires, wildland incidents, and all-hazard emergencies.Website: redlinesafety.comX/Twitter Handle: @RLSFireCompany Facebook Page: facebook.com/redlinesafety2018Other URL: wefunder.com/redlinesafetyincBiographical Information: Scott Holman is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and recently retired Fire Captain from the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, with over 33 years of experience in Fire & EMS. He is the Founder and CEO of Red Line Safety, a veteran-owned, Delaware C-corporation formed on 9/11/2018, dedicated to advancing wearable technology and deployable communication networks for first responders. With degrees in Fire Administration and a proven record of innovation, including initiating the effort to develop a fire service drone program, working to establish a Type II hand crew, and co-creating a leadership program, Scott brings deep industry insight and frontline credibility to the complex challenges facing public safety. His work is driven by a personal mission to prevent line-of-duty deaths and occupational illnesses through real-time data, and to deliver scalable solutions that enhance firefighter safety, operational efficiency, and long-term health outcomes.Personal Facebook Profile: facebook.com/scott.holman.54Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/scott-holman-2013a93a/Instagram Handle: @redlinesafetyincSupport Our SponsorsOur generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today's advertisers include FundingHope, Kingscrowd, and Crowdfunding Made Simple. Learn more about advertising with us here.Max-Impact MembersThe following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support:Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Pearl Wright, Global Changemaker | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Scott Thorpe, Philanthropist | Matthew Mead, Hempitecture | Michael Pratt, Qnetic | Sharon Samjitsingh, Health Care Originals | Add Your Name HereUpcoming SuperCrowd Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on June 17, 2025, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.SuperCrowdHour, June 18, 2025, at 12:00 PM Eastern. Jason Fishman, Co-Founder and CEO of Digital Niche Agency (DNA), will lead a session on "How to Spin $1 of Advertising into $10!" He'll reveal proven strategies and marketing insights drawn from years of experience helping successful crowdfunding campaigns. Whether you're a founder planning a raise or a supporter of innovative startups, you'll gain actionable tips to boost visibility, drive engagement, and hit your funding goals. Don't miss it!Join us on June 25, 2025, at 8:00 PM Eastern for the Superpowers for Good Live Pitch—streaming on e360tv, where purpose-driven founders take the virtual stage to present their active Regulation Crowdfunding campaigns to a national audience of investors and changemakers. Selected startups are chosen for their commitment to community, alignment with NC3's Community Capital Principles, and their drive to create real-world impact. Thanks to sponsors DNA and DealMaker, this event is free to watch and amplifies the voices of underrepresented and mission-aligned entrepreneurs. Don't miss this inspiring evening where capital meets purpose—tune in to discover and support the next wave of impact-driven innovation.SuperCrowd25, August 21st and 22nd: This two-day virtual event is an annual tradition but with big upgrades for 2025! We'll be streaming live across the web and on TV via e360tv. Soon, we'll open a process for nominating speakers. Check back!Community Event CalendarSuccessful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events.Devin Thorpe is featured in a free virtual masterclass series hosted by Irina Portnova titled Break Free, Elevate Your Money Mindset & Call In Overflow, focused on transforming your relationship with money through personal stories and practical insights. June 8-21, 2025.Join Dorian Dickinson, founder & CEO of FundingHope, for Startup.com's monthly crowdfunding workshop, where he'll dive into strategies for successfully raising capital through investment crowdfunding. June 24 at noon Eastern.Regulated Investment Crowdfunding Summit 2025, Crowdfunding Professional Association, Washington DC, October 21-22, 2025.Call for community action:Please show your support for a tax credit for investments made via Regulation Crowdfunding, benefiting both the investors and the small businesses that receive the investments. Learn more here.If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 9,000+ changemakers, investors and entrepreneurs who are members of the SuperCrowd, click here.We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe
Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions. When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work.Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.Devin: What is your superpower?Tamara: My ability to listen to people and connect with people, understand what their needs are, and then really creating spaces and connections for them to get those needs met.When life feels overwhelming, many of us long for a helping hand. Tamara Lucas, the founder and CEO of My Panda, has turned that universal feeling into a business that's transforming lives and communities. My Panda, short for “Personal Assistant Next Door App,” connects people with trusted, hyper-local assistants—called Pandas—who can handle everything from grocery runs to household chores.“What we need is community,” Tamara said during today's episode. “What we need is people to turn to that we trust to be able to ask for the help that we need and also an opportunity for people to provide assistance and help.”Unlike gig-economy platforms like TaskRabbit or Uber, My Panda emphasizes community, trust, and mutual support. Tasks submitted through the app are matched with Pandas in the user's local area, fostering a sense of connection and accountability. “You're a lot less likely to steal someone's grandmother's jewelry if you're going to run into them at Publix,” Tamara joked.The business model is as innovative as it is impactful. Users pay a flat hourly rate for services, with membership options that offer discounts and additional perks. Pandas, who are independent contractors, are primarily women—just like the users they assist. This creates what Tamara describes as “a culture of women helping women,” which has become a hallmark of My Panda.Tamara is also leveraging community to fund her vision. Through a regulated investment crowdfunding campaign on Wefunder, anyone can invest in My Panda, starting with as little as $100. “By doing crowdfunding, not only are we raising the capital that we need to grow,” she explained, “but we're also giving people a sense of ownership and deepening relationships within the community.”As My Panda prepares to expand beyond Atlanta to new markets like Charlottesville, Virginia, Tamara's vision of creating a modern-day village is gaining momentum. Her approach is about more than convenience—it's about rebuilding the connections we've lost in today's fast-paced, individualistic world.My Panda isn't just a service; it's a movement. It's a reminder that we're better together, and with the right tools, we can create a community that lifts everyone up.tl;dr:My Panda connects people with hyper-local assistants to provide trusted help for daily tasks.The app fosters community by hiring local Pandas and creating a culture of mutual support.My Panda's business model includes flat hourly rates, memberships, and perks for users.Tamara's superpower is empathy, helping her identify and act on others' needs.The company is raising capital via a WeFunder crowdfunding campaign to support its expansion.How to Develop Empathy and Connection As a SuperpowerTamara Lucas's superpower is her ability to deeply listen, empathize, and connect with others. “My biggest superpower is my ability to listen to people and connect with people, understand what their needs are, and then really creating spaces and connections for them to get those needs met,” she explained in today's episode. Tamara's background in psychology and social work has informed her approach, but it's her natural ability to engage and understand people that has been the foundation of her success.One day, a conversation with a friend sparked the idea for My Panda. Tamara's friend, a dog walker, shared her frustration: “I go into people's homes, and they need so much more than just a dog walk.” That moment of connection inspired Tamara to envision a platform where people could easily ask for—and get—the help they need. My Panda was born from her ability to listen, empathize, and act on the needs of others.To develop this superpower, Tamara's advice is straightforward yet profound:Practice Active Listening: Stop rehearsing your response in your head and focus entirely on what the other person is saying.Cultivate Empathy: Try to understand the emotions and experiences behind someone's words.Think Creatively About Support: Look for ways you—and your community—can offer help and share resources.Embrace Connection: Remember that humans are meant to live in community, not in isolation.By following Tamara's example and advice, you can make empathy and connection a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!Guest ProfileTamara V Lucas (she/her):CEO & Founder, My PandaAbout My Panda: My Panda (Personal Assistant Next Door App) is a tech-enabled, community-powered platform that connects people with trusted, local assistants, called Pandas - to help with everyday personal tasks. From laundry and errands to organizing and event support, we make it easy to delegate the never-ending to-do list. Our mission is to help individuals, especially women and working parents, reduce stress, reclaim time, and feel more supported, both at home and in life in general. My Panda offers services directly to consumers and also partners with companies to provide assistant hours as a unique employee benefit that supports work-life balance and mental wellness.Website: mypandaapp.comCompany Facebook Page: facebook.com/bookapandaOther URL: wefunder.com/my.pandaBiographical Information: Tamara Lucas is the founder and CEO of My Panda (The Personal Assistant Next Door App), a tech-enabled, community-powered platform that connects people with trusted local assistants for everyday personal tasks. A single mother and lifelong advocate for women and their families, Tamara created My Panda out of her own experience with the constant pressure and exhaustion of balancing career, home, and caregiving responsibilities.Her career spans over 30 years across social work, education, wine sales, and business management, all of which shaped her deep understanding of the support systems people need to thrive. With My Panda, Tamara is redefining productivity by making it easier - and more acceptable - for people to ask for help. Through her leadership, the company is helping to alleviate stress, build community, and create flexible economic opportunities, especially for women. She is passionate about shifting societal expectations and building solutions that promote wellness, connection, and a more sustainable way to live.Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/tamara-vrooman-lucas-094a089Instagram Handle: @mypandaappSupport Our SponsorsOur generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today's advertisers include FundingHope, RedLineSafety, Kingscrowd and Crowdfunding Made Simple. Learn more about advertising with us here.Max-Impact MembersThe following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support:Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Pearl Wright, Global Changemaker | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Scott Thorpe, Philanthropist | Matthew Mead, Hempitecture | Michael Pratt, Qnetic | Sharon Samjitsingh, Health Care Originals | Add Your Name HereUpcoming SuperCrowd Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on June 17, 2025, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.SuperCrowdHour, June 18, 2025, at 12:00 PM Eastern. Jason Fishman, Co-Founder and CEO of Digital Niche Agency (DNA), will lead a session on "How to Spin $1 of Advertising into $10!" He'll reveal proven strategies and marketing insights drawn from years of experience helping successful crowdfunding campaigns. Whether you're a founder planning a raise or a supporter of innovative startups, you'll gain actionable tips to boost visibility, drive engagement, and hit your funding goals. Don't miss it!Superpowers for Good Live Pitch – June 25, 2025, at 8:00 PM Eastern - Apply for free by June 6, 2025, to pitch your active Regulation Crowdfunding campaign live on Superpowers for Good—the e360tv show where impact meets capital. No fee if selected! Selected founders will gain national exposure, connect with investors, and compete for prizes. To qualify, you must be raising via a FINRA-registered portal or broker-dealer and align with NC3's Community Capital Principles. Founders from underrepresented communities are especially encouraged to apply. Don't miss this chance to fuel your mission and grow your impact!SuperCrowd25, August 21st and 22nd: This two-day virtual event is an annual tradition but with big upgrades for 2025! We'll be streaming live across the web and on TV via e360tv. Soon, we'll open a process for nominating speakers. Check back!Community Event CalendarSuccessful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events.Devin Thorpe is featured in a free virtual masterclass series hosted by Irina Portnova titled Break Free, Elevate Your Money Mindset & Call In Overflow, focused on transforming your relationship with money through personal stories and practical insights. June 8-21, 2025.Regulated Investment Crowdfunding Summit 2025, Crowdfunding Professional Association, Washington DC, October 21-22, 2025.Call for community action:Please show your support for a tax credit for investments made via Regulation Crowdfunding, benefiting both the investors and the small businesses that receive the investments. Learn more here.If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 9,000+ changemakers, investors and entrepreneurs who are members of the SuperCrowd, click here.We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe
Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions. When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work.Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.Devin: What is your superpower?Steve: Intellectual curiosity, paired with a problem-solving mindset.Media shapes perception, and perception shapes reality. That simple truth drives Steve Jones, Founder and CEO of pocstock, to challenge the way people of color and other underrepresented groups are portrayed in stock photography and now artificial intelligence.Steve launched pocstock after discovering, while running a digital marketing agency, that major stock photo libraries lacked images reflecting diverse identities. "People of Black, Asian, Hispanic and other backgrounds, people who were older than 50, or living with a disability" were all underrepresented, Steve said. This gap was not unique to the U.S. — it was global.Today, pocstock is meeting a bigger challenge: the biases baked into AI image generation. Because AI was trained on biased media libraries, "the data is literally what the AI industry needs in order to become what it's going to be," Steve explained. With AI expected to generate 80% of online imagery soon, pocstock's culturally accurate, bias-free library positions the company as a vital resource for the future of ethical AI.But Steve isn't stopping with just providing imagery. He's ensuring that the creators of these visuals—photographers and artists—can share in the value AI creates. "We created a model where our creators can be included in the AI boom," he said, highlighting pocstock's mission to avoid leaving behind the very people it seeks to represent.As part of that effort, pocstock is raising capital again, this time through a regulated investment crowdfunding campaign on WeFunder. By setting a minimum investment of just $250, Steve and his team are inviting everyone—not just venture capitalists or accredited investors—to participate. "This gives people an opportunity to access AI through pocstock," he said.The implications are profound. "Imagery is how you change people's perceptions of people they haven't met," Steve noted. The consistent underrepresentation or stereotyping of certain groups impacts real-world outcomes, from law enforcement to healthcare. "If you let the media tell it, everybody's racist... and this couldn't be further from the truth."Supporting pocstock, whether by investing or using its imagery, helps rewrite those narratives. Steve's work stands as a reminder that inclusion isn't just a value—it's a strategy for both equity and innovation.To invest, visit wefunder.com/pocstock or s4g.biz/poc.tl;dr:Steve Jones founded pocstock to address the lack of diverse, accurate imagery in media and technology.pocstock's inclusive content is now powering major AI projects and helping to reduce bias in technology.The company is raising capital through regulated investment crowdfunding, inviting everyone to invest for impact.Steve's superpower is intellectual curiosity, which drives him to solve problems and connect across differences.Listeners are encouraged to embrace curiosity, meet new people and invest in more inclusive representation.How to Develop Intellectual Curiosity As a SuperpowerSteve Jones's superpower is intellectual curiosity, paired with a problem-solving mindset. He explained, “I've always looked to see how I can make the world the way I think it should be.” This constant questioning of the status quo fuels his drive to address social injustices, foster inclusion, and solve challenges in innovative ways. From tinkering with objects as a child to reshaping the media landscape with pocstock, Steve's curiosity and creative thinking guide his efforts to make a positive impact.Steve shared a story about a chance encounter that changed his career trajectory. While working in IT, he bonded with a coworker over a shared love of Batman and Dr. Dre. Despite their differences—Steve, a 6'5” Black man, and his coworker, a middle-aged Irish man—they became close friends. Years later, that friendship resulted in Steve receiving his biggest contract for his marketing agency. This anecdote highlights how Steve's openness and curiosity about others help him build meaningful connections and seize new opportunities.Tips for Developing Intellectual Curiosity:Seek to understand problems deeply and envision how they could be solved.Challenge preconceptions by engaging with people from different backgrounds and perspectives.Be open to learning from everyone you meet, both professionally and personally.Approach each day with a fresh mindset, ready to embrace new challenges and opportunities.Stay informed about trends and developments in your field to spark new ideas.By following Steve's example and advice, you can make intellectual curiosity a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!Guest ProfileSteve Jones (he/him):Founder & CEO, pocstockAbout pocstock: pocstock is a global content company that creates, curates, and licenses stock images featuring people of color to businesses for marketing, advertising, and artificial intelligence. We partner with businesses of all sizes to ensure they have the right images, insights, and data to be inclusive of everyone.Website: pocstock.comCompany Facebook Page: facebook.com/pocstockOther URL: wefunder.com/pocstockBiographical Information: Steve Jones is a serial entrepreneur with a background in tech, marketing, and creative.He's currently the Founder & CEO of pocstock, a global content company headquarteredin Newark specializing in inclusive content for marketing, advertising, and artificialintelligence.Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/pocstockInstagram Handle: @pocstockSupport Our SponsorsOur generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today's advertisers include FundingHope, RedLineSafety, Ovanova PET, and Kingscrowd. Learn more about advertising with us here.Max-Impact MembersThe following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support:Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Pearl Wright, Global Changemaker | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Scott Thorpe, Philanthropist | Matthew Mead, Hempitecture | Michael Pratt, Qnetic | Sharon Samjitsingh, Health Care Originals | Add Your Name HereUpcoming SuperCrowd Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on June 17, 2025, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.SuperCrowdHour, June 18, 2025, at 12:00 PM Eastern. Jason Fishman, Co-Founder and CEO of Digital Niche Agency (DNA), will lead a session on "Crowdfund Like a Pro: Insider Marketing Secrets from Jason Fishman." He'll reveal proven strategies and marketing insights drawn from years of experience helping successful crowdfunding campaigns. Whether you're a founder planning a raise or a supporter of innovative startups, you'll gain actionable tips to boost visibility, drive engagement, and hit your funding goals. Don't miss it!Superpowers for Good Live Pitch – June 25, 2025, at 8:00 PM Eastern - Apply by June 6, 2025, to pitch your active Regulation Crowdfunding campaign live on Superpowers for Good—the e360tv show where impact meets capital. Selected founders will gain national exposure, connect with investors, and compete for prizes. To qualify, you must be raising via a FINRA-registered portal or broker-dealer and align with NC3's Community Capital Principles. Founders from underrepresented communities are especially encouraged to apply. Don't miss this chance to fuel your mission and grow your impact!SuperCrowd25, August 21st and 22nd: This two-day virtual event is an annual tradition but with big upgrades for 2025! We'll be streaming live across the web and on TV via e360tv. Soon, we'll open a process for nominating speakers. Check back!Community Event CalendarSuccessful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events.Devin Thorpe is featured in a free virtual masterclass series hosted by Irina Portnova titled Break Free, Elevate Your Money Mindset & Call In Overflow, focused on transforming your relationship with money through personal stories and practical insights. June 8-21, 2025.Regulated Investment Crowdfunding Summit 2025, Crowdfunding Professional Association, Washington DC, October 21-22, 2025.Call for community action:Please show your support for a tax credit for investments made via Regulation Crowdfunding, benefiting both the investors and the small businesses that receive the investments. Learn more here.If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 9,000+ changemakers, investors and entrepreneurs who are members of the SuperCrowd, click here.We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe
Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions. When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work.Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.Devin: What is your superpower?Sona: Resilience—the unwavering determination to overcome obstacles and solve critical problems.Every year, millions of people in low-income countries suffer due to a lack of access to basic medical technology. Sona Shah, CEO and co-founder of Neopenda, is tackling this challenge head-on with an innovative solution—a wearable vital signs monitor called Neoguard. This simple yet powerful device is already saving lives in sub-Saharan Africa and has the potential to make a global impact.Neoguard is a headband-style device that monitors four key vital signs: pulse rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and temperature. The data is transmitted wirelessly via Bluetooth to a centralized dashboard on a tablet, allowing clinicians to monitor multiple patients simultaneously. “The intent of this product,” Sona explained, “is really to alert clinicians in really overcrowded, understaffed hospitals that something could be wrong with the patient so that our clinicians can provide more timely and appropriate care to the patients that need it most.”What makes Neoguard even more remarkable is that it was specifically designed for low-resource settings. Sona shared how she and her team traveled to Uganda during the early days of Neopenda to understand the unique challenges faced by hospitals in such environments. “We saw hospitals that didn't have any functioning medical equipment. They had rooms that nurses called the ‘equipment graveyard,' just mounds of broken equipment,” she said. This inspired her to create technology that is resilient and tailored to these conditions, addressing issues like power instability and limited connectivity.Beyond its life-saving potential, Neoguard represents a significant business opportunity. With a $3.4 billion market for vital signs monitoring across Africa alone, Neopenda is poised for growth. The company has already launched in over 45 hospitals, primarily in Kenya, and is generating revenue. To scale further, Neopenda is raising capital through a regulated crowdfunding campaign on WeFunder, allowing anyone to invest with as little as $100. “What better way to scale than involve the community in our efforts?” Sona said, emphasizing the value of democratizing access to investment opportunities.Neopenda is more than just a company—it's a movement to bring equitable healthcare to underserved populations while offering investors a chance to make both an impact and a profit. Sona's story is proof that innovation and compassion can go hand in hand to create a better world.tl;dr:Neopenda creates affordable medical technology like Neoguard, a wearable vital signs monitor saving lives.Sona Shah's passion for equitable healthcare drives her innovative solutions for underserved populations.Neoguard is designed for low-resource settings, addressing challenges like power instability and broken equipment.Neopenda is raising capital via a WeFunder crowdfunding campaign, democratizing investment opportunities.Sona's resilience and vision have propelled Neopenda's growth, proving impact and profit can coexist.How to Develop Resilience As a SuperpowerSona Shah's superpower is resilience—the unwavering determination to overcome obstacles and solve critical problems. She described it as the ability to “move mountains” when faced with challenges. Sona's resilience stems from her passion for addressing inequities in healthcare. “If there's something that I'm really passionate about, I will move mountains to figure out how to make it work,” she said. This mindset has enabled her to navigate the complexities of developing medical devices, securing funding, and building a sustainable business model in underserved markets.Illustrative Story:One of Sona's most challenging moments came during the early stages of Neopenda's journey when she and her team had to establish a manufacturing process—something completely outside their expertise. Through determination and by hiring the right talent, they overcame this obstacle. Later, when funding became tight, Sona's resilience drove her to find creative solutions, ensuring that Neopenda stayed on track. Another pivotal moment came in 2023 when the company pivoted from a distributor-led sales model to selling directly to hospitals, a risky but ultimately successful decision that significantly boosted their growth.Tips for Developing Resilience:Find a Problem Worth Solving: Focus on a mission that ignites your passion and commitment.Surround Yourself with Support: Build a network of people who care about you and your cause.Invest in Self-Care: Prioritize your mental health to maintain your capacity to lead effectively.Embrace Feedback: Learn from mistakes and be open to constructive criticism.Stay Persistent: Don't let setbacks deter you; keep moving forward with determination.By following Sona Shah's example and advice, you can make resilience a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!Guest ProfileSona Shah (she/her):CEO & Co-founder, NeopendaAbout Neopenda: Neopenda is a healthtech company designing wearable medical technology for under-resourced hospitals in emerging markets. Our flagship product, neoGuard, is a CE-marked, patented vital signs monitor built specifically for environments with limited infrastructure. It tracks four critical vitals, pulse, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and temperature, without requiring stable electricity or internet. Already in use across 45+ hospitals in five African countries, neoGuard has delivered over 35,000 hours of patient monitoring, helping healthcare workers detect early signs of distress and intervene before it's too late. Headquartered in Chicago and operating globally, Neopenda's mission is to close the healthcare access gap with scalable, context-appropriate innovation.Behind every device we build is a story, of a nurse who stayed calm because an alert came in time, of a baby who went home safely, of a health system that finally had the right tool for the job. We didn't set out to build technology for the sake of it. We set out to build trust, dignity, and access where it's been missing for too long. Because where you're born shouldn't determine whether you survive.Website: neopenda.comX/Twitter Handle: @neopenda_healthCompany Facebook Page: facebook.com/NeopendaOther URL: wefunder.com/neopendaBiographical Information: Sona Shah is the CEO and Co-founder of Neopenda, a healthtech company bringing life-saving innovation to underserved health systems.Her journey began while teaching in Kenya, where she witnessed firsthand the challenges facing under-resourced hospitals. That experience shaped her lifelong commitment to global health equity and continues to inform how she leads today, with empathy, purpose, and persistence.With a background in biomedical and chemical engineering, Sona has spent the past decade designing and scaling technologies that work in real-world clinical settings across East and West Africa. Under her leadership, Neopenda has developed and commercialized neoGuard, a CE-marked wearable vital signs monitor tailored to the needs of low-resource hospitals. The company has sold to over 45 hospitals, delivered more than 40,000 hours of neonatal monitoring, and launched local manufacturing in Kenya.Sona is a graduate of Columbia University and Georgia Institute of Technology. Amongst other accolades, she's been recognized as an MIT Solve Fellow, Inc 30 under 30 recipient, a UN Women prize recipient, White House invitee, and a global leader in maternal and newborn health. Her work lives at the intersection of innovation, equity, and impact, and is driven by a deep belief that everyone, everywhere deserves access to quality care.Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/sonarshahSupport Our SponsorsOur generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today's advertisers include FundingHope, Ovanova PET and Crowdfunding Made Simple. Learn more about advertising with us here.Max-Impact MembersThe following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support:Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Pearl Wright, Global Changemaker | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Scott Thorpe, Philanthropist | Matthew Mead, Hempitecture | Michael Pratt, Qnetic | Sharon Samjitsingh, Health Care Originals | Add Your Name HereUpcoming SuperCrowd Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on June 17, 2025, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.SuperCrowdHour, June 18, 2025, at 12:00 PM Eastern. Jason Fishman, Co-Founder and CEO of Digital Niche Agency (DNA), will lead a session on "Crowdfund Like a Pro: Insider Marketing Secrets from Jason Fishman." He'll reveal proven strategies and marketing insights drawn from years of experience helping successful crowdfunding campaigns. Whether you're a founder planning a raise or a supporter of innovative startups, you'll gain actionable tips to boost visibility, drive engagement, and hit your funding goals. Don't miss it!Superpowers for Good Live Pitch – June 25, 2025, at 8:00 PM Eastern - Apply by June 6, 2025, to pitch your active Regulation Crowdfunding campaign live on Superpowers for Good—the e360tv show where impact meets capital. Selected founders will gain national exposure, connect with investors, and compete for prizes. To qualify, you must be raising via a FINRA-registered portal or broker-dealer and align with NC3's Community Capital Principles. Founders from underrepresented communities are especially encouraged to apply. Don't miss this chance to fuel your mission and grow your impact!SuperCrowd25, August 21st and 22nd: This two-day virtual event is an annual tradition but with big upgrades for 2025! We'll be streaming live across the web and on TV via e360tv. Soon, we'll open a process for nominating speakers. Check back!Community Event CalendarSuccessful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events.African Diaspora Investment Symposium 2025 (ADIS25), Wednesday–Friday, May 28–30, 2025, at George Washington University, Washington, D.C., USA.Devin Thorpe is featured in a free virtual masterclass series hosted by Irina Portnova titled Break Free, Elevate Your Money Mindset & Call In Overflow, focused on transforming your relationship with money through personal stories and practical insights. June 8-21, 2025.Regulated Investment Crowdfunding Summit 2025, Crowdfunding Professional Association, Washington DC, October 21-22, 2025.Call for community action:Please show your support for a tax credit for investments made via Regulation Crowdfunding, benefiting both the investors and the small businesses that receive the investments. Learn more here.If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 9,000+ changemakers, investors and entrepreneurs who are members of the SuperCrowd, click here.We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe
Today, I had the pleasure of co-hosting a special livestream on Substack with Jen Risley, the editor of the Main Street Journal. We're calling it “Jen and Devin Live,” and we hope it marks the beginning of a recurring series to strengthen the ties in our shared community of impact crowdfunding enthusiasts.Jen and I both publish on Substack and share a mission to promote community capital. While we could be viewed as competitors, we see ourselves more as complementary partners. That's why we came together—to cross-promote, build bridges, and amplify the voices in this growing movement.What's New at the Main Street JournalJen highlighted a recent MSJ Extra feature: an in-depth interview with John Abrams, author of the forthcoming book From Founder to Future. John transitioned his company—South Mountain Company, a design, building, and solar firm on Martha's Vineyard—into a worker cooperative. Now retired, he's focused on helping other founders do the same. Jen shared that the response to this piece was overwhelmingly positive, confirming that interest in worker ownership models is growing fast.Updates from Superpowers for GoodOn my end, I shared some exciting updates about Superpowers for Good. Our recent SuperCrowdLA event, which was livestreamed to e360tv and Substack, drove tremendous traffic. But what's been even more rewarding is the success of our new initiative, Super Crowd Voices (read it here, submit your contribution for consideration here). This channel invites new writers to share their perspectives, and it's working better than we imagined. In fact, one of the first posts—by Dorian Dickinson of Funding Hope—became our most-read post ever. His powerful argument for giving investment crowdfunding “a seat at the table” clearly struck a chord.It was particularly rewarding to learn from Jen that our feature on Dorian inspired Main Street Journal to expand their platform listings in their weekly offering summaries. They had initially focused on just a few platforms—but now, they include more, making their coverage even stronger. That kind of cross-pollination is exactly what this collaboration is all about.Shared Admiration for Kathleen MinogueWe also talked about our mutual admiration for Kathleen Minogue and her “Crowdfund Better” methodology. Jen and I both hold her in high regard. Michael Shuman's interview with Kathleen in MSJ Extra—which I was able to read as a paying subscriber—was one of the best practical pieces I've seen. She explains how a rewards-based campaign can serve as a stepping stone to a successful investment crowdfunding raise. Kathleen's approach is a masterclass in how to crowdfund strategically, and Jen shared how Kathleen supported a local crowdfunding initiative in her home region of New Hampshire. It's amazing to see this kind of thought leadership making a real-world impact.Reflections on SuperCrowdLA and a Preview of SuperCrowd25Jen kindly mentioned how much she appreciated the summary I wrote following SuperCrowdLA. She quoted a line I often use: “Capital is not just about dollars. It's about power, purpose, and possibility.” That meant a lot. I shared that we're working on a full book based on the conference's transcripts and insights—something far deeper than a quick summary. We hope to release it by the end of June.I also highlighted some standout speakers from the event:* Doug Willmore, CEO of World Tree, which has raised $17M (including $12M from the crowd) to fund a carbon-sequestering tree farm model.* Sarah Hardwick, former CMO of Aptera, who helped the company raise $140M through Reg CF and Reg A offerings. Her speech was both riveting and deeply insightful.Looking ahead, SuperCrowd25 is coming up on August 21–22, and we're streaming it live again on E360tv. I'm thrilled by how many people discover crowdfunding for the first time through these events. I invited Jen—and Michael Schuman as well—to join us as speakers. Their voices are essential to this community.Closing: Stronger TogetherI closed by encouraging our community to subscribe to Main Street Journal—especially since some of their best content, like the Kathleen Minogue piece, is behind a paywall. It's worth every penny. Jen added that their Monday events roundup is always free, giving folks a way to sample the value before committing. You can subscribe at mainstreetjournal.substack.com or visit their website at mainstreetjournal.org.Jen returned the love, reminding her community to subscribe to Superpowers for Good and promising to keep highlighting our latest work.We both agree: if you're serious about crowdfunding for impact, you need both publications. This partnership is just getting started, and we can't wait to see where it takes us next.Max-Impact MembersThe following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support:Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Pearl Wright, Global Changemaker | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Scott Thorpe, Philanthropist | Matthew Mead, Hempitecture | Michael Pratt, Qnetic | Sharon Samjitsingh, Health Care Originals | Add Your Name HereUpcoming SuperCrowd Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.* Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on June 17, 2025, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.* SuperCrowdHour, June 18, 2025, at 12:00 PM Eastern. Jason Fishman, Co-Founder and CEO of Digital Niche Agency (DNA), will lead a session on "Crowdfund Like a Pro: Insider Marketing Secrets from Jason Fishman." He'll reveal proven strategies and marketing insights drawn from years of experience helping successful crowdfunding campaigns. Whether you're a founder planning a raise or a supporter of innovative startups, you'll gain actionable tips to boost visibility, drive engagement, and hit your funding goals. Don't miss it!* Superpowers for Good Live Pitch – June 25, 2025, at 8:00 PM Eastern - Apply by June 6, 2025, to pitch your active Regulation Crowdfunding campaign live on Superpowers for Good—the e360tv show where impact meets capital. Selected founders will gain national exposure, connect with investors, and compete for prizes. To qualify, you must be raising via a FINRA-registered portal or broker-dealer and align with NC3's Community Capital Principles. Founders from underrepresented communities are especially encouraged to apply. Don't miss this chance to fuel your mission and grow your impact!* SuperCrowd25, August 21st and 22nd: This two-day virtual event is an annual tradition, but with big upgrades for 2025! We'll be streaming live across the web and on TV via e360tv. VIP's get access to our better-than-in-person networking! Get your VIP access for just $25. Soon, we'll open a process for nominating speakers. Check back!Community Event Calendar* Successful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events.* African Diaspora Investment Symposium 2025 (ADIS25), Wednesday–Friday, May 28–30, 2025, at George Washington University, Washington, D.C., USA.* Devin Thorpe is featured in a free virtual masterclass series hosted by Irina Portnova titled Break Free, Elevate Your Money Mindset & Call In Overflow, focused on transforming your relationship with money through personal stories and practical insights. June 8-21, 2025.* Regulated Investment Crowdfunding Summit 2025, Crowdfunding Professional Association, Washington DC, October 21-22, 2025.Call for community action:* Please show your support for a tax credit for investments made via Regulation Crowdfunding, benefitting both the investors and the small businesses that receive the investments. Learn more here.If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 9,000+ changemakers, investors and entrepreneurs who are members of the SuperCrowd, click here.Manage the volume of emails you receive from us by clicking here. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe
Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions. When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work.Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.Devin: What is your superpower?Prof. Alan: Creative problem-solvingThe world doesn't change on its own—people with vision, grit and creativity drive progress. Few embody this more than Prof. Alan Arthur Tratner, who helped organize the very first Earth Day in 1970 and has since built a global legacy supporting green entrepreneurs and inventors.Alan's work reminds me that bold action in the face of crisis can spark lasting transformation. In today's episode, he shared the story of rushing to the oil-soaked beaches of Santa Barbara after the catastrophic 1969 spill, an experience that moved him to tears and propelled him into environmental activism. “I broke down, fell on my knees and cried... and then I just said we've got to stop this. We have to find a way to do it,” Alan recalled.That determination led him to found Green2Gold, a unique non-profit incubator that has nurtured over 100,000 inventors, entrepreneurs and more than 300 non-profits focused on environmental and social responsibility. Alan's approach is rooted in the belief that innovation can solve the problems it helped create. “We invented our way into this mess, we could innovate and invent our way out,” he explained.One of the most compelling aspects of Alan's work is his early embrace of investment crowdfunding. He recognized that democratizing access to capital could accelerate the development of climate solutions. “Equity crowdfunding was the democratization of investing. No longer did you have to be wealthy or be in power... anyone in the world, accredited or unaccredited, could invest in an American company,” Alan said.Through Green2Gold's programs, Alan continues to champion breakthrough technologies in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture and disaster recovery. His “Build Back Green” project, for instance, emerged in response to the devastating wildfires in Lahaina and now provides a blueprint for rebuilding communities in sustainable, resilient ways.If you're inspired by Alan's vision or want to learn more about Green2Gold's work, visit green2gold.org. For entrepreneurs and inventors seeking support—or anyone interested in investing in a better world—Alan and Green2Gold are showing what's possible when we put creativity and collective action to work for the planet.tl;dr:Alan Tratner shared his journey from the first Earth Day to launching the Green2Gold impact incubator.He described the critical role of innovation and entrepreneurship in addressing environmental crises worldwide.Alan emphasized the power of equity crowdfunding to democratize investment for green ventures and climate solutions.He highlighted the importance of perseverance, creativity and passion for lasting impact in nonprofit and business work.Alan offered actionable advice for aspiring changemakers to lead with purpose and build sustainable ventures.How to Develop Creative Problem-Solving As a SuperpowerAlan's superpower lies in the fusion of creativity, scientific thinking and practical experience. As he described, “I think that creative spark, that passion, you know, I try to give our entrepreneurs and our nonprofits the same feelings about... inventing in the fields that are going to make a difference.” He credits his background in science, art and design, as well as years of nonprofit leadership and invention, for giving him a “quiver of superpowers” that enable him to help others become problem solvers and critical thinkers.Illustrative Story:Alan shared how he has supported over 315 nonprofits and 100,000 entrepreneurs through Green2Gold by applying his expertise in nonprofit management, invention and funding. For years, he persisted with a wind turbine invention that was ahead of its time, waiting 45 years for the right moment to see it realized. He emphasized that passion and perseverance are crucial. “If you quit, you can't win,” Alan said, reflecting on the decades he devoted to innovations that now have renewed relevance.Actionable Tips for Developing Creative Problem-Solving:Treat your venture or nonprofit as a passionate career, not just a hobbyPut your whole self—brain, energy and opportunities—into your missionEmbrace challenges and persist through setbacks; don't give up if progress is slowSurround yourself with people who share your passion and driveThink entrepreneurially, even in nonprofit work, to build sustainability and legacyBy following Alan's example and advice, you can make creative problem-solving a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!Guest ProfileProf. Alan Arthur Tratner (Earthling):Founder /Chairman of Green2Gold, Green2Gold global impact Incubator---501 c 3About Green2Gold global impact Incubator---501 c 3: Helped found Earth Day and the first UN International Conference on the Human Environment. Pioneered impact incubation for over 55 years in green tech, sustainability, and regenerative solutions. Leading the transition to sustainability and a global, inclusive green economy. Supported over 100,000 members and 315 socially and environmentally responsible nonprofits.Website: Green2Gold.orgBiographical Information: Alan Arthur Tratner, is the International Director of Green2Gold and has served as the President of the Inventors Workshop International and the Entrepreneur's Workshop, Director of the Small Business Entrepreneurship Center in California, a SCORE (US SBA) consultant, and was publisher of the Lightbulb Journal and INVENT! magazines. He is an inventor and serial entrepreneur, with 13 inventions/patents. He has been dubbed the “Minister of Ideas” by the media and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Inc., Entrepreneur, Business Week, TIME, USA Today, America Online Forum, NPR, and has appeared on OPRAH, CNN, Good Morning America, and CNBC. Alan has mentored and assisted thousands of green technology, sustainable ecology and energy companies and inventors. He was a former Professor of Environment and Energy, participated in the First International United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, Stockholm Sweden, was staff member of Environmental Quality Magazine and helped establish Earth Day. He founded the Environmental Education Group Foundation with many supporters, including Nobel prize winner Dennis Gabor. Alan traveled the USA conducting the Ultimate Crisis and Solutions for Survival seminars, led an environmental and alternative energy delegation to the former Soviet Union for the Citizen's Ambassador Program. He was editor of Energies Journal for the Solar Energy Society of America, published the Geothermal Energy magazine and Geothermal World Directory. In the 1990's he became Director of the Green Business Conference of the ECO EXPO, created the Eco Inventors and Eco Entrepreneurs Workshops, and the New Environmental Technologies Exhibits. In 2012, Alan was inducted into the International Green Industries Hall of Fame and honored with Lifetime Achievement.Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/prof-alan-tratner-3935506/Support Our SponsorsOur generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today's advertisers include FundingHope, RedLineSafety, and Ovanova PET. Learn more about advertising with us here.Max-Impact MembersThe following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support:Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Pearl Wright, Global Changemaker | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Scott Thorpe, Philanthropist | Matthew Mead, Hempitecture | Michael Pratt, Qnetic | Sharon Samjitsingh, Health Care Originals | Add Your Name HereUpcoming SuperCrowd Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on June 17, 2025, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.SuperCrowdHour, June 18, 2025, at 12:00 PM Eastern. Jason Fishman, Co-Founder and CEO of Digital Niche Agency (DNA), will lead a session on "Crowdfund Like a Pro: Insider Marketing Secrets from Jason Fishman." He'll reveal proven strategies and marketing insights drawn from years of experience helping successful crowdfunding campaigns. Whether you're a founder planning a raise or a supporter of innovative startups, you'll gain actionable tips to boost visibility, drive engagement, and hit your funding goals. Don't miss it!Superpowers for Good Live Pitch – June 25, 2025, at 8:00 PM Eastern - Apply by June 6, 2025, to pitch your active Regulation Crowdfunding campaign live on Superpowers for Good—the e360tv show where impact meets capital. Selected founders will gain national exposure, connect with investors, and compete for prizes. To qualify, you must be raising via a FINRA-registered portal or broker-dealer and align with NC3's Community Capital Principles. Founders from underrepresented communities are especially encouraged to apply. Don't miss this chance to fuel your mission and grow your impact!SuperCrowd25, August 21st and 22nd: This two-day virtual event is an annual tradition but with big upgrades for 2025! We'll be streaming live across the web and on TV via e360tv. Soon, we'll open a process for nominating speakers. Check back!Community Event CalendarSuccessful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events.African Diaspora Investment Symposium 2025 (ADIS25), Wednesday–Friday, May 28–30, 2025, at George Washington University, Washington, D.C., USA.Devin Thorpe is featured in a free virtual masterclass series hosted by Irina Portnova titled Break Free, Elevate Your Money Mindset & Call In Overflow, focused on transforming your relationship with money through personal stories and practical insights. June 8-21, 2025.Regulated Investment Crowdfunding Summit 2025, Crowdfunding Professional Association, Washington DC, October 21-22, 2025.Call for community action:Please show your support for a tax credit for investments made via Regulation Crowdfunding, benefiting both the investors and the small businesses that receive the investments. Learn more here.If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 9,000+ changemakers, investors and entrepreneurs who are members of the SuperCrowd, click here.We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe
Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions. When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work.Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.Devin: What is your superpower?Lyneir: What I believe is my calling is to see value in people and places that other people overlook or undervalue.Democratizing commercial real estate isn't just a lofty vision for Lyneir Richardson, it's his mission. As the CEO of The Chicago TREND Corporation, Lyneir is pioneering a model for strengthening urban neighborhoods by enabling small investors to own a stake in commercial properties. In today's episode, he shared how his organization is transforming communities while offering everyday people the opportunity to invest alongside wealthy, institutional players.Lyneir explained, “Retail is the first impression of a neighborhood. If the retail corridor is blighted, it attracts crime, brings down property values, and becomes a liability.” Recognizing this, The Chicago TREND Corporation focuses on revitalizing retail spaces in underserved neighborhoods, blending community impact with financial returns.Since its founding in 2016, Chicago TREND has completed three crowdfunding campaigns, raising nearly $1 million from impact-oriented individuals. Lyneir described these investors as “small dollar, impact-oriented individuals who want to see progress in a neighborhood.” In one project, they partnered with a local nonprofit to redevelop a blighted industrial site. After acquiring the property for $3 million, they demolished a decaying building and planned a new 100,000-square-foot warehouse. Before construction began, another buyer offered $4.5 million. This exit not only provided a threefold return for investors but also strengthened their balance sheet for future projects.Lyneir emphasized that crowdfunding is more than a financial tool—it's also a way to foster community ownership. “We call it #WeOwnThis,” he said, describing how local investors are more likely to patronize and protect these properties. This inclusive approach to ownership creates a ripple effect, empowering communities to take pride in their neighborhoods while benefiting financially.Today, Chicago TREND is actively raising capital for additional projects. By combining crowdfunding with old-school community organizing—meeting in church basements, library common areas, and on Zoom—Lyneir and his team are proving that inclusive investment can transform neighborhoods.Lyneir's work demonstrates that commercial real estate can be a powerful tool for social change. By inviting ordinary people to invest in their own communities, he's creating opportunities for financial growth while building stronger, more vibrant neighborhoods.tl;dr:Lyneir Richardson democratizes commercial real estate by enabling small investors to revitalize underserved neighborhoods.Chicago TREND uses crowdfunding to finance retail projects that strengthen communities and boost property values.A recent project gave investors a threefold return while transforming a blighted industrial site.Lyneir's superpower is recognizing value in overlooked places and fostering community-driven redevelopment.By balancing profit and impact, Lyneir is creating opportunities for ordinary people to invest in change.How to Develop Seeing Value in Overlooked People and Places As a SuperpowerLyneir's superpower is his ability to recognize potential where others see obstacles. As he explained, “What I believe is my calling is to see value in people and places that other people overlook or undervalue.” This skill allows him to envision opportunities for revitalization in underserved neighborhoods, often dismissed by traditional investors as “too hard” or “too small.” By combining his expertise in commercial real estate with a deep passion for community, Lyneir transforms overlooked areas into thriving hubs of activity and investment.Illustrative Story:In one project, Lyneir's team purchased a shopping center hampered by outdated covenants, including a racial restriction dating back to the 1940s. Instead of bypassing the issue, they engaged with 119 local homeowners to amend the covenant, not only removing the offensive language but also garnering community support for the redevelopment. This effort exemplifies Lyneir's ability to see both the immediate and long-term value in addressing historical barriers while building trust within the community.Tips for Developing the Superpower:Learn to See Potential: Practice identifying value in places or people others dismiss.Engage with the Community: Build trust by listening to and involving local stakeholders in decision-making.Blend Passion with Expertise: Use your professional skills to address challenges in a meaningful way.Balance Profit and Impact: Focus on projects that deliver financial returns while improving lives.Address Historical Challenges: Don't shy away from difficult or sensitive issues; tackle them to build trust and create lasting change.By following Lyneir's example and advice, you can make seeing value in overlooked opportunities a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!Guest ProfileLyneir Richardson (he/him):CEO, The Chicago TREND CorporationAbout The Chicago TREND Corporation: Chicago TREND was established in 2016 to strengthen urban commercial corridors through strategic, community-driven commercial real estate investment and small business support. Since then, Chicago TREND has assembled a dedicated team that supports every aspect of community ownership projects, including business capacity building, credit underwriting, portfolio management, capital improvements, public outreach, and mixed-use transactions.Website: chicagotrend.comX/Twitter Handle: @TheChiTRENDCompany Facebook Page: facebook.com/ChicagoTRENDBiographical Information: Lyneir Richardson is CEO of The Chicago TREND Corporation (TREND), a commercial real estate firm that owns urban shopping centers and provides economic advisory services to corporations, government agencies and large philanthropic organizations. Lyneir is also Associate Professor of Professional Practice at Rutgers Business School and serves as the Executive Director of the university's Center for Urban Entrepreneurship and Economic Development.Previously, Lyneir was the CEO of the primary economic development corporation in Newark, NJ attracting investment and jobs to the city during two mayoral administrations. Prior to that he also served as Vice President of General Growth Properties Inc. and led a national initiative to develop shopping centers in urban underserved areas. Early in his career, Lyneir founded LakeShore Development and Construction Company and was named a U.S. Small Business Administration "Young Entrepreneur of the Year." Lyneir began his career as a corporate attorney at the First National Bank of Chicago.Lyneir holds an appointment as a Nonresident Senior Fellow of the Brookings Institution. He graduated from Bradley University and the University of Chicago Law School.Personal Facebook Profile: facebook.com/lyneir.richardsonLinkedin: linkedin.com/in/lyneirInstagram Handle: @LyneirRichSupport Our SponsorsOur generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today's advertisers include FundingHope, KribSavUp, and Crowdfunding Made Simple. Learn more about advertising with us here.Max-Impact MembersThe following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support:Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Pearl Wright, Global Changemaker | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Scott Thorpe, Philanthropist | Matthew Mead, Hempitecture | Michael Pratt, Qnetic | Sharon Samjitsingh, Health Care Originals | Add Your Name HereUpcoming SuperCrowd Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on June 17, 2025, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.SuperCrowdHour, June 18, 2025, at 12:00 PM Eastern. Jason Fishman, Co-Founder and CEO of Digital Niche Agency (DNA), will lead a session on "Crowdfund Like a Pro: Insider Marketing Secrets from Jason Fishman." He'll reveal proven strategies and marketing insights drawn from years of experience helping successful crowdfunding campaigns. Whether you're a founder planning a raise or a supporter of innovative startups, you'll gain actionable tips to boost visibility, drive engagement, and hit your funding goals. Don't miss it!Superpowers for Good Live Pitch – June 25, 2025, at 8:00 PM Eastern - Apply by June 6, 2025, to pitch your active Regulation Crowdfunding campaign live on Superpowers for Good—the e360tv show where impact meets capital. Selected founders will gain national exposure, connect with investors, and compete for prizes. To qualify, you must be raising via a FINRA-registered portal or broker-dealer and align with NC3's Community Capital Principles. Founders from underrepresented communities are especially encouraged to apply. Don't miss this chance to fuel your mission and grow your impact!SuperCrowd25, August 21st and 22nd: This two-day virtual event is an annual tradition but with big upgrades for 2025! We'll be streaming live across the web and on TV via e360tv. Soon, we'll open a process for nominating speakers. Check back!Community Event CalendarCrowdfunding Exits: Getting a Return on Your Investment, May 22, 2025, 2:00 PM Eastern.Successful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events.African Diaspora Investment Symposium 2025 (ADIS25), Wednesday–Friday, May 28–30, 2025, at George Washington University, Washington, D.C., USA.Regulated Investment Crowdfunding Summit 2025, Crowdfunding Professional Association, Washington DC, October 21-22, 2025.Call for community action:Please show your support for a tax credit for investments made via Regulation Crowdfunding, benefiting both the investors and the small businesses that receive the investments. Learn more here.If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 9,000+ changemakers, investors and entrepreneurs who are members of the SuperCrowd, click here.We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe
Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions. When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work.Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.Has your business been impacted by the recent fires? Apply now for a chance to receive one of 10 free tickets to SuperCrowdLA on May 2nd and 3rd and gain the tools to rebuild and grow!Devin: What is your superpower?Jason: Ability to inspire excitement.Raising money through regulated investment crowdfunding is hard. Too many founders underestimate the difficulty, thinking that once their campaign goes live, the crowd will come running. The truth, as Jason Fishman explains, is that success starts long before a campaign launches.Jason, Co-Founder and CEO of Digital Niche Agency (DNA) and host of the "Test. Optimize. Scale." podcast, is one of the industry's most experienced investor acquisition experts. He helps founders raise capital by creating marketing funnels that turn strangers into advocates. In today's episode, he shared the single most important element of a successful crowdfunding raise: planning."If you fail to plan, you plan to fail," Jason said. "Imagine launching a website tomorrow and trying to bring 50,000 people towards it and get 1,000 of those people to convert at a transactional value of $1,000 or more."That's the scale of the challenge many founders face without realizing it. Jason broke down how campaigns that succeed aren't just lucky—they're methodical. They use strategies built on industry research and competitive marketing audits. These show founders what messaging and channels are working and which aren't, enabling them to craft a custom roadmap for every stage of their campaign.He encourages founders to go deep on pre-launch preparation. That includes clearly identifying audiences, traffic sources, and strategic partnerships. According to Jason, it also means fine-tuning the content and offering page to ensure it's optimized for conversions."You still need to have a well-thought-out plan on where that traffic's coming from," he noted, even for small campaigns targeting $50,000. "One way or the other, I need to figure out how am I getting those actual visits to my offering page."Jason and his team at DNA have helped clients raise hundreds of millions of dollars from the crowd. The secret? They treat marketing as a science—and a strategy-first mindset is always step one.To hear more from Jason, check out this episode and join us at SuperCrowdLA, where he'll speak twice and be available throughout the event. Don't miss the chance to learn from one of the best in the business.tl;dr:Jason Fishman explains why strategic planning and marketing are essential for crowdfunding success at any scale.He shares how the most successful campaigns use research and competitor audits to map traffic and conversions.Jason emphasizes that even small campaigns must create momentum with targeted audiences and compelling content.His superpower, generating excitement, helps him motivate teams, founders, and friends to rally around a vision.Jason encourages understanding your audience's fears and desires to inspire action and build lasting engagement.How to Develop Inspiring Excitement As a SuperpowerJason Fishman's superpower is his ability to inspire excitement and rally people around a shared goal. “Getting people excited…has been present my whole life,” Jason explained. He shared how this skill underpins his success in building impactful marketing campaigns, emphasizing that understanding what drives and motivates people is key. Jason applies this talent to craft compelling messaging and visuals that move audiences to action.Illustrative Story:Jason shared a personal anecdote about planning a wedding for his wife's cousin, who had been overwhelmed by the process. By addressing objections and highlighting exciting details, Jason turned their reluctance into enthusiasm. The result was a beautiful wedding overlooking the beach, with Jason even serving as the DJ. This story exemplifies his ability to energize others and create positive outcomes.Tips for Developing the Superpower:Understand Your Audience: Identify what excites and motivates them, as well as their fears.Communicate the Vision: Show others what success looks like and why it matters.Address Objections: Turn concerns into opportunities by re-framing challenges in a positive light.Leverage Energy: Use your enthusiasm to inspire and rally others around shared goals.By following Jason's example and advice, you can make inspiring excitement a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!Guest ProfileJason Fishman (he/him):Co-Founder and CEO of Digital Niche Agency DNA and Host of the "Test. Optimize. Scale." Podcast, Digital Niche Agency (DNA)About Digital Niche Agency (DNA): DNA is a full-service digital marketing agency specializing in surpassing client goals. Our team has over 25 years of experience in Marketing, Start-Ups, and Business Development. While working with clients and launching brands we have learned what works and how to implement a revenue-driving marketing strategy. Watching the digital marketing landscape evolve everyday, our primary objective is to offer the latest technologies and techniques to small to mid level businesses. With a focus on two areas, Content Development and Content Distribution, the DNA model is built for both brand value and performance. Our success is truly measured by the growth rate of our clients companies. Whether you are looking for Social Media, SEO, Content Marketing, Digital PR, Web/ Mobile Media Buying, Marketing Plans, Influencer Marketing, Instagram Ads, Traffic to CrowdFounding Platforms, Investor Materials, CPI / Burst and AOS Campaigns, Development, Video, or Digital Advertising, we know how many options there are out there and have structured ourselves so that you can get everything you need from DNA. We have relationships with the top vendors in the digital world and provide the ability to work with one partner to manage all areas of your digital brand at below industry standard rates. With this approach we want to make the process easy, so we can begin getting you more market share with our formula.Website: digitalnicheagency.comX/Twitter Handle: @DNAgency_CACompany Facebook Page: facebook.com/digitalnicheagencyBiographical Information: Jason Fishman has 15+ years experience as a “New Media Enthusiast”, who genuinely enjoys planning, activating, and managing scalable marketing strategies across the full-spectrum of verticals and goals. He is an expert in digital channels including Search Engines, Social Media Platforms, Programmatic Ad Exchanges, Influencer Networks, Email Automation, Content Marketing, and Partnerships. He has held leadership roles at all sides of the marketing table: Agency, Brand, and Vendor, which explains his ability to structure unique opportunities for DNA clients.Jason managed the Product Marketing Division of a major Mobile Ad Network who exclusively represented ad inventory for 1,500+ Print Publishers' Mobile/Tablet apps and worked with many Top 100 Advertisers. Leveraging traffic algorithms, Jason now takes this knowledge and applies it to scale brands with effective marketing tactics.Since launching DNA in 2014, Jason and the team have worked with over 750 brands and deliver industry-leading results across eCommerce, Lead Generation and Digital Funding campaigns. DNA is now an Inc 5000 company, who has worked with over 350 Reg CF, Reg A+, Reg D, and Digital Asset campaigns that have produced 9-figures of funding.Jason has been showcased in Panel and Individual presentations at a high volume of Tech and Marketing conferences, along with his “Test. Optimize. Scale.” Podcast. He is also committed to a number of Thought Leadership content projects for 2024, including the Forbes Agency Council. Jason manages a Los Angeles team with experience in all aspects of the user journey.Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/digital-niche-agencyInstagram Handle: @digitalnicheagencySupport Our SponsorsOur generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today's advertisers include FundingHope, Make Money with Impact Crowdfunding, SuperCrowdLA and Crowdfunding Made Simple. Learn more about advertising with us here.Max-Impact MembersThe following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support:Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Pearl Wright, Global Changemaker | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Scott Thorpe, Philanthropist | Matthew Mead, Hempitecture | Michael Pratt, Qnetic | Add Your Name HereUpcoming SuperCrowd Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on April 15, 2025, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.SuperCrowdHour, April 16, 2025, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Gene Massey, Chairman/CEO of MediaShares, will lead a session on "Secrets For Creating Great Content To Attract Investors." He'll share expert insights on crafting compelling content that engages and converts potential investors. Whether you're launching a crowdfunding campaign or looking to enhance your storytelling strategy, this session is a must-attend! Don't miss it!SuperCrowdLA: we're going to be live in Santa Monica, California, May 1-3. Plan to join us for a major, in-person event focused on scaling impact. Sponsored by Digital Niche Agency, ProActive Real Estate and others. This will be a can't-miss event. Has your business been impacted by the recent fires? Apply now for a chance to receive one of 10 free tickets to SuperCrowdLA on May 2nd and 3rd and gain the tools to rebuild and grow! SuperCrowd25, August 21st and 22nd: This two-day virtual event is an annual tradition but with big upgrades for 2025! We'll be streaming live across the web and on TV via e360tv. Soon, we'll open a process for nominating speakers. Check back!Community Event CalendarSuccessful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events.Devin Thorpe joins Entrepreneurs On Fire to share powerful insights on impact investing and doing well by doing good. Tune in on April 10 to hear Devin's inspiring conversation with host John Lee Dumas!Igniting Community Capital to Build Outdoor Recreation Communities, Crowdfund Better, Thursdays, March 20 & 27, April 3 & 10, 2025, at 1:00 PM ET.Regulated Investment Crowdfunding Summit 2025, Crowdfunding Professional Association, Washington DC, October 21-22, 2025.Call for community action:Please show your support for a tax credit for investments made via Regulation Crowdfunding, benefiting both the investors and the small businesses that receive the investments. Learn more here.If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 9,000+ changemakers, investors and entrepreneurs who are members of the SuperCrowd, click here.We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe
I'm not a financial advisor; Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions.Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work.Devin: What is your superpower?Muna: I believe my superpower is just empowering and sharing. I believe that there's plenty for everybody.Revitalizing neighborhoods isn't just about beautification; it's about inclusion. Muna Phometsi, President of Strategic Projects Capital LLC, exemplifies this ethos with her groundbreaking project, The Swank Atlanta. Situated in Reynoldstown, this luxury development combines upscale design with an innovative crowdfunded investment model, ensuring that people from all income brackets can share in its success.The Swank Atlanta represents more than luxury living. Muna shared her passion for the project, saying, “We believe that the community should not only benefit from revitalization but also participate in the potential profit.” This principle of inclusion underscores her commitment to building a project where economic and social impacts intersect.Located just a three-minute walk from the Atlanta Beltline, The Swank Atlanta provides easy access to parks, trails, and restaurants, enhancing the neighborhood's appeal. Muna emphasized the area's diverse, tight-knit community, noting that her team engaged with residents to understand and complement their vision. “This was a sore eye to the community,” she explained. “We wanted to bring something beautiful to complement what's going on in the area.”As a seasoned real estate developer, Muna brings two decades of experience to this project, working alongside her husband, an architect with similar expertise. Their approach to development is guided by a philosophy of sharing knowledge and opportunities. “We've never been people that hold information to ourselves. What we know, we want you to know because we believe that there's so much for everybody.”The Swank Atlanta is currently raising funds through Small Change, a regulated investment crowdfunding platform. This effort not only reflects Muna's vision of community empowerment but also paves the way for similar projects across the East Coast and beyond.Muna's innovative approach is a model for leveraging development to create social and financial value, ensuring that everyone has a stake in building better communities.tl;dr:* Muna Phometsi shares her vision for The Swank Atlanta, a crowdfunded luxury redevelopment project.* The project emphasizes inclusivity by enabling middle-class and lower-income investors to participate meaningfully.* Muna highlights Reynoldstown's rich history and community-driven revitalization as central to the development.* Her superpower, empowering and sharing, drives her passion for helping others achieve financial growth.* Muna offers practical tips for creating impact through real estate development and community involvement.How to Develop Empowering and Sharing As a SuperpowerMuna's superpower lies in her unwavering commitment to empowering others by sharing knowledge and opportunities. She believes that by spreading what she has learned, she can inspire others to achieve their dreams, creating a ripple effect of growth and success within communities.Muna shared an inspiring example from her current project, The Swank Atlanta, a crowdfunded luxury development. She explained how the project allows individuals, including those from middle-class and lower-income brackets, to invest in a high-end real estate project—a rare opportunity. Additionally, Muna described helping a former classmate with a construction business, leveraging her husband's expertise as a contractor to guide him toward success. Both instances reflect her drive to empower others by sharing knowledge and creating inclusive opportunities.Tips for Developing the Superpower:* Listen Actively: Pay attention to people's concerns, aspirations, and challenges. Look for cues that indicate areas where you can help.* Identify Opportunities: Be proactive in suggesting solutions or sharing resources that align with others' goals or problems.* Be Willing to Teach: Share your knowledge openly and authentically. Recognize that even small insights can make a big difference.* Foster Inclusion: Create avenues for people from all backgrounds to participate in opportunities, as Muna does with her crowdfunding initiatives.* Adopt a Learning Mindset: Continuously expand your own knowledge so you can provide valuable insights to others.By following Muna's example and advice, you can make empowering and sharing a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!Guest ProfileMuna Phometsi (she/her):President, Strategic Projects Capital LLCAbout Strategic Projects Capital LLC: Strategic Projects Capital is a real estate investment company based in Atlanta, Georgia. We are a development manager, asset manager and real estate fund sponsor focused on helping passive investors share in the real estate wealth regardless of income bracket.Our goal is to encourage all who qualify to invest passively in our syndication projects and take advantage of the lucrative benefits that real estate investment has for decades offered to a select few.Website: strategicprojectscapital.comCompany Facebook Page: facebook.com/Empowering InvestorsOther URL: smallchange.co/projects/Swank-AtlantaBiographical Information: Muna serves as the President of Strategic Projects Capital LLC, a Georgia-based real estate investment firm. She is also the co-founder of Strategic Projects Inc., a Georgia-based design-build firm that has been in business for two decades. She brings a wealth management experience in the construction project delivery space, and she is a licensed GA Realtor. She is also a registered pharmacist who has held management positions at several Fortune 500 companies in the pharmaceutical sector. In her current position, Muna plays a key role in identifying, creating, and organizing real estate investment opportunities for development projects and securing capital for project implementation. She is passionate about empowering others by sharing her knowledge and resources and providing access to passive investments.Muna holds an MBA from Mercer University, a Bachelor of Pharmacy from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, Advanced certificates in Real Estate Finance and an Advanced Certificate in Real Estate Development from the Commercial Real Estate Development Association (NAOIP).Personal Facebook Profile: Facebook.com/munaphometsiLinkedin: linkedin.com/in/muna-phometsi-8b1b93119/Instagram Handle: @MunaphometsiSupport Our SponsorsOur generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today's advertisers include FundingHope, Abby, Honeycomb Credit and How to Make Money with Impact Crowdfunding. Learn more about advertising with us here.Max-Impact MembersThe following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support:Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Add Your Name HereUpcoming SuperCrowd Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.* Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on January 21, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.* SuperCrowdHour, January 15, 2025, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Devin Thorpe will be doing investor-focused training on building an investment strategy focused on investing in debt instruments to match or even exceed stock market returns. This is great for people serious about investing, whether you are starting with $100 or $100,000. Don't miss it!* SuperCrowdLA, we're going to be live in Los Angeles late the spring. Plan to join us there for a major, in-person event focused on scaling impact. Details to come soon!* SuperCrowdHour, December 18, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, we host a value-laden webinar for aspiring impact investors or social entrepreneurs. At December's SuperCrowdHour, Jason Fishman of Digital Niche Agency will present an “Algorithmic Strategy to Reach Your Crowdfund Capital Raising Goals.” Free to attend.Community Event Calendar* Successful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events* Community Capital Live, Havell Rodrigues, New Majority Capital, January 15, 2:00 PM Eastern.* Community Capital Live, Bernall Hall, New Jersey Community Capital, January 29, 2:00 PM Eastern.* NC3 Changing the Paradigm: Mobilizing Community Investment Funds, March 7, 2025* Asheville Neighborhood Economics, April 1-2, 2-25.If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 8,000+ members of the SuperCrowd, click here.We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe
I'm not a financial advisor; Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions.Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work.Devin: What is your superpower?Lester: I believe that the human spirit is greater than human nature. I think that we allow each other to play small and blame it on human nature. “Oh, that's just human nature.” It's human nature to do as little as possible to try to get as much as possible. But the human spirit says, “How can I contribute as much as possible?”The future of energy lies not just in renewables but in energy abundance, according to Lester Crafton, co-founder of Ovanova. In today's episode, Lester shared how his company is transforming rural America by deploying solar microgrids—systems that combine solar, energy storage, and smart controls—to meet surging energy demands.Lester believes the need for energy will grow exponentially in the coming decades. “What would happen if we went from an energy-starved world to an energy-abundant world? How much better could we treat each other?” he asked. With this philosophy, Ovanova focuses on deploying solar microgrids to ensure energy security, particularly for communities at the greatest risk during power shortages.The demand isn't hypothetical. Lester identified six trends—he calls them a “six-headed monster”—that are pushing the grid to its limits: the return of American manufacturing, electric vehicles, Bitcoin mining, widespread electrification, robotics, and the energy-hungry rise of artificial intelligence. “An AI data center takes like 70 times the energy of a normal data center,” he said, highlighting the urgency of their work.In rural communities, where large-scale grids often fail first, microgrids provide a reliable, local solution. “If Elon's supercomputer and the Blue Oval [Ford plant] need energy, then it doesn't matter if my parents' medical devices need to run. They get the blackout,” Lester explained.Ovanova's mission resonates far beyond energy—it's about economic and community resilience. Lester's vision for microgrids offers both a practical path forward for the solar industry and a brighter, more equitable energy future.If you're looking to support this mission, Ovanova frequently raises capital through regulated investment crowdfunding, empowering people to invest directly in the clean energy revolution.tl;dr:* In today's episode, Lester Crafton shares how Ovanova builds solar microgrids to meet rising energy demands.* Lester explains how six factors—including AI and EVs—drive exponential energy consumption in the future.* This episode highlights how virtual power plants and microgrids secure energy for rural communities.* Lester's belief in persistence and humanity's goodness fuels Ovanova's innovative clean energy solutions.* Lester emphasizes that solar energy's cost-effectiveness and scalability make it essential for energy security.How to Develop Persistence and Belief in Humanity As a SuperpowerLester Crafton's superpower is his unwavering persistence, fueled by a deep belief in the goodness of humanity. He views challenges as opportunities to create, iterate, and improve. By centering his work on contributing as much value as possible, Lester inspires others to join him in solving problems that matter, particularly in renewable energy and disaster preparedness.Lester shared an anecdote about a nonprofit project led by Xena Leone, Ovanova's director. After inspiring people in Peru to clean up rivers, she returned to her North Carolina hometown to establish microgrids for disaster preparedness. This initiative not only strengthened local resilience but also laid the foundation for virtual power plants—systems that keep communities running during grid failures. Lester's persistence and ability to rally talented people like Xena illustrate his commitment to solving real-world problems while inspiring others to contribute.Tips for Developing This Superpower* Focus on Contribution: Ask, “How can I create as much value as possible for others?” rather than focusing on personal gain.* Embrace Feedback as Growth: Treat setbacks as experiments to refine and improve your work.* Surround Yourself with Amazing People: Attract talented, purpose-driven individuals by inspiring them with your vision.* Believe in Humanity's Potential: Even when facing setbacks, remember the inherent goodness and capabilities of people.* Keep Going, No Matter What: Persevere through challenges with a mindset of creating, sharing, and iterating until you succeed.By following Lester Crafton's example and advice, you can make persistence and belief in humanity a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!Guest ProfileLester Crafton (he/him):Co-Founder, OvanovaAbout Ovanova: Ovanova's mission is to add as much value as possible to as many lives as possible. We chose energy as the lever that created the most positive impact for the most people. We currently develop, deploy, monitor, maintain and maximize microgrids. We have installed solar projects in 25 states with over sixty utility companies and currently focus on serving disadvantaged and distressed rural communities by giving small business owners and ag producers an easy way to access Inflation Reduction Act benefits intended for them.Website: ovanova.coX/Twitter Handle: @voiceofsolarCompany Facebook Page: fb.com/voiceofsolar/Biographical Information: Lester is from Somerville, TN. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He and his organization worked with over 1500 students directly in America's oldest sales and leadership training program. He began his solar energy journey in 2014, and started Ovanova in 2015.X/Twitter Handle: @lestercraftonPersonal Facebook Profile: fb.com/lcrafton/Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/lestercrafton/Support Our SponsorsOur generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today's advertisers include FundingHope, Abby, Honeycomb Credit and SuperCrowd Impact Members. Learn more about advertising with us here.Max-Impact MembersThe following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support:Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Add Your Name HereUpcoming SuperCrowd Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.* Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on December 17, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.* SuperCrowdHour, December 18, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, we host a value-laden webinar for aspiring impact investors or social entrepreneurs. At December's SuperCrowdHour, Jason Fishman of Digital Niche Agency will present an “Algorithmic Strategy to Reach Your Crowdfund Capital Raising Goals.” Free to attend.Community Event Calendar* Successful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events* Community Revitalization, Thursdays, 10:00 AM Eastern.* NC3 Changing the Paradigm: Mobilizing Community Investment Funds, March 7, 2025* Asheville Neighborhood Economics, April 1-2, 2-25.If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 8,000+ members of the SuperCrowd, click here.We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe
I'm not a financial advisor; Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions.Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work.Devin: What is your superpower?Troy: I would say I kind of have two characteristics that have really helped me, particularly in the last, say, 10 years of my career. The first one is self-discipline… Number two would be tenacity.Success in business and athletics often comes after facing and overcoming challenges. It takes a special kind of resilience to keep going when things get tough. Troy Helming, CEO of EarthGrid PBC, has that resilience in spades. He's a successful entrepreneur and athlete who has won numerous competitions.Troy shared his story on today's episode of Superpowers for Good. I was impressed by how he didn't let age or setbacks hold him back. In his early fifties, he was competing with 20-year-olds in the Ninja Warrior competition. He didn't win the whole thing, but he did win some of the regional events.Troy's entrepreneurial journey has been just as impressive. He's the founder and CEO of EarthGrid, a company that is developing a new technology for tunneling and excavating. EarthGrid has raised millions of dollars in funding from investors, including $4.5 million from regulated investment crowdfunding.Troy's success is a testament to the power of perseverance. He's not afraid of hard work or challenges. In fact, he seems to thrive on them. When asked about his fundraising efforts, Troy said, "I had to put in a lot of work... I had to give over 2,400 pitches."Troy's story is an inspiration to us all. It shows that we can achieve our goals if we are willing to put in the hard work and never give up.Having raised so much from the crowd, I asked Troy for some tips:Have a compelling hook. Your message needs to grab attention amidst the constant bombardment of information people receive. A unique hook, like a science fiction analogy, can intrigue potential investors.Reinvest capital in advertising. Helming suggests reinvesting 10-20% of raised funds back into advertising to boost the campaign's reach.Simplify your message. Potential investors should quickly understand your company, its traction, achievements, potential upside, and expected timeline for returns.Build a strong network. Start with your network and gradually expand by investing in marketing and creating compelling content.Be sure to bookmark this article so you can find them when you need them!Disclaimer: I am an investor in EarthGrid.tl;dr:* Troy Helming, CEO of EarthGrid, discusses his company's innovative plasma tunneling technology.* EarthGrid's technology offers significant cost and time savings compared to traditional tunneling methods.* Helming shares his experience in raising capital, including the challenges and successes of crowdfunding.* He emphasizes the importance of self-discipline and tenacity in overcoming obstacles and achieving goals.* Helming's journey highlights the power of perseverance and innovation in making a positive impact.How to Develop Self-Discipline and Tenacity As a SuperpowerOn this episode of Superpowers for Good, Troy discussed the importance of cultivating self-discipline and tenacity. He believes these two characteristics are essential for navigating the challenges and setbacks that inevitably arise in life.Illustrative Story:Troy shared how he had to give over 2,400 pitches to potential investors to raise capital for EarthGrid. Despite facing rejection after rejection, he never gave up. He knew it was a numbers game and that eventually, he would find the right investors.Tips for Developing the Superpower:* Start with small, achievable goals.* Embrace challenges and view setbacks as opportunities for growth.* Practice delayed gratification.* Surround yourself with supportive people.* Celebrate your successes along the way.By following Troy's example and advice, you can make self-discipline and tenacity a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!Guest ProfileTroy Helming (he/him):CEO, EarthGrid PBCAbout EarthGrid PBC: EarthGrid invented plasma tunnel boring robots (think Star Wars light sabers) that consume no water, have no emissions & bore tunnels 100x faster at 1/10th the cost. They're building a network of large, underground infrastructure tunnels to accelerate 100% clean energy: power lines, high-speed data, water, freight transportation, etc. Their BOOM model (Build, Own, Operate, Manage) will lease space to creditworthy Data Centers, Solar/Wind IPPs & Utilities.Website: earthgrid.ioX/Twitter Handle: @earthgrid_ioCompany Facebook Page: fb.com/profile.php?id=100090833724319Other URL: troyhelming.comBiographical Information: Troy Helming is a Unicorn Founder (with 6 company exits) and a modern-day industrialist. He's an inventor (60+ patent claims), an elite athlete (American Ninja Warrior), an author (The Clean Power Revolution + articles), and a clean energy executive. He's founded solar & wind companies that have generated more than $35 Billion of economic impact, and he serves on numerous boards. He's a longtime wellness practitioner, yogi, and family man.X/Twitter Handle: @SolarNinjaTroyPersonal Facebook Profile: fb.com/SolarNinjaTroy/Linkedin:.linkedin.com/in/troyhelming/Instagram Handle: @solarninjatroy/ Support Our SponsorsOur generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today's advertisers include FundingHope, Azolla, Abby and Honeycomb Credit. Learn more about advertising with us here.Max-Impact MembersThe following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support:Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Add Your Name HereUpcoming SuperCrowd Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.* Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on December 17, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.* SuperCrowdHour, December 18, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, we host a value-laden webinar for aspiring impact investors or social entrepreneurs. At December's SuperCrowdHour, Jason Fishman of Digital Niche Agency will an “Algorithmic Strategy to Reach Your Crowdfund Capital Raising Goals.” Free to attend.Community Event Calendar* Successful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events* Community Revitalization, Thursdays, 10:00 AM Eastern.* NC3 Changing the Paradigm: Mobilizing Community Investment Funds, March 7, 2025* Asheville Neighborhood Economics, date TBD following impact of Helene.If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 8,000+ members of the SuperCrowd, click here.We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe
I'm not a financial advisor; Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions.Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work.Devin: What is your superpower?Lauren: What is my superpower? I think I am a mission-driven growth catalyst.Transforming the nonprofit sector starts with empowering its leaders. Gratitude Network, under the leadership of Executive Director Lauren Reilly, has revolutionized nonprofit growth by offering leaders of organizations serving children a robust fellowship program. This unique accelerator equips them with tools to scale their impact globally.Gratitude Network's fellowship program combines executive coaching, a mini-MBA curriculum, and a global peer network. As Lauren explained in our interview, "Organizations that go through our program grow 3x on average after working with us. They grow revenue by almost 40% and, one year post-fellowship, serve an additional 2,300 children on average."Lauren's passion for creating systemic change is deeply rooted in her career as an educator. Early on, she recognized the inequities in education systems and sought innovative solutions. “I wanted to show students what it was like to be a CEO,” she recalled, describing her transition into the nonprofit sector. Gratitude Network provided her with the business acumen she needed to scale her ideas. Within five years, her nonprofit grew 26-fold, serving 21,000 children and collaborating with over 100 Fortune 500 companies.Now, at the helm of Gratitude Network, Lauren's vision is to amplify this impact. She aims to sustain and expand the organization's global network, ensuring that fellows continue to benefit from support long after completing the program. “We're fixing a broken nonprofit sector,” she said. “By supporting Gratitude, donors aren't just helping one organization—they're creating a leveraged social venture with outcomes year after year.”Gratitude Network is a beacon for nonprofit leaders striving to accelerate change. With Lauren's leadership, the ripple effect of their work promises to transform communities worldwide, one leader at a time.tl;dr:* Gratitude Network empowers nonprofit leaders with tools like executive coaching and a scale-up curriculum.* Lauren transitioned from education to nonprofits, scaling impactful ideas into sustainable, thriving organizations.* Fellows in the Gratitude Network's program average a 3x growth and serve 2,300 more children annually.* Success at Gratitude stems from system building, postmortems, and clear KPIs to drive measurable impact.* Lauren encourages dedicating 20% of time to strategic thinking to achieve long-term organizational growth.How to Develop Being a Mission-Driven Growth Catalyst As a SuperpowerLauren's superpower lies in being a "mission-driven growth catalyst." This unique ability allows her to inspire and execute change, transforming innovative ideas into scalable, impactful ventures. She empowers changemakers to evolve into effective business leaders while amplifying their impact.Lauren exemplified her superpower while working with Practice, a nonprofit in New York City. Recognizing the potential of using college students to mitigate summer learning loss for 1.1 million children, Lauren built systems and training programs to scale the initiative. Within five years, the organization grew to serve over 50,000 students annually, showcasing her talent for creating processes that drive large-scale change.Tips for Developing This Superpower:* Analyze Success: Regularly reflect on what is working well. Identify the specific steps and actions that led to success and document them.* Create Systems and Processes: Design repeatable systems for achieving desired outcomes. Train team members to implement these processes at scale.* Set and Track KPIs: Develop key performance indicators aligned with organizational goals. Monitor progress monthly and adjust to meet growth targets.* Carve Out Time for Strategy: Dedicate 20 percent of your time to think about long-term growth and innovative ideas rather than just day-to-day execution.* Engage Teams in Postmortems: After every project or milestone, review outcomes—good or bad—to identify lessons and refine processes.By following Lauren's example and advice, you can make "mission-driven growth catalyst" a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!Guest ProfileLauren Reilly (she/her):Executive Director, Gratitude NetworkAbout Gratitude Network: Founded in 2014, Gratitude Network is a leadership development non-profit that improves the lives of children and youth around the world by accelerating the community impact of social entrepreneurs. Gratitude Network offers a 12-month virtual Fellowship focused on leadership and organizational growth, featuring personalized coaching, a scaling curriculum, peer learning sessions, and networking events. Since its inception, Gratitude Network has supported over 200 Fellows across 82 countries. Post fellowship, these Fellows have increased the number of children they serve by 2.7X and boosted their revenue by an average of 38%. The program is highly competitive, with over 1,500 applicants annually vying for just 30 fellowship spots. At Gratitude Network, we don't just give a person a fish or teach them to fish—we help them build sustainable fishing ponds. By empowering social entrepreneurs with the tools, skills, and support to create sustainable solutions, we enable them to drive lasting change that ripples through their entire communities. This way, their impact grows, benefitting future generations.Website: www.gratitude-network.orgCompany Facebook Page: fb.com/gratitudenet/Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/the-gratitude-network/Other URL: www.gratitude-network.org/donateBiographical Information: Lauren Reilly is a results-driven professional with a proven track record in growing and scaling non-profit and social impact organizations. She assumes the Executive Director role at Gratitude Network after having run SuitUp, a college and career readiness organization, for the past six years. As the first employee and inaugural Executive Director of SuitUp, she grew the organization 26x over 5 years, serving over 21,000 students and raising over $3M. Prior to this, Lauren served as a board member and Chief Learning and Program Officer at Practice Makes Perfect, where she played a key role in growing the organization 10x over 5 years. Her background includes impactful roles as a Teach for America alum and NY certified teacher, teaching high school and middle school in the Bronx and Harlem.Lauren's accolades include the Gratitude Network Fellowship, SOCAP Fellowship, Student Success Network Fellowship, NYU Senior Leaders Fellowship, and graduation from the Goldman Sachs 10KSB program. She was also recognized as a finalist in the NYC Imagine Awards in the Rising Star and Excellence in Leadership categories. Notably, Lauren was honored by the Obama administration as a White House Champion for Change for her pioneering work in summer learning. She was one of 17 women-led organizations to undergo Santa Clara's GSBI incubator. Lauren holds a Master's degree in Education from Fordham University and a Bachelor's degree in History from Vassar College. Her contributions have been featured in publications such as Chronicles of Philanthropy, K12 Drive, Manhattan Lifestyle, News12 and more.Personal Facebook Profile: fb.com/lauren.elizabeth.7399Instagram Handle: @thegratitudenetwork/Support Our SponsorsOur generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today's advertisers include FundingHope, Azolla, Abby and How to Make Money with Impact Crowdfunding. Learn more about advertising with us here.Max-Impact MembersThe following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support:Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Add Your Name HereUpcoming SuperCrowd Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.* Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on December 17, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.* SuperCrowdHour, December 18, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, we host a value-laden webinar for aspiring impact investors or social entrepreneurs. At December's SuperCrowdHour, Jason Fishman of Digital Niche Agency will an “Algorithmic Strategy to Reach Your Crowdfund Capital Raising Goals.” Free to attend.Community Event Calendar* Successful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events* Community Revitalization, Thursdays, 10:00 AM Eastern.* CfPA Webinar with President-Elect Jenny Kassan sharing her vision for 2025, today, December 11 at 2:00 PM Eastern.* NC3 Changing the Paradigm: Mobilizing Community Investment Funds, March 7, 2025* Asheville Neighborhood Economics, date TBD following impact of Helene.If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 8,000+ members of the SuperCrowd, click here.We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe
I'm not a financial advisor; Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions.Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work.Devin: What is your superpower?Emily: I am fearless, truly. I think anyone who's an entrepreneur has to have kind of some sense of fearlessness, because it's a hard job. It's a scary job.Creating a job for someone with Down syndrome is more than just good business—it's transformative. Emily Scott, co-founder of Dance Happy, shared her journey of building a thriving business alongside her partner, Julia, a woman with Down syndrome and the brand's lead pattern designer."Julia is so proud of everything that she does here. Dance Happy was her North Star during chemotherapy. She just wanted to get back to work," Emily explained.Founded in 2016, Dance Happy produces artisan-quality accessories like tote bags and pillows, all hand-cut, printed, and sewn, with 90% of production in the U.S. Julia's creativity is at the heart of the operation, with her hand-drawn designs driving the collection. Their dedication to quality has led to impressive partnerships, including Nordstrom, Madewell, and QVC. In fact, Dance Happy became the first Down syndrome founder brand carried by Nordstrom.The company is raising capital via Honeycomb Credit to scale its impact. Emily envisions a future where Dance Happy creates "more purposeful employment for people who have disabilities" in an inclusive setting. She described her dream of a larger facility that fosters integration: "We don't want to just create jobs for people with disabilities; we want an inclusive environment where everyone works together."Dance Happy's mission goes beyond profits. It's about showing the world what's possible when businesses embrace inclusion and creativity. As Emily dreams of making Dance Happy a household name, she remains committed to growing the team and maintaining the quality that has defined their success.Check out this remarkable business and investment opportunity at Honeycomb Credit.tl;dr:* Dance Happy's co-founders, Emily and Julia, create artisan-quality handcrafted products with purpose-driven employment.* Julia, a woman with Down syndrome, leads pattern design and inspires inclusivity through her work.* Dance Happy collaborates with major retailers like Nordstrom and QVC while maintaining high-quality craftsmanship.* Emily's fearlessness drives bold actions, from cold-pitching influencers to securing impactful partnerships.* The company is raising funds on Honeycomb Credit to expand opportunities for people with disabilities.How to Develop Fearlessness As a SuperpowerEmily embodies fearlessness, a critical trait for entrepreneurial success. Her willingness to step into the unknown without a safety net allows her to take bold actions, push boundaries, and seize opportunities, even in the face of rejection or uncertainty. This mindset has propelled her and her co-founder, Julia, to scale Dance Happy into a thriving business with a mission of inclusivity and purpose.Emily shared how fearlessness fueled Dance Happy's breakthrough moments. For instance, she cold-pitched Adam Glassman of Oprah Daily at a trade show despite knowing the odds were slim. Her fearless approach paid off, as Dance Happy has since achieved notable recognition, including becoming the first Down syndrome founder brand carried by Nordstrom. These leaps of faith exemplify Emily's commitment to her vision and her belief in the mission of creating meaningful opportunities for people with disabilities.Tips for Developing Fearlessness:* Practice Facing Rejection: Embrace each "no" as a step toward a "yes" and an opportunity to grow resilience.* Pursue Meaningful Goals: Focus on missions and dreams that ignite your passion and drive.* Take Bold Actions: Put yourself in situations that push your boundaries, like cold-pitching or applying for ambitious opportunities.* Reframe Failure: See setbacks as learning experiences rather than deterrents.* Adopt a Growth Mindset: Remember that persistence and practice can lead to success over time.By following Emily Scott's example and advice, you can make fearlessness a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!Guest ProfileEmily Scott (she/her):Co-founder and CEO, Dance HappyAbout Dance Happy: Social impact accessories brand that creates artisan quality textile goods and purposeful employment for people with disabilities.Instagram Handle: @dance.happy.designsWebsite: dancehappydesigns.comCompany Facebook Page: fb.com/DanceHappyDesignsOther URL: honeycombcredit.com/campaigns/Dance-HappyBiographical Information: Emily is the co-founder and CEO of Dance Happy and one of Julia's closest friends. Emily has a BA in Business Management and has always had a passion for having her own business, the first of which she started when she was only 17 years old. Now, with almost 2 decades of experience and several businesses under her belt, Emily has found her true calling in the work that she does at Dance Happy. Emily sees a bigger vision of building out a brand that purposefully creates jobs for others with Down syndrome so that everyone employed has a workplace where they are doing tasks they enjoy and are focused on their strengths, they are valued just as they are, and they thrive. Emily has been an avid sewist since she was 5 years old and can still be found sewing some of the products that are sold on Dance Happy's website. A wearer of many hats, Emily spends her days doing anything and everything for Dance Happy--and she loves it. Emily is proud to be a Tory Burch Foundation Fellow.Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/emily-scott-78193958/Support Our SponsorsOur generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today's advertisers include FundingHope, Azolla, Abby and Honeycomb Credit. Learn more about advertising with us here.Max-Impact MembersThe following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support:Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Add Your Name HereUpcoming SuperCrowd Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.* Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on December 17, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.* SuperCrowdHour, December 18, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, we host a value-laden webinar for aspiring impact investors or social entrepreneurs. At December's SuperCrowdHour, Jason Fishman of Digital Niche Agency will an “Algorithmic Strategy to Reach Your Crowdfund Capital Raising Goals.” Free to attend.Community Event Calendar* Successful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events* Community Revitalization, Thursdays, 10:00 AM Eastern.* CfPA Webinar with President-Elect Jenny Kassan sharing her vision for 2025, December 11 at 2:00 PM Eastern.* NC3 Changing the Paradigm: Mobilizing Community Investment Funds, March 7, 2025* Asheville Neighborhood Economics, date TBD following impact of Helene.If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 8,000+ members of the SuperCrowd, click here.We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe
I'm not a financial advisor; Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions.Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work.Devin: What is your superpower?Jasmine: My superpower is my empathy. More than anything else, I feel deeply, and it drives all of the work that I do.Mid-Hudson Energy Transition (MHET) is revolutionizing how communities engage with renewable energy. Based in Kingston, New York, MHET empowers residents to access clean energy, reduce energy costs, and improve their homes through innovative programs.One standout initiative is the Home Energy Loan Program (HELP), which provides accessible financing for low-income residents to pursue energy-efficient home upgrades. According to Jasmine Graham, MHET's executive director, the program was designed to address the barriers residents face. “We heard, ‘I don't have the time, expertise, or money,'” Jasmine explained. “So, we said, ‘What if we manage the projects for you?'”The HELP Fund, which supports the program, is unique in offering opportunities for everyday people to invest. “We created an offering that allows accredited and non-accredited investors to join in and invest,” Jasmine shared. “This clean energy transition is happening, but right now, it's not very accessible to everybody.” Community investors earn a 4 percent return, a recognition of their risk and financial realities, while impact investors receive 3 percent, and mission-aligned philanthropic funds accept no return, prioritizing social impact.MHET also addresses affordability through its community solar program. Low-income participants can save up to 20 percent on their electricity bills with no upfront costs. “No cost to join, no cost to leave, and the savings continue for 20 years,” Jasmine noted.By integrating philanthropic partnerships and innovative financial structures, MHET ensures that low-income communities and people of color are not left behind in the clean energy transition. As Jasmine aptly said, “We want to make sure that folks have the financial resources and the time and expertise to make this happen.”MHET's work exemplifies the potential for systemic change through community-driven, inclusive solutions. Their impact resonates far beyond Kingston, offering a model for equitable climate action nationwide.tl;dr:* Mid-Hudson Energy Transition helps communities access renewable energy, lower costs, and strengthen resilience.* Community Choice Aggregation enables bulk renewable energy purchases, saving residents and small businesses money.* The Home Upgrade Grants program addresses structural issues to help low-income families decarbonize their homes.* The HELP Fund allows community members to invest in clean energy with tailored returns and protections.* Empathy and inclusion guide Jasmine Graham's leadership, ensuring no one is left behind in transitions.How to Develop Empathy As a SuperpowerJasmine's superpower is her deep empathy, which enables her to understand and connect with others, driving her leadership and efforts to address complex challenges. Her ability to put herself in others' shoes inspires her work in creating impactful solutions for communities, ensuring no one is left behind.Jasmine exemplified her empathy following a disappointing election outcome that deeply affected her climate-focused team. She prioritized their emotional well-being during a staff planning day, emphasizing self-care and resilience. By fostering kindness and compassion, Jasmine demonstrated how empathy can unite and motivate teams to continue pursuing their mission, even in challenging times.Tips for Developing Empathy as a Strength:* Engage in Conversations: Regularly connect with people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives to deepen understanding and build relational skills.* Learn About Others: Explore different cultures, life experiences, and issues to develop a broader perspective on humanity.* Practice Vulnerability: Share personal experiences and emotions to create authentic connections and foster mutual empathy.* Reflect on Differences: Recognize that varied upbringings and circumstances shape viewpoints, helping to bridge gaps in understanding.* Build Empathy Like a Muscle: Exercise empathy consistently in everyday interactions to strengthen it over time.Conclusion:By following Jasmine Graham's example and advice, you can make empathy a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!Guest ProfileJasmine Graham (she/they):Executive Director, Mid-Hudson Energy TransitionAbout Mid-Hudson Energy Transition: Mid-Hudson Energy Transition empowers communities to own and share renewable energy, create healthier buildings, and join in community wealth-building to strengthen the resilience of the Hudson Valley in the face of climate change.Website: www.mid-hudson.energyX/Twitter Handle: @midhudsonenergyCompany Facebook Page: fb.com/mid-hudson-energy-transitionOther URL: www.investinhelp.orgBiographical Information: Jasmine (she/they) is an energy justice expert, environmental policy advocate, and published scholar. With extensive experience in designing and implementing community-based renewable energy and building decarbonization programs, she has dedicated her career to ensuring that vulnerable communities have a voice in the clean energy transition. As the Executive Director of Mid-Hudson Energy Transition, Jasmine leads efforts to empower communities through renewable energy ownership, healthier buildings, and wealth-building initiatives. Previously, Jasmine held key roles in advancing cutting-edge energy policy across New York State, including appointments to New York City's Sustainability Advisory Board and Climate Mobilization Advisory Board under multiple mayoral administrations. In these roles, she guided the development of New York City's long-term sustainability plan and played a pivotal role in shaping the implementation of Local Law 97, historic legislation for building decarbonization. Jasmine earned a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from the University of Vermont and is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration in Sustainability from Bard College.X/Twitter Handle: @jasminecgrahamLinkedin: linkedin.com/in/jasmine-c-grahamInstagram Handle: @jasminecgrahamSupport Our SponsorsOur generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today's advertisers include FundingHope, Mivium, Azolla and SuperCrowd Impact Membership. Learn more about advertising with us here.Max-Impact MembersThe following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support to keep us operating:Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Add Your Name HereUpcoming SuperCrowd Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.* Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on December 17, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.* SuperCrowdHour, December 18, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, we host a value-laden webinar for aspiring impact investors or social entrepreneurs. At December's SuperCrowdHour, Jason Fishman of Digital Niche Agency will share insights. Free to attend.Community Event Calendar* Successful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events* Community Revitalization, Thursdays, 10:00 AM Eastern.* CfPA Webinar with President-Elect Jenny Kassan sharing her vision for 2025, December 11 at 2:00 PM Eastern.* NC3 Changing the Paradigm: Mobilizing Community Investment Funds, March 7, 2025* Asheville Neighborhood Economics, date TBD following impact of Helene.If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 8,000+ members of the SuperCrowd, click here.We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe
Happy Thanksgiving!I'm not a financial advisor; Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions.Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work.Devin: What is your superpower?Jonathan: I think in my case, if I may, some of my strengths include being a very creative CEO.Making life-saving cancer detection accessible to everyone, regardless of income, is the driving force behind Jonathan Cohen's leadership at 20/20 GeneSystems. On today's episode of Superpowers for Good, Jonathan shared how his team is reshaping cancer testing and leveraging equity crowdfunding to align with their mission.The company's flagship product, OneTest, offers multi-cancer early detection for as little as $200—far below the cost of competing tests. Recently, they introduced a convenient home collection option, allowing people to collect samples themselves, bypassing painful and time-consuming traditional blood draws. “We believe that cancer testing should not just be for the so-called worried rich. It should be for everybody,” Jonathan said.This philosophy extends to their approach to financing. Jonathan explained, “Just as cancer doesn't discriminate by income, we think cancer testing—and the opportunity to invest in innovations—should be available to all.” The company pioneered equity crowdfunding for biotech, raising $12 million from nearly 8,000 shareholders through Reg CF and Reg A campaigns. Now, they are hosting another offering on WeFunder to continue this democratized model.Jonathan's vision is deeply personal for many. He highlighted how shareholders often become customers and vice versa, strengthening the connection between the company's mission and its community.By focusing on affordability, accessibility, and inclusivity, 20/20 GeneSystems is setting a new standard—not just for cancer detection but also for how groundbreaking medical innovations are funded. Their journey illustrates the powerful impact of aligning purpose with action, offering investors and patients alike a chance to join a life-saving mission.tl;dr:* Jonathan Cohen's company offers one of only two multi-cancer early detection tests available today.* 20/20 GeneSystems' OneTest uses protein biomarkers, providing an affordable alternative to DNA-based diagnostics.* The company's equity crowdfunding campaigns align with its mission of democratizing access to biotech investments.* During the COVID-19 pandemic, 20/20 GeneSystems pivoted quickly to become an early leader in testing.* Jonathan's innovative approach integrates AI and machine learning, modernizing cancer detection and expanding accessibility.How to Develop Creative Thinking As a SuperpowerJonathan Cohen's superpower is creative thinking. As the CEO of 20/20 GeneSystems, Jonathan has repeatedly demonstrated an ability to think outside the box to solve problems and innovate. From spearheading novel approaches to cancer detection to adopting unconventional business strategies, Jonathan's creativity enables him to navigate complex challenges and seize unique opportunities.During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jonathan's creativity shone when he led 20/20 GeneSystems to pivot quickly into COVID testing. With rapid antibody tests sourced from East Asia, the company was among the first in the U.S. to offer any type of COVID test. Later, they transitioned to PCR testing, adapting to market needs. This quick, strategic shift not only supported public health efforts but also drove substantial growth, earning the company a spot on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies.Tips for Developing Creative Thinking:* Pause and Analyze: Avoid following the crowd; take time to assess alternative approaches when everyone else moves in a single direction.* Leverage Technology: Use emerging tools like AI and machine learning to modernize older, proven methods.* Think Holistically: Combine diverse strategies, such as integrating different testing modalities for optimal outcomes, as Jonathan did with protein and DNA testing.* Engage in Public Policy: Collaborate with policymakers to align innovative solutionsBy following Jonathan Cohen's example and advice, you can make creative thinking a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!Guest ProfileJonathan Cohen (he/him):President & CEO, 20/20 GeneSystemsAbout 20/20 GeneSystems: We develop and commercialize innovative lab tests for the early detection and prevention of cancers and chronic conditions.Website: www.OneTestforCancer.comOther URL: wefunder.com/2020.gene.systemsBiographical Information: Jonathan Cohen is a visionary life sciences entrepreneur and executive with extensive experience in the biotechnology and healthcare industries. Throughout his career, Jonathan has succeeded at the intersection of capital formation, start-ups and public policy. As the founding CEO of 20/20 GeneSystems, Inc., he has pioneered groundbreaking initiatives in innovative lab testing for the early detection and prevention of cancers and other diseases. These include co-invention of blood tests w/AI-powered algorithms for the early detection of multiple cancers and chronic inflammation. Jonathan is a longtime advocate for state and federal policies that advance the entrepreneurial life sciences industry.Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/jonathan-cohen-22574a12/Support Our SponsorsOur generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today's advertisers include FundingHope, Inner Space KC, Honeycomb Credit and How to Make Money with Impact Crowdfunding. Learn more about advertising with us here.Max-Impact MembersThe following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support to keep us operating:Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Add Your Name HereUpcoming SuperCrowd Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.* SuperCrowdHour, December 18, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, we host a value-laden webinar for aspiring impact investors or social entrepreneurs. At November's SuperCrowdHour, Jason Fishman of Digital Niche Agency will share insights. Free to attend.* Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on December 17, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.Community Event Calendar* Successful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events* Community Revitalization, Thursdays, 10:00 AM Eastern.* CfPA Webinar with President-Elect Jenny Kassan sharing her vision for 2025, December 11 at 2:00 PM Eastern.* NC3 Changing the Paradigm: Mobilizing Community Investment Funds, March 7, 2025* Asheville Neighborhood Economics, date TBD following impact of Helene.If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 8,000+ members of the SuperCrowd, click here.We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe
I'm not a financial advisor; Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions.Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work.Devin: What is your superpower?Alexis: I think that my superpower is my sense of scale. I think of it as kind of the capacity to fractal in and out.In Kansas City, Missouri, Alexis Penney is redefining what a yoga studio can be. Inner Space KC, their innovative business, combines yoga, movement classes, coworking spaces, and a community hub under one roof. The historic building, with over a century of history, is now a bustling center for connection and growth.“Our studio anchors a community of diverse tenants, including estheticians, nonprofits, and energy healers,” Alexis explained during our conversation. “It's an experiment in coworking that brings together different communities and customer bases.”Inner Space also plays a vital role in its neighborhood. Situated on Troost Avenue, a street with a fraught history as Kansas City's historic redline boundary, the area is now a focal point for redevelopment. The studio aligns with local organizations fostering healing and support, from recovery housing to affordable childcare. “There's an energy of healing here,” Alexis shared. “The site of so much conflict has become a place for growth and recovery.”To expand Inner Space KC's impact, Alexis launched a regulated investment crowdfunding campaign through Honeycomb Credit. This effort invites the community to invest in the studio's growth while supporting the broader revitalization of Troost Avenue. Highlighting the alignment between their values and the Honeycomb platform, Alexis noted, “We didn't want someone owning the business who didn't share our mission. Honeycomb's approach resonated with our vision of community and connection.”For those inspired by Alexis's work, visit s4g.biz/inner to explore the Honeycomb campaign and contribute to this grassroots movement. Inner Space KC stands as a beacon of innovation and unity, proving that community-driven ventures can lead the way in urban transformation.tl;dr:* Inner Space KC combines yoga, movement, and coworking spaces to foster community and connection.* Alexis created a unique work-trade system, offering yoga classes in exchange for services.* Troost Avenue's history inspires Inner Space KC's mission to support healing and urban revitalization.* The Honeycomb Credit crowdfunding campaign empowers grassroots investment in Inner Space KC's growth.* Alexis's balance of detail and big-picture thinking drives sustainable systems and community impact.How to Develop a Sense of Scale As a SuperpowerAlexis's superpower, their sense of scale, allows them to move seamlessly between focusing on intricate details and seeing the big picture. They balance these perspectives to create systems that foster harmony and functionality, whether in their business, Inner Space KC, or in broader community contexts. This dual focus enables Alexis to build a thriving environment that supports individuals while addressing systemic challenges.When Alexis took over Inner Space KC, they faced challenges with maintaining the cleanliness of the space. Initially, Alexis personally cleaned the studio to establish standards, discovering hidden details like cobweb-prone corners. Recognizing the need for a sustainable solution, they introduced a work-trade program, offering yoga classes in exchange for cleaning services. This innovative system not only met the studio's needs but also attracted skilled participants who contributed unique talents, such as planting pollinator-friendly gardens. The result was a thriving, clean, and aesthetically enhanced space that reflected the collective efforts of the community.Tips for Developing a Sense of Scale:* Reframe Problems: View challenges as opportunities for curiosity and growth rather than immediate fixes.* Keep a List: Note recurring issues or observations to understand patterns before jumping to solutions.* Categorize Needs: Group tasks into categories (e.g., facilities, HR) to identify systemic solutions.* Engage Stakeholders: Regularly assess who is impacted by and contributing to your environment, including community members.* Systemize Processes: Develop systems that empower others to contribute independently, reducing personal micromanagement.By following Alexis Penney's example and advice, you can make a sense of scale a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!Guest ProfileAlexis Penney (they/their):Owner / Lead Care-Taker, Inner Space KCAbout Inner Space KC: Inner Space is a yoga studio, healing arts center and collaborative working space.Website: www.innerspacekc.comCompany Facebook Page: fb.com/innerspaceyogakc/Instagram Handle: @innerspacekcOther URL: invest.honeycombcredit.com/campaigns/inner-space-kcBiographical Information: Alexis Penney (they/them) is an artist, teacher and spirit worker based in Kansas City, specializing in holistic embodiment, energy medicine and spirit-guided transformation. They are the owner and lead caretaker of Inner Space KC, a community movement and collaborative healing arts space, share soul-tending and transformational work through the vessel of Star Service Holistic and offer art and writing regularly through Heartland Mysteries on Substack. Alexis endeavors to support contemporary people living in challenging times in reclaiming their power, purpose and wholeness, rooted in a regenerative relationship with earth, land, body and spirit. The vision they tend through all their work is a world where queer and trans people remember their belonging, artists remember the necessity of their gifts, and all people remember the earth-honoring community as their birthright. Alexis draws on over a decade of teaching as well as a life-long apprenticeship to service and spirit along many diverse paths, including music, drag, performance art, Wicca, yoga, western mysticism and the Taoist martial arts. Born and raised in Kansas City, Alexis spent 13 years teaching and practicing in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York City before moving back to the Midwest. Alexis is an active leader in the Cycle Community, a non-local spiritual community endeavoring to live in authentic animist relationship with the earth, and has been an active student of the Cycle of Transformation, the initiatory process led by Christina Lee Pratt, since 2018.Personal Facebook Profile: fb.com/alexisblairpenney/Instagram Handle: @heartlandmysteriesSupport Our SponsorsOur generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today's advertisers include FundingHope, Inner Space KC, Honeycomb Credit and SuperCrowd Impact Membership. Learn more about advertising with us here.Max-Impact MembersThe following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support to keep us operating:Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Add Your Name HereUpcoming SuperCrowd Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.* SuperCrowdHour, December 18, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, we host a value-laden webinar for aspiring impact investors or social entrepreneurs. At November's SuperCrowdHour, Jason Fishman of Digital Niche Agency will share insights. Free to attend.* Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on December 17, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.Community Event Calendar* Successful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events* Community Revitalization, Thursdays, 10:00 AM Eastern.* CfPA Webinar with President-Elect Jenny Kassan sharing her vision for 2025, December 11 at 2:00 PM Eastern.* NC3 Changing the Paradigm: Mobilizing Community Investment Funds, March 7, 2025* Asheville Neighborhood Economics, date TBD following impact of Helene.If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 8,000+ members of the SuperCrowd, click here.We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe
I'm not a financial advisor; Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions.Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work.Devin: What is your superpower?John: The universe gave me a limp and experience and the ability to see the potential hiding in plain sight for this little niche of motorized vehicles.The global wheelchair industry has long been defined by inefficiencies and high costs, creating barriers for millions in need. John DeBenedette, CEO of Abby by GoGoTech, is on a mission to transform this landscape. Abby, a hybrid manual-power wheelchair, combines affordability with cutting-edge smart technology, offering a groundbreaking solution to a pressing global problem.John explains, “The difference between having a wheelchair and not having one is often the difference between being bedridden or on the floor somewhere. There's no reason in 2024 that the first chair someone receives isn't motorized.”Abby is designed to meet diverse needs, particularly in underdeveloped regions. Its lightweight, foldable structure ensures portability, while advanced safety features like sensor-driven obstacle detection make it adaptable to various environments. These features are critical in expanding access to mobility and autonomy for users across the globe.The innovation goes beyond the chair itself. Abby integrates cloud connectivity and app-based support, extending the reach of caregivers and families. “We created our own controller from a clean slate,” John shares. “This gives us the agility to implement sensor safety, connectivity, and more while maintaining a competitive cost.”John also highlights the economic and social impact of Abby's mission. “By slashing the price of a basic power chair, we can make a huge difference. It shouldn't take philanthropy to get these products into the hands of those who need them.”Currently, Abby is raising capital through an equity crowdfunding campaign on StartEngine. This opportunity aligns perfectly with impact investors looking to support transformative solutions to global challenges. John and his team invite everyone to join the movement, amplifying Abby's reach and changing lives, one wheelchair at a time.tl;dr:* John DeBenedette created Abby, a smart wheelchair, to address global mobility challenges innovatively.* Today's episode highlights Abby's hybrid design, combining manual functionality with smart, cloud-based features.* John emphasizes affordability, aiming to disrupt the wheelchair industry's scarcity model and high pricing.* Leveraging his software expertise, John built Abby's first new wheelchair controller since the 1980s.* Abby's crowdfunding campaign on StartEngine invites impact investors to support its transformative mission.How to Develop Transforming Limitations into Opportunity As a SuperpowerJohn DeBenedette's superpower lies in his ability to transform personal limitations and experiences into innovative solutions. After experiencing a life-changing motorcycle accident and navigating the challenges of mobility impairment, John developed a unique perspective that enabled him to see untapped opportunities in assistive technology. This perspective, combined with his professional expertise in software development, allows him to reimagine possibilities in industries others may overlook.John's journey to founding Abby began with his own rehabilitation process following his accident, which required him to use a wheelchair for nearly a year. Reflecting on the outdated technology and scarcity in the wheelchair industry, he realized the profound need for innovation. Leveraging his software background, John developed a proprietary wheelchair controller—the first new design since the 1980s—that integrates robotics and cloud connectivity. This groundbreaking achievement exemplifies how he turned personal and professional experiences into a transformative enterprise.Tips for Developing This Superpower:* Reframe Limitations as Opportunities: Reflect on challenges you've overcome and consider how they could inspire solutions or innovations.* Leverage Personal Experiences: Draw from your unique life experiences to identify gaps or unmet needs in the world.* Apply Professional Skills in New Ways: Use your career expertise to approach problems in unconventional industries or niches.* Adopt a Collaborative Approach: Build systems and processes that integrate diverse fields, like John's combination of hardware and cloud computing.* Pursue Lifelong Learning: Stay curious and willing to explore areas outside your immediate expertise to enhance your problem-solving capabilities.By following John's example and advice, you can make transforming limitations into opportunity a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!Guest ProfileJohn DEBENEDETTE (he/him):CEO, ABBY by GOGOTECH Inc.About ABBY by GOGOTECH Inc.: We believe everyone with reduced mobility should have access to safe, advanced, and affordable assistive technology, regardless of income or insurance. Our factory in Shenzhen has capacity for 300 units per month. We ship FCL to a single US warehouse, where we centrally manage service, support, and order fulfillment. We are a lean but uniquely qualified team with a shared passion to democratize powered mobility.Website: abbychair.comX/Twitter Handle: @ABBY_GogotechCompany Facebook Page: fb.com/abby.gogotech/Other URL: startengine.com/offering/abby-by-gogotechBiographical Information: John is an experienced founder and a wheelchair user on/off himself since a 1985 accident. Prior to ABBY, he was CTO and then Chief Commercial Officer at INTTRA.com, a container shipping SaaS platform (acquired by E2Open in 2018). ABBY is his third startup, and the 2nd aiming to disrupt a huge but deeply flawed industry. John leads a lean but uniquely qualified team that's mission-driven to democratize powered mobility, addressing the massive global unmet need for safe, advanced & affordable assistive mobility technology.YouTube: youtube.com/@abby4703Personal Facebook Profile: fb.com/john.debenedette/Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/johndebenedetteSupport Our SponsorsOur generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today's advertisers include FundingHope, Mivium, Innerspace and SuperCrowd Mastermind. Learn more about advertising with us here.Max-Impact MembersThe following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support to keep us operating:Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Add Your Name HereUpcoming SuperCrowd Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.* SuperCrowd Mastermind Group, twice monthly on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays at noon Eastern. This group is for entrepreneurs and small business owners interested in raising money from the crowd. Attend your first meeting free!* SuperCrowdHour, December 18, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, we host a value-laden webinar for aspiring impact investors or social entrepreneurs. At November's SuperCrowdHour, Jason Fishman of Digital Niche Agency will share insights. Free to attend.* Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on December 17, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.Community Event Calendar* Successful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events* Community Revitalization, Thursdays, 10:00 AM Eastern.* CfPA Webinar with President-Elect Jenny Kassan sharing her vision for 2025, December 11 at 2:00 PM Eastern.* Changing the Paradigm: Mobilizing Community Investment Funds, March 7, 2025* Asheville Neighborhood Economics, date TBD following impact of Helene.If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 8,000+ members of the SuperCrowd, click here.We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe
I'm not a financial advisor; Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions.Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work.Devin: What's your superpower?Jason: I think it's around getting people excited.In today's episode of Superpowers for Good, I had the pleasure of speaking with Jason Fishman, Co-Founder and CEO of Digital Niche Agency (DNA), as well as the host of the "Test. Optimize. Scale." podcast. Jason shared invaluable insights into what it takes to market a regulated investment crowdfunding campaign successfully.One key takeaway from our discussion is how critical it is to drive enough traffic to your campaign page. Jason pointed out that many founders believe that simply launching their offering will magically bring investors to their door. The truth, as he explained, is far from that. "You probably need 50,000 visitors per million dollars raised on a Reg CF," Jason said, emphasizing that traffic goals are essential. He highlighted that only about 7% of Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF) campaigns reached $1 million or more last year, largely due to insufficient traffic.Jason also delved into the importance of creating social proof for your campaign. He likened it to avoiding the “empty restaurant” effect: when prospective investors see that only a small amount has been raised, they may hesitate to invest. He noted, "You're in a much better spot if you're able to get over $100K showcased on your page for how much has been raised." This kind of traction helps reassure cold investors and encourages more participation.For anyone looking to raise funds through a regulated crowdfunding campaign, Jason's advice is clear: focus on building momentum early and ensure that your campaign is reaching enough potential investors. Social proof can make or break your efforts to raise capital from the crowd.tl;dr:* Drive Traffic to Campaigns: Jason emphasized that driving significant traffic to crowdfunding pages is essential for success. He noted that most campaigns fail due to insufficient visitors.* Importance of Social Proof: Successful campaigns often showcase early traction, which builds credibility. Raising over $100K early on can help attract cold investors who have no prior connection to the campaign.* Targeted Marketing: Jason shared how targeted digital marketing, such as advertising to specific audiences like equity crowdfunding investors, is a powerful tool to reach the right prospects.* Proactive Founders: Jason highlighted that the most successful crowdfunding campaigns are led by founders who are highly proactive and engage deeply with their networks, rather than relying solely on third-party agencies.* Test and Optimize: Jason's marketing philosophy revolves around constantly testing different approaches, learning from the results, and optimizing campaigns to achieve better performance.How to Develop Generating Enthusiasm As a SuperpowerJason's superpower is his ability to get people excited. He uses his natural enthusiasm to energize those around him, whether it's rallying friends for a trip or engaging stakeholders in a business opportunity. By thinking about what would get him excited about a product or campaign, Jason translates that feeling into marketing messages that resonate with audiences, making him highly effective in crowdfunding campaigns.Jason shared an example where he used his enthusiasm to convince celebrities and influencers to share their audience data for advertising purposes—something many people are hesitant to do. By sharing his excitement about the potential results and opportunities, Jason managed to secure their participation, resulting in stronger campaign performance and satisfied stakeholders.Tips for Developing the Superpower:* Put Yourself in Their Shoes: Think about what would get you excited if you were the other person. Tailor your approach to reflect what would spark enthusiasm in that specific individual.* Transfer Energy: View communication as a transfer of energy. If you feel excitement, convey that feeling clearly to the other person. Make them feel the opportunity as vividly as you do.* Understand Your Audience: Study your audience in detail to find out what appeals to them. Create tailored messaging that resonates personally with them.* Test and Adapt: Use a trial-and-error approach to refine your methods. Test different messages, observe what works, and adjust accordingly to connect more effectively with each audience segment.By following Jason Fishman's example and advice, you can make generating enthusiasm a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!Guest ProfileJason Fishman (he/him):Co-Founder and CEO of Digital Niche Agency DNA and Host of the "Test. Optimize. Scale." Podcast, Digital Niche Agency (DNA)About Digital Niche Agency (DNA): DNA is a full-service digital marketing agency specializing in surpassing client goals. Our team has over 25 years of experience in Marketing, Start-Ups, and Business Development. While working with clients and launching brands, we have learned what works and how to implement a revenue-driving marketing strategy. Watching the digital marketing landscape evolve every day, our primary objective is to offer the latest technologies and techniques to small to mid level businesses. With a focus on two areas, Content Development and Content Distribution, the DNA model is built for both brand value and performance. Our success is truly measured by the growth rate of our clients' companies. Whether you are looking for Social Media, SEO, Content Marketing, Digital PR, Web/ Mobile Media Buying, Marketing Plans, Influencer Marketing, Instagram Ads, Traffic to CrowdFounding Platforms, Investor Materials, CPI / Burst and AOS Campaigns, Development, Video, or Digital Advertising, we know how many options there are out there and have structured ourselves so that you can get everything you need from DNA. We have relationships with the top vendors in the digital world and provide the ability to work with one partner to manage all areas of your digital brand at below industry standard rates. With this approach, we want to make the process easy so we can begin getting you more market share with our formula.Website: digitalnicheagency.comX/Twitter Handle: @DNAgency_CACompany Facebook Page: fb.com/digitalnicheagencyLinkedin: linkedin.com/company/digital-niche-agencyInstagram Handle: @digitalnicheagencyBiographical Information: Jason Fishman is the Co-Founder and CEO of Digital Niche Agency (DNA), with over 15 years of experience in scalable marketing strategies. He has led campaigns for 750+ brands and 350+ crowdfunding projects, producing nine figures in funding. Jason hosts the “Test. Optimize. Scale.” podcast and contributes to the Forbes Agency Council.Max-Impact MembersThe following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support to keep us operating:Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Add Your Name HereUpcoming SuperCrowd Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.* SuperCrowd Mastermind Group, twice monthly on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays at noon Eastern. This group is for entrepreneurs and small business owners interested in raising money from the crowd. Attend your first meeting free!* Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on October 15, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.* SuperCrowdHour, October 16, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, we host a value-laden webinar for aspiring impact investors or social entrepreneurs. At October's webinar, Devin Thorpe will provide an in-depth answer to the question, “How to Assess Your Crowd's Potential for Investing?” Free to attend.Community Event Calendar* Successful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events* Rally for Appalachian Hurricane Relief, Joel Skene, Tuesday, October 8 at 4:00 PM ET* Community Revitalization, Thursdays, 10:00 AM Eastern.* Community Capital Alternatives for Outdoor Recreation Challenges, Kathleen Minogue of Crowdfund Better speaking at American Trails, October 3, 10:00 AM, free.* Main Street Skowhegan and NC3 Entrepreneur Finance Workshop Series, September 17 - November 19, 2023.* Krishi Janani PBC Crowdfunding Virtual Office Hour, Sep 21, 2024, Noon Eastern.* Investment Week 24, October 19-20, 2024, Los Angeles. * Crowdfunding Professional Association, Summit in DC, October 22-23* Asheville Neighborhood Economics, November 12-13.If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 8,000+ members of the SuperCrowd, click here.We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe
What types of channels and results should issuers seek out in their Reg CF and Reg A campaigns? In this episode, Adam Torres and Jason Fishman, Co-Founder & CEO at Digital Niche Agency (DNA), explore what separates the top groups from the underperformers running crowdfunding campaigns. Follow Adam on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule. Apply to be a guest on our podcast: https://missionmatters.lpages.co/podcastguest/ Visit our website: https://missionmatters.com/ More FREE content from Mission Matters here: https://linktr.ee/missionmattersmedia
What types of channels and results should issuers seek out in their Reg CF and Reg A campaigns? In this episode, Adam Torres and Jason Fishman, Co-Founder & CEO at Digital Niche Agency (DNA), explore what separates the top groups from the underperformers running crowdfunding campaigns. Follow Adam on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule. Apply to be a guest on our podcast: https://missionmatters.lpages.co/podcastguest/ Visit our website: https://missionmatters.com/ More FREE content from Mission Matters here: https://linktr.ee/missionmattersmedia
In this episode, we take a dive deep into equity crowdfunding and marketing strategies. Eric sits down with Jason Fishman, the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Digital Niche Agency, to talk about his company's niche - marketing targeting of investors for startup seed capital raising. To connect with Jason, click HERE. To connect with the show's host - Eric Holtzclaw - click HERE. To subscribe to our YouTube Channel (and access most of the podcast and video content we've produced), click HERE.
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This is the Investor Connect Crowdfunding Launch Program. I'm Hall T Martin, the host of the show, in which we take questions from startups and investors on crowdfunding topics. I hope you enjoy this episode._______________________________ Thank you for joining us for the Investor Connect Crowdfunding Launch Program where we help startups prepare for a fundraise. For more episodes, please visit the site at: Check out our other podcasts here: For Investors check out: For Startups check out: For eGuides check out: For upcoming Events, check out For Feedback please contact info@tencapital.group Music courtesy of
This week Jason Fishman speaks with Shari Noonan, Co-Founder and CEO of Rialto Markets. They cover a wide range of topics surrounding the importance of using time wisely when raising capital. Shari Noonan has more than 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. Shari has extensive experience in building and scaling operations and product development with Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, and Instinet and was instrumental in the electronification of the equities market. Shari was involved in deal flow analysis and governance activities in strategic acquisitions in her role as COO of Global Equity Trading and COO of Global Electronic Trading at Deutsche Bank and while in Trading Management at Goldman Sachs. Recognizing the obstacles for issuers and investors in the private placement market, Shari saw an opportunity to leverage the founding team's collective experience to bring efficiency to inefficient markets, inspiring her to co-found Rialto. For more episodes and information, visit us at https://www.digitalnicheagency.com/media Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zS5V79... Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=524781... Follow Digital Niche Agency on Socials for Up To Date Marketing Expertise and Insights Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/digitalniche... Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digi... Instagram: DNA - Digital Niche Agency (@digitalnicheagency) • Instagram photos and videos. Twitter: https://twitter.com/DNAgency_CA YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDlz…
This week Jason Fishman speaks with Sean Knight & Jonathan Gicewicz, Co-Founders of GRYLD CHEEZ. They walked us through how they were able to Test, Optimize, and Scale their businesses. Sean is an Internet entrepreneur and early adopting web technologist, pioneering one of the first online shopping carts, KnighthoodTees.com in 1998. His passion for graphic design, community service and the emerging e-commerce sector helped Sean evolved as a programmer and web developer, assisting small businesses and non-profits with their online presence. For over 20 years, Jonathan Gicewicz has been providing his client's award-winning Graphic and Web Design. His areas of expertise consist of, but are not limited to: website design, database development, PHP coding, SEO, WordPress website development, WordPress Element Builder, WordPress Customization & theme integrations, graphic design, logo design, Google Workspace consulting. For more episodes and information, visit us at https://www.digitalnicheagency.com/media Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zS5V79... Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=524781... Follow Digital Niche Agency on Socials for Up To Date Marketing Expertise and Insights Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/digitalniche... Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digi... Instagram: DNA - Digital Niche Agency (@digitalnicheagency) • Instagram photos and videos. Twitter: https://twitter.com/DNAgency_CA YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDlz...
This week Jason Fishman speaks with Erin Holloway, President of FundAmerica by Prime Trust. Erin walks us through how she was able to Test, Optimize, and Scale her businesses. Erin is an innovative thinker and strategist with extensive experience in global client management and Procure to Pay. She is an accomplished advocate and troubleshooter in both internal and client facing situations. She believes safeguarding client relationships is paramount. Erin has a proven record of thriving in challenging situations through collaboration and partnership. Customers see her as a trusted advisor due to her “Customer for Life” philosophy. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erineholloway/# For more episodes and information, visit us at https://www.digitalnicheagency.com/media Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zS5V79... Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=524781... Follow Digital Niche Agency on Socials for Up To Date Marketing Expertise and Insights Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/digitalniche... Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digi... Instagram: DNA - Digital Niche Agency (@digitalnicheagency) • Instagram photos and videos. Twitter: https://twitter.com/DNAgency_CA YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDlz...
This week Jason Fishman brings back Jeremy Barnett, CEO and Founder of Rad Intelligence. Jeremy takes us further into Influencer Marketing in this part 2 episode. Rad Intelligence company is a new advertising technology channel for content distribution and discovery. Over $75 billion dollars each year gets wasted on ineffective digital advertising strategies. Rad Influencer, a Rad Intelligence Company is the first content distribution marketplace that uses the network effect of real social media users to solve this problem. The platform enhances all aspects of each advertisers influencer marketing campaign including execution, attribution and performance. With RAD, customers are able to identify influencers with precise accuracy and set campaigns live in a fraction of the time normally needed. Jeremy is a 3x founder & currently serves as the CEO/founder of Rad Intelligence. He is the former CEO/co-founder of Trendy Butler and current co-host of Rad Intelligence for Influencers. His companies have been featured on Facebook Business, Inc.com, Entrepreneur, Vanity Fair & Business Insider. Jeremy is a regular speaker at USC Marshall School of Business and supporter of Orphaned Starfish Foundation. For more on Jeremy Barnett and Rad Intelligence: Jeremy B Linked in profile https://www.linkedin.com/in/barnettje... Website - www.radintelligence.com Podcast - www.radintelligence.com/podcast You Tube- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHvpm... For more episodes and information, visit us at https://www.digitalnicheagency.com/media Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zS5V79... Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=524781... Follow Digital Niche Agency on Socials for Up To Date Marketing Expertise and Insights Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/digitalniche... Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalnich... Twitter: https://twitter.com/DNAgency_CA
This week Jason Fishman speaks with Balky Nair, President & CEO of Oscilla Power Inc. Balky walks us through how he was able to Test, Optimize, and Scale his businesses. Balky is passionate about building great businesses from the ground up and is familiar with all the details and challenges associated with the process including fundraising, building customer/partner relationships, aggressive product development schedules, strategic partnering, cash flow management, marketing of future products and team building. On the technical side, Balky enjoys driving technology/product evolution from the concept stage to commercial sales and is experienced in leading multi-site interdisciplinary teams to accomplish challenging product development goals. Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/balkynair/ Website: https://www.oscillapower.com/company For more episodes and information, visit us at https://www.digitalnicheagency.com/media Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zS5V79... Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=524781... Follow Digital Niche Agency on Socials for Up To Date Marketing Expertise and Insights Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/digitalniche... Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digi... Instagram: DNA - Digital Niche Agency (@digitalnicheagency) • Instagram photos and videos. Twitter: https://twitter.com/DNAgency_CA YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDlz...
This week Jason Fishman speaks with Dele Atanda, Founder & CEO of metaMe Inc. Dele walks us through how he was able to Test, Optimize, and Scale his businesses. Dele focuses on bringing solutions that advance empathy and humanity from the future into the present. Specifically he is a strategist, innovator, experience architect, data alchemist, author, crypto-revolutionary and ethical systems catalyst. metaMe is the world's first self sovereign AI and Universal Smart Data marketplace. It is built on the mPod Protocol introducing a new class of Smart Data asset that merge smart contracts with data and digital assets called mPods. Digital currencies allow money to be exchanged as easily as information. mPods enable information to be exchanged as securely as money. Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deleatanda/# Website: https://metame.com For more episodes and information, visit us at https://www.digitalnicheagency.com/media Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zS5V79... Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=524781... Follow Digital Niche Agency on Socials for Up To Date Marketing Expertise and Insights Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/digitalniche... Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digi... Instagram: DNA - Digital Niche Agency (@digitalnicheagency) • Instagram photos and videos. Twitter: https://twitter.com/DNAgency_CA YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDlz...
This week Jason Fishman speaks with Will Ford, Co-Founder & President of LaunchBoom. Will walks us through how he was able to Test, Optimize, and Scale his businesses. Will Ford is an American Entrepreneur, Crowdfunding Expert, and Strategic Advisor who is passionate about bringing innovation to life and has dedicated his career to helping Entrepreneurs succeed. Will is currently the President & Co-founder of LaunchBoom and has built this brand to be one of the most respected in the crowdfunding industry. Since 2015, LaunchBoom has managed more successful reward-based crowdfunding campaigns on Kickstarter and Indiegogo than any other agency in the world. LaunchBoom is currently a Certified Expert on Kickstarter and Indiegogo as well as an official Facebook and Shopify marketing partner. Will proudly serves on the Advisory Boards for two San Diego based businesses and is a member of EO (Entrepreneur's Organization) in San Diego. Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-ford-6b48a94/ Website: https://www.launchboom.com/?adid=launchboom-479047858988&utm_source&utm_campaign For more episodes and information, visit us at https://www.digitalnicheagency.com/media Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zS5V79... Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=524781... Follow Digital Niche Agency on Socials for Up To Date Marketing Expertise and Insights Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/digitalniche... Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digi... Instagram: DNA - Digital Niche Agency (@digitalnicheagency) • Instagram photos and videos. Twitter: https://twitter.com/DNAgency_CA YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDlz...
This week Jason Fishman speaks with Lorel Scott, COO & Co-Founder of StartupStarter. Lorel walks us through how he was able to Test, Optimize, and Scale his businesses. As a cereal entrepreneur, driven leader, and former career salesman, he is known as a super connector of his time. Lorel prides himself on building multi-level partnerships across all industries to align them with their various functions. As a minority founder he is passionate about helping the underrepresented entrepreneur find a path forward with world changing ideas that make an impact, a place for them to be supported, and a platform for learning. Lorel's professional experience spanning 15 years of multi-level responsibilities has been dominated by extensive managerial and sales training. He possesses the confidence needed to face the toughest leadership challenges and has a proven track record as a solid achiever. His appetite for building and maintaining relationships helps me to excel within management, sales, customer cultivation & acquisition, marketing, advertising, and entrepreneurship. StartupStarter is building the world's largest live streaming business education platform. Anyone can use StartupStarter to take online business classes taught by leading technology firms. They create high quality, on-demand classes designed for today's busy entrepreneurs, covering topics that range from building an ecommerce business to leveraging taxes or doing performance marketing.StartupStarter's instructors include companies from the Fortune 500, Inc Fastest Growing Companies, Y Combinator, Techstars, and include many founders from the Forbes 30 under 30 list. For more episodes and information, visit us at https://www.digitalnicheagency.com/media Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zS5V79... Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=524781... Follow Digital Niche Agency on Socials for Up To Date Marketing Expertise and Insights Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/digitalniche... Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digi... Instagram: DNA - Digital Niche Agency (@digitalnicheagency) • Instagram photos and videos. Twitter: https://twitter.com/DNAgency_CA YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDlz...
This week Jason Fishman speaks with Tom Graham, CEO & Founder of Life Imaging. Tom walks us through how he was able to Test, Optimize, and Scale his businesses. Life Imaging Fla is an imaging center based in Deerfield Beach, Florida. The facility serves all of South Florida with advanced early detection of heart disease and cancer, and a wide range of other serious illnesses and health conditions affecting vital organs. As the only dedicated preventive care center in South Florida, Life Imaging Fla serves over 7 million residents of the region. Heart disease and cancer are the two leading causes of death in the world, and the team works with patients to assess their risk and make early diagnoses that could save their lives. Life Imaging Fla offers low-dose CT scans of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis. These scans are incredibly detailed. The tests are also painless, quick, and don't take much preparation and do not require dyes or contrast. Life Imaging Fla works with licensed radiologists who read and interpret the scans and can answer patient questions. They can also refer patients to experienced cardiologists if needed, should test results indicate that medical treatment may be necessary for conditions like chest pain, hypertension, and heart attack. For more episodes and information, visit us at https://www.digitalnicheagency.com/media Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zS5V79... Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=524781... Follow Digital Niche Agency on Socials for Up To Date Marketing Expertise and Insights Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/digitalniche... Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digi... Instagram: DNA - Digital Niche Agency (@digitalnicheagency) • Instagram photos and videos. Twitter: https://twitter.com/DNAgency_CA YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDlz...
This week Jason Fishman speaks with Neil Twa, CEO of Voltage Holdings, for the completion of our two part series. Neil walks us through how he was able to Test, Optimize, and Scale his businesses. Neil has provided training and insight into selling with Amazon FBA in today's world. Neil is a 7 figure ECOM expert who has shared stage time with Kevin Harrington, Jay Abraham, been featured in Entrepreneur.com, Huffington Post and INC for his knowledge, training and business growth around SaaS and E-commerce focused companies in the Shopify and Amazon markets selling physical and digital products. He's successfully coached over 500+ entrepreneurs and made dozens of millionaires teaching them how to sell physical products online Voltage Holdings, LLC owns interest multiple entities in the ecommerce, SaaS, consulting, business coaching, consulting, and Amazon managed services industries. Voltage Digital Media division helps Amazon brand owners (and those who want to become brand owners!) create successful brands done with us on Amazon, and even done for you in our Voltage Digital Media division that handles 100% done for your solutions around ecommerce with Amazon FBA. For more episodes and information, visit us at https://www.digitalnicheagency.com/media Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zS5V79... Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=524781... Follow Digital Niche Agency on Socials for Up To Date Marketing Expertise and Insights Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/digitalniche... Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digi... Instagram: DNA - Digital Niche Agency (@digitalnicheagency) • Instagram photos and videos. Twitter: https://twitter.com/DNAgency_CA YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDlz...
This week Jason Fishman speaks with Etan Butler of Dalmore Group. Etan walks us through how he was able to Test, Optimize, and Scale his businesses. Etan Butler is the charismatic and innovative Chair of Dalmore Group, a FINRA registered national Broker Dealer Investment Bank, founded in 2005. Along with others on Dalmore's leadership team, Etan has led the meteoric growth of Dalmore, moving from a standard provision of a full range of traditional investment banking services, to industry leading specialization in assisting companies that seek to raise investment capital from individual investors through the SEC's Regulation D, Regulation A+ and Regulation CF. Etan has been the face and the voice of Dalmore as it has become one of the most active Broker Dealers in the world for Regulation A+ offerings -- having already served as Broker Dealer on more than 100 such offerings – including some of the most successful Regulation A+ offerings in history. Etan and Dalmore Group also provide business planning, development, and capital introduction services to public and private companies in a range of industries, and have participated in various capacities in significant investment, development, and other structured transactions. Over the course of their 15+ years of investment banking activity, Etan and his team have been involved in the development of cutting edge and regulatory compliant approaches for the management of business development and the oversight of complex due diligence activities in the heavily regulated area of U.S. and multinational transactions. LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/etanbutler/ Website: https://dalmorefg.com For more episodes and information, visit us at https://www.digitalnicheagency.com/media Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zS5V79... Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=524781... Follow Digital Niche Agency on Socials for Up To Date Marketing Expertise and Insights Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/digitalniche... Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digi... Instagram: DNA - Digital Niche Agency (@digitalnicheagency) • Instagram photos and videos. Twitter: https://twitter.com/DNAgency_CA YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDlz...
This week Jason Fishman speaks with Chris Graebe, Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder at StartupWire & Startfolio. Chris walks us through how he was able to Test, Optimize, and Scale his businesses. StartupWire is a first of its kind Angel Investing Community that provides free information and interviews from the world of Angel Investing. As an entrepreneur himself, Chris is uniquely positioned to ask founders the questions that investors want to know and hear. Chris is passionate about Angel Investing and especially in the world of equity crowdfunding. He knows that there is a revolution coming where the everyday investor will start to see returns that have only been available to the multi-millionaires and big banks until now. In 2020, Chris was the lead investor in 7 equity crowdfunding startups. Collectivity these startups raised close to 10 Million dollars in funding. When he's not interviewing founders, writing articles, or researching the next big idea, Chris can be found spending time with his wife and 5 kids... and family puppy- Keller. For more episodes and information, visit us at https://www.digitalnicheagency.com/media Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zS5V79... Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=524781... Follow Digital Niche Agency on Socials for Up To Date Marketing Expertise and Insights Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/digitalniche... Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digi... Instagram: DNA - Digital Niche Agency (@digitalnicheagency) • Instagram photos and videos. Twitter: https://twitter.com/DNAgency_CA YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDlz...
This week Jason Fishman speaks with Neil Twa, CEO of Voltage Holdings. Neil walks us through how he was able to Test, Optimize, and Scale his businesses. Neil has provided training and insight into selling with Amazon FBA in today's world. Neil is a 7 figure ECOM expert who has shared stage time with Kevin Harrington, Jay Abraham, been featured in Entrepreneur.com, Huffington Post and INC for his knowledge, training and business growth around SaaS and E-commerce focused companies in the Shopify and Amazon markets selling physical and digital products. He's successfully coached over 500+ entrepreneurs and made dozens of millionaires teaching them how to sell physical products online Voltage Holdings, LLC owns interest multiple entities in the ecommerce, SaaS, consulting, business coaching, consulting, and Amazon managed services industries. Voltage Digital Media division helps Amazon brand owners (and those who want to become brand owners!) create successful brands done with us on Amazon, and even done for you in our Voltage Digital Media division that handles 100% done for your solutions around ecommerce with Amazon FBA. For more episodes and information, visit us at https://www.digitalnicheagency.com/media Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zS5V79... Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=524781... Follow Digital Niche Agency on Socials for Up To Date Marketing Expertise and Insights Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/digitalniche... Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digi... Instagram: DNA - Digital Niche Agency (@digitalnicheagency) • Instagram photos and videos. Twitter: https://twitter.com/DNAgency_CA YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDlz...
This week Jason Fishman speaks with Billy Coker, Creative Director & Strategist at Digital Niche Agency. Billy walks us through how he was able to Test, Optimize, and Scale his businesses. Billy Coker is a Creative Director & Strategist with over 20 years experience in helping companies develop and optimize their advertising campaigns. He has spent a good number of years using photoshop to make his friends and family laugh, which he considers a job perk. Billy is a Los Angeles native and now lives and works in Chattanooga, TN. For more episodes and information, visit us at https://www.digitalnicheagency.com/media Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zS5V79... Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=524781... Follow Digital Niche Agency on Socials for Up To Date Marketing Expertise and Insights Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/digitalniche... Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digi... Instagram: DNA - Digital Niche Agency (@digitalnicheagency) • Instagram photos and videos. Twitter: https://twitter.com/DNAgency_CA YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDlz...
This week Jason Fishman speaks with Luigi Amante, co-founder and COO of Agent Image & August99. Luigi walks us through how he was able to Test, Optimize, and Scale his businesses. Originally from the Philippines, Luigi moved to Los Angeles after high school and graduated from Cal Poly Pomona as an Electrical Engineer. Although he enjoyed the engineering field, he quickly realized he needed to be in a much more creative environment and helped start The Design People – a web design company established in 1999 – whose main focus was to serve the real estate industry in the United States. Since its inception, The Design People has grown from a 3-person office to a multi-national company servicing thousands of clients from their offices in Los Angeles and Manila. In his free time, Luigi also consults with small businesses and startups on operational strategies. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luigiamante/ For more episodes and information, visit us at https://www.digitalnicheagency.com/media Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zS5V79... Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=524781... Follow Digital Niche Agency on Socials for Up To Date Marketing Expertise and Insights Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/digitalniche... Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digi... Instagram: DNA - Digital Niche Agency (@digitalnicheagency) • Instagram photos and videos. Twitter: https://twitter.com/DNAgency_CA YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDlz...
This week Jason Fishman speaks with Phillip Lanos,co-host of Entrepreneur Magazine's featured podcast Action & Ambition. Phillip walks us through how he was able to Test, Optimize, and Scale his businesses. Phillip Lanos is a co-host of Entrepreneur Magazine's featured podcast Action & Ambition, and recently a co-host of Inc Magazines new featured podcast Business Brainstorm. Phillip has over 6 years of podcast industry experience from editing, booking, producing to launching a podcast. Phillip found his start in the business world via landing a gig with a digital advertising agency in Brooklyn, NY. Phillip has also written a self-help book available on Amazon, Published lofi hiphop music under the name Egomori streaming everywhere and starred as a singing contestant on Telemundo. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philliplanos/ Website: https://www.entrepreneur.com For more episodes and information, visit us at https://www.digitalnicheagency.com/media Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zS5V79... Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=524781... Follow Digital Niche Agency on Socials for Up To Date Marketing Expertise and Insights Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/digitalniche... Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digi... Instagram: DNA - Digital Niche Agency (@digitalnicheagency) • Instagram photos and videos. Twitter: https://twitter.com/DNAgency_CA YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDlz...
This week Jason Fishman speaks with Victoria Yampolsky, Founder & President of The Startup Station. Victoria walks us through how she was able to Test, Optimize, and Scale her businesses. Victoria Yampolsky, CFA is the Founder and President of The Startup Station, an education and advisory platform focused on modeling and valuing startups. We help you build and use financial models as business intelligence tools to accelerate your fundraising process and respond faster to market feedback. More than 1,000 founders have taken The Startup Station's courses to learn the basics of accounting, valuation, financial modeling, and startup financing and more than 100 founders worked with The Startup Station one-on-one across more than 15 industries. Victoria holds a Bachelor's Degree, Cum Laude, in Computer Science, with a minor in Mathematics from Cornell University, and an MBA, with honors, from Columbia Business School. Website: https://thestartupstation.com For more episodes and information, visit us at https://www.digitalnicheagency.com/media Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zS5V79... Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=524781... Follow Digital Niche Agency on Socials for Up To Date Marketing Expertise and Insights Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/digitalniche... Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digi... Instagram: DNA - Digital Niche Agency (@digitalnicheagency) • Instagram photos and videos. Twitter: https://twitter.com/DNAgency_CA YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDlz...
This week Jason Fishman speaks with Will Ford, Co-Founder 7 President of LaunchBoom. Will walks us through how he was able to Test, Optimize, and Scale his businesses. Will Ford is an American Entrepreneur, Crowdfunding Expert, and Strategic Advisor who is passionate about bringing innovation to life and has dedicated his career to helping Entrepreneurs succeed. Will is currently the President & Co-founder of LaunchBoom and has built this brand to be one of the most respected in the crowdfunding industry. Since 2015, LaunchBoom has managed more successful reward-based crowdfunding campaigns on Kickstarter and Indiegogo than any other agency in the world. LaunchBoom is currently a Certified Expert on Kickstarter and Indiegogo as well as an official Facebook and Shopify marketing partner. Will proudly serves on the Advisory Boards for two San Diego based businesses and is a member of EO (Entrepreneur's Organization) in San Diego. Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-ford-6b48a94/ Website: https://www.launchboom.com/?adid=launchboom-479047858988&utm_source&utm_campaign For more episodes and information, visit us at https://www.digitalnicheagency.com/media Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zS5V79... Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=524781... Follow Digital Niche Agency on Socials for Up To Date Marketing Expertise and Insights Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/digitalniche... Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digi... Instagram: DNA - Digital Niche Agency (@digitalnicheagency) • Instagram photos and videos. Twitter: https://twitter.com/DNAgency_CA YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDlz...
This week Jason Fishman speaks with Jeevan Singh, Founder of PocketMD. Jeevan walks us through how he was able to Test, Optimize, and Scale his businesses. Jeevan Singh is a serial entrepreneur and founder of PocketMD. Him and his team has made the entire medical history of every person a multi-directional conversation between patients and caregivers of all modalities. So an urgent care unit can know what a massage therapist thought last week and what a dentist noticed last month. Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeevan-j-singh-87a81725/ For more episodes and information, visit us at https://www.digitalnicheagency.com/media Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4zS5V79... Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=524781... Follow Digital Niche Agency on Socials for Up To Date Marketing Expertise and Insights Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/digitalniche... Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digi... Instagram: DNA - Digital Niche Agency (@digitalnicheagency) • Instagram photos and videos. Twitter: https://twitter.com/DNAgency_CA YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDlz...
Watch our new recorded video training:Relationship-Driven New Business At-Scale The two giant new business shifts. Commonalities we use to build relationships between our clients and decision-makers. Actual copy examples so you can get inspired. Today's Guest: Jason is the Co-Founder and CEO of DNA (Digital Niche Agency) Marketing, and has worked with over 400 Brands […]
This week Jason Fishman speaks with Itay Golan, Founder and CEO of Gold Eagle Funding. Itaywalks us through how he was able to Test, Optimize, and Scale his businesses. Itay Golan Founded Gold Eagle Funding (aka Crowdfunding Finder) as a community-based crowdfunding investment marketplace that connects investors to crowdfunded offerings and to like-minded peers; leveraging the power of the community to review and analyze crowdfunding issues. Mr. Golan, is an experienced investment portfolio manager with expertise in evaluating startups acquisitions. In his investment career at Morgan Stanley, S&P Global and VAR private equity fund, he analyzed key startups and small business investments; including their risk analysis, valuations and cash flow modeling. He has an extensive background conducting research and due diligence, analyzing private enterprises' success probability, and marketplace characteristics. Crowdfunding Finder is Mr. Golan's second venture. Itay started an online investment advisory that provides securities trend indications prior to founding Crowdfunding Finder. With Crowdfunding Finder, Mr. Golan's goal is to democratize the venture capital industry, as he calls it “Shark tank for the masses”. Mr. Golan holds an MBA from Baruch, he is a veteran of a reconnaissance unit in the Israeli army where he served as company sergeant, he is a father of a beautiful 6-year-old girl and resides on the Upper East side in NYC.
In today's episode, I speak with my special guest - Jason Fishman about various Marketing Strategies & Crowdfunding Regulations. Jason has 10+ years of experience as a “New Media Enthusiast”, who genuinely enjoys planning, activating, and managing scalable marketing strategies. He is an expert in digital channels including Search Engines, Social Media Platforms and Programmatic Ad Exchanges. Jason worked with many Top 100 Advertisers. Leveraging traffic algorithms, Jason now takes this knowledge and applies it to scale brands with effective marketing tactics. Since launching DNA in 2014, Jason and the team have worked with over 400 brands to deliver industry-leading results across eCommerce, and Digital Funding campaigns. Jason has been showcased in panel and individual presentations of tech and marketing conferences, along with his “Test. Optimize. Scale.” Podcast. He's also committed to a number of Thought Leadership content projects for 2020, including the Forbes Agency Council. Jason manages a Los Angeles team with experience in all aspects of the user journey.
Episode title: Digital Niche Agency with Jason FishmanInterviewer: Bradley Caro CookInterviewee: Jason FishmanIn this Career Up Now Socially Distanced Close-Up podcast Bradley Caro Cook interviews Jason Fishman. He is a black chain launch specialist focused on Investor Acquisition and the senior vice president of Digital Strategy at Digital Niche Agency (DNA).During the interview, Jason talks about how he considers marketing's utility as the front line for performance towards revenue golds and milestones. He mentions all the experiences that cemented his career in the marketing world and how he is currently working at an exciting, rewarding, and fulfilling place that feeds his passion. He advises young entrepreneurs never to feel limited due to their lack of experience instead of bringing forth out-of-the-box ideas. Jason believes that network is your net worth, as your network results in opportunities, strategic partnerships, and vendor relationships, which later become the foundation of your growth and accomplishment. Let's join Jason Fishman and our host Bradley Caro Cook for this brilliant conversation.
Jason Fishman with Jason Barnard at Kalicube Tuesdays Jason Fishman talks with Jason Barnard about crowdfunding (and more specifically how to market your crowdfunding push). Upon defining the two types of crowdfunding, reward-based and equity crowdfunding Jason informs on how to market to acquire investors online and using traditional media. Jason B initially suggests that 1000 investors @ $1000 each will probably be less of a headache than 1 investor @ $1M. However, Jason F goes on to explain the complexity of keeping 1000 investors informed and happy whilst maintaining a relationship with 1 investor may also be a struggle. In this episode of the podcast, Jason F explains the ins and outs, tips and tricks to getting traction behind your crowdfunding push. How to correctly utilise social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn) and search engines (Google) to attract returning customers and new investors. Whilst it takes a lot of effort, apparently, he promises it is worthwhile :) What you'll learn 00:09 Introducing Jason Fishman01:33 Controlling your Wikipedia presence02:53 Entering the Knowledge Graph04:13 The two primary types of crowdfunding and who can partake05:53 The three primary filings: Investors, Owners/Users and Reg A+07:15 Reg A+ and equity crowdfunding case study: Brewdog09:14 Can you treat crowdfunding as a marketing push?10:50 1000 investors or just one? Which one is easier to work with?11:56 How you acquire investors13:59 Utilising social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn17:31 Return on ad spend/return on marketing spend metrics18:24 Who are the targeted audiences on Instagram?20:20 Is Twitter a useful tool for crowdfunding campaigns?21:29 When does Google play a role in attracting investors22:34 Which type of marketing pays the best?24:38 Reward-based crowdfunding needs a strong first day26:00 Will previous success make it easier? Subscribe to the podcast Subscribe here >> This episode was recorded live on video September 2nd 2020 Recorded live at Kalicube Tuesdays (Digital Marketing Livestream Event Series). Watch the video now >>
Jason Fishman with Jason Barnard at Kalicube Tuesdays Jason Fishman talks with Jason Barnard about crowdfunding (and more specifically how to market your crowdfunding push). Upon defining the two types of crowdfunding, reward-based and equity crowdfunding Jason informs on how to market to acquire investors online and using traditional media. Jason B initially suggests that 1000 investors @ $1000 each will probably be less of a headache than 1 investor @ $1M. However, Jason F goes on to explain the complexity of keeping 1000 investors informed and happy whilst maintaining a relationship with 1 investor may also be a struggle. In this episode of the podcast, Jason F explains the ins and outs, tips and tricks to getting traction behind your crowdfunding push. How to correctly utilise social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn) and search engines (Google) to attract returning customers and new investors. Whilst it takes a lot of effort, apparently, he promises it is worthwhile :) What you'll learn 00:09 Introducing Jason Fishman01:33 Controlling your Wikipedia presence02:53 Entering the Knowledge Graph04:13 The two primary types of crowdfunding and who can partake05:53 The three primary filings: Investors, Owners/Users and Reg A+07:15 Reg A+ and equity crowdfunding case study: Brewdog09:14 Can you treat crowdfunding as a marketing push?10:50 1000 investors or just one? Which one is easier to work with?11:56 How you acquire investors13:59 Utilising social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn17:31 Return on ad spend/return on marketing spend metrics18:24 Who are the targeted audiences on Instagram?20:20 Is Twitter a useful tool for crowdfunding campaigns?21:29 When does Google play a role in attracting investors22:34 Which type of marketing pays the best?24:38 Reward-based crowdfunding needs a strong first day26:00 Will previous success make it easier? Subscribe to the podcast Subscribe here >> This episode was recorded live on video September 2nd 2020 Recorded live at Kalicube Tuesdays (Digital Marketing Livestream Event Series). Watch the video now >>