Social Capital Markets Conference

It is the annual gathering of Social Capital Markets (SOCAP) at historic Fort Mason in San Francisco, California this week. SOCAP is a world-renowned conference series dedicated to increasing the flow of capital toward social good, and the annual flagship event is the leading gathering for impact investors and social entrepreneurs. It has attracted over 10,000 people since its inception in 2008. This year, Access Ventures is excited to be a sponsor, and I am excited to be on a panel with some amazing individuals called “Neighborhood Economics, A Whole Portfolio”. Joining me in this conversation are Ross Baird, from Village Capital; Premal Shah, from Kiva; Ann DeRosa from Chilton Capital and the New Society Portfolio; and it will be moderated by the one-and-only Kevin Jones.

Neighborhoods have historically lacked access to proper economic planning and have been overlooked in favor of citywide and regional approaches. Additionally, it’s assumed what’s good for the whole will benefit the parts. While it is true that  city and regional planning efforts will add value to the neighborhoods within it’s limits, without a coordinated strategy for individual neighborhoods it will continue to fall short.

If a city was a family, it’s members would be neighborhoods.

The stability and health of the collective are formed by the aggregate health and stability of the individual. The entire family struggles when one of it’s members is suffering. Similarly, thriving neighborhoods are not a secondary benefit of citywide planning, but part of the foundation for citywide flourishing. Furthermore, each neighborhood has it’s own unique strengths and challenges and to apply a blanket solution is disingenuous at best.

Therefore, we need approaches that consider the parts and in so doing, integrate approaches that consider grant activity, creative debt financing and equity as well.

While it can be difficult because of the neighborhoods economies of scale concerns, as well as the difficulty in measuring labor, capital, and real estate markets at a neighborhood level, it does not alter the importance of specific planning to encourage the flourishing of neighborhood economies.

If you are at SOCAP next week, come and hear Wednesday morning as we discuss ways in putting the neighborhood at the center of a portfolio strategy.