news & stories
Inspiration and Resources for Change Makers
At Access Ventures, we believe our impact will reach only as far as the stories we tell.
We view storytelling as a critical amplifier of our work and the work of our partners, without which we cannot realize our mission.
Explore some of these stories below, and let us know what you think.
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More Than Profit (MTP) is our podcast to influence more capital for good.
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We continually share learnings and best practices that advance our collective mission of human flourishing.
Financial Freedom through Social Trust
There’s a real fear of being obsolete for Maurice. “If you become obsolete, you are not providing value. You are no longer needed.” By borrowing using an innovative software platform, Maurice’s integrity as a borrower allowed him to pursue job opportunities, career changes, business ventures, and so much more.
Held Back By The Social Support System
Organizations like Leap Fund advocate for transparency and education, enabling workers to make informed decisions based on their unique circumstances.
A Little Help Goes A Long Way
Through the programs at VOA and the support of Samaritan users in his community, Trenton is able to connect to resources and training to help him explore his options and reach his career goals.
Housing is a Fundamental Right
Our goal for this workshop was to generate and collect meaningful ideas to address challenges within regional homelessness, while facilitating a larger and longer conversation among those who work in or have the ability to enact change within this space.
TikTok, Medical Debt, and The Power of Forgiveness
Dollar For is working to educate patients about the policies at non-profit hospitals and aid them through the process of applying for Charity Care.
Employer Student Loan Repayments
Access Ventures has been offering student debt repayment as a benefit since 2016, allowing employees to choose between student debt repayment, 401k match, or tuition assistance, and despite initial hurdles, recent legislative changes have made employer contributions towards student loans tax-free, providing a compelling incentive for other employers to adopt similar benefits.
A Place To Call Home
Timothy Wilkins, once homeless and struggling with addiction, transformed his life through hard work and support from Facility Management Services and the Working Your Way Home program, ultimately achieving the dream of homeownership and providing stability for his family.
Why A Digital Financial System Is Impactful
Access Ventures embraces a digital financial system through blockchain technology to foster an inclusive economy, transitioning from traditional investment strategies to supporting early-stage companies and protocols that aim to modernize financial infrastructure and enhance economic inclusion for marginalized populations.
Investing In A Vibrant Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
When Access Ventures launched Render Capital in February 2020, the goal was to boost the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Greater Louisville region by providing risk-tolerant, early-stage capital through initiatives like the Render Competition, which invests $100,000 into eight companies annually to foster growth and scalability, demonstrating the region's commitment to supporting startups and attracting external investment.
Knowing Is Caring
Homelessness requires a multifaceted, community-wide approach involving emergency services, housing, workforce development, and public perception. Access Ventures' Know Homelessness campaign in Louisville and Southern Indiana aims to change misconceptions and increase empathy through stories and partnerships with local coffee shops, encouraging community action and support.
Economic Agency and a Regional Investment Strategy
Render Capital, Access Ventures' $15M fund, promotes economic agency in Louisville and Southern Indiana by providing character-based microloans, alternative capital products, and decentralized decision-making to support excluded entrepreneurs, aiming to build a robust ecosystem and empower entrepreneurs to improve their economic conditions independently.
Economic Agency and the Empowerment of Entrepreneurs
Access Ventures invests in Collab Capital to combat entrepreneurial inequalities by providing financial, human, and social capital to black-owned startups, aiming to subvert traditional exclusionary capital networks and enhance economic agency for historically disadvantaged groups through inclusive entrepreneurship.
Economic Agency and the Democratization of Capital
Access Ventures supports initiatives like Village Capital’s peer-selected investment model to increase economic agency for traditionally excluded entrepreneurs by democratizing capital flows, enhancing their ability to influence their economic conditions and accumulate wealth.
Consciously Constructing Dynamic Portfolios
Traditional portfolio construction focuses solely on maximizing financial return with minimal risk, often neglecting the impact of investments on values and ethics. Conscious construction challenges this by aligning investments with personal or corporate values without sacrificing returns, emphasizing the importance of evaluating all investments for their broader impact, and seeking out strategies that provide both financial and positive societal returns.
An Inclusive & Creative Economy is Resilient
A resilient and inclusive economy fosters stability, values diversity, supports upward mobility, and ensures equitable opportunities, ultimately upholding the dignity and well-being of all people while enabling growth and innovation.
An Inclusive & Creative Economy is Dynamic
Colonel John Boyd’s OODA Loop highlights the need for dynamic, adaptive strategies, and at Access Ventures, we advocate for inclusive, resilient economies by integrating innovative capital strategies to address both current and future challenges.
An Inclusive & Creative Economy is Equitable
The year 2020 highlighted the need for an equitable, dynamic, and resilient economy as the global pandemic, economic justice movements, and political turmoil exposed systemic inequalities and underscored the importance of creating opportunities for all to thrive.
Supporting Those Who Support Our Community
Service providers for people experiencing homelessness, such as shelters and food pantries, are critical for addressing regional homelessness, especially during the pandemic which has increased their challenges; collaborative efforts and community support are essential to their ability to serve the most vulnerable effectively.
Place-Based Investing and Opportunity Zones: Looking Back, and Looking Ahead
Blueprint Local, an impact-focused Opportunity Zone investor, continues to navigate challenges and opportunities, leveraging community collaboration and responsible growth in cities like Baltimore and Greenville to achieve attractive returns and meaningful impact, while monitoring potential changes under different political administrations.
Understanding The Eviction Crisis
Eviction is a traumatic and widespread issue, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, with millions at risk of losing their homes, highlighting the urgent need for multifaceted solutions to housing insecurity and increased empathy towards those affected.