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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Financial Freedom through Social Trust
Equitable Economy Justin Esquivel Equitable Economy Justin Esquivel

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.

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Housing is a Fundamental Right

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.

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Employer Student Loan Repayments

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.

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A Place To Call Home

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.

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Why A Digital Financial System Is Impactful

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.

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Investing In A Vibrant Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

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.

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Knowing Is Caring

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.

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Economic Agency and a Regional Investment Strategy

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.

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Economic Agency and the Empowerment of Entrepreneurs

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.

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Economic Agency and the Democratization of Capital

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.

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Consciously Constructing Dynamic Portfolios

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.

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Supporting Those Who Support Our Community

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.

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Place-Based Investing and Opportunity Zones: Looking Back, and Looking Ahead

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.

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Understanding The Eviction Crisis

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.

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