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.
-
More Than Profit (MTP) is our podcast to influence more capital for good.
-
Signup for our monthly newsletter to stay up-to-date with the latest news.
-
We continually share learnings and best practices that advance our collective mission of human flourishing.
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.
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.
Removing Barriers For Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurship in America faces a significant challenge due to a lack of access to capital, particularly in mid-American cities, but initiatives like Access Ventures’ Render Capital aim to address this by providing various funding options to support local entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Time Is of the Essence
Time is crucial in moments of crisis, and Access Ventures, recognizing the urgency during the COVID-19 pandemic, collaborated with community partners to establish a nearly $1 million Small Business Continuity Loan Fund to quickly provide 0% loans to vulnerable businesses and support local economies.
Founder Stories: David Taliaferro
David Taliaferro, Co-Founder and CEO of Lenderfit, has focused on overcoming barriers to capital access for small businesses through innovative solutions like the Growth Loan program and the Lenderfit platform, which streamlines the loan process for both lenders and borrowers, while emphasizing the importance of local businesses in fostering community growth and economic development.
Render Capital: A New $15M Regional Fund
Access Ventures has launched Render Capital, a $15 million fund designed to provide early-stage risk capital to entrepreneurs in Louisville and Southern Indiana, addressing the regional need for startup funding and stimulating economic growth through initiatives like the Render Competition and various financing options for local businesses.
Access Ventures Announces New Regional Capital Fund
Access Ventures is launching Render Capital, a regional fund to provide $2.5 million in early-stage risk capital to support entrepreneurs in Louisville and Southern Indiana, addressing critical gaps in capital access and fostering economic growth, innovation, and inclusion in the region.
MobileServe: Helping Volunteers Tell Their Story
MobileServe is a company dedicated to streamlining volunteer tracking and fostering service-oriented company culture, which Access Ventures has supported through investment, aligning financial returns with social impact by enabling users to log over 3 million service hours with an economic impact of more than $79 million.
Alternatives to Equity for Entrepreneurs
During Louisville’s Startup Week, Access Ventures hosted a panel highlighting alternative funding methods like equity crowdfunding, revenue-based financing, and character-based lending, emphasizing the need for creative funding approaches that meet the diverse needs of entrepreneurs, as traditional Silicon Valley models do not fit most businesses outside that region.
The Growth Loan: Where Are They Now?
The Growth Loan, launched in 2015 by Access Ventures, provides character-based funding of up to $35,000 to small businesses in Louisville that face barriers in accessing traditional capital, and has supported 31 businesses, catalyzing growth and community impact by offering flexible financial support to local entrepreneurs.