Philanthropreneur® Cohort

Our Philanthropreneur® cohort is an example of the type of hands-on learning about impact investing, angel investing, and alternative capital structures that build the confidence of impact investors. They represent a network of like-minded investors who understand the investing landscape and work together to make capital access more equitable in the Greater Cincinnati region.

We created the Philanthropeneur® impact investing group to strategically invest in startups that represent a brighter tomorrow, like companies founded by people of color and women. We do this by catalyzing collaboration with regional accelerator partners that focus on underrepresented founders. We collaborate with fund managers, accelerators, and entrepreneurial ecosystems across the country that demonstrate a shared vision of equality. Finally, we monitor and measure the continued growth of a diverse community of regional investors, focused on equity and creating positive social impact.

Miami University Social Impact Fund

Miami University Social Impact Fund is the first of its kind: a socially-focused, seed-stage, investment fund led by undergraduate students, providing students with the opportunity to invest up to $50,000 in alumni-led startups and local social enterprises.  

Find out more at https://www.miamisif.org/

Revenue-Based Financing

With limited access to exit-focused venture capital, social impact startups turn to collateralized debt. However, this type of debt contributes to a high cost of failure for both the startup and the founders’ families. Social entrepreneurs can achieve greater social impact with access to startup capital that aligns with their mission, and revenue-based funding models create that access. Revenue-based financing not only fills social enterprises need for early-stage capital, but also provides philanthropreneurs with the opportunity to receive a market rate of return and create social impact.

  • What is revenue-based financing?

    • Revenue-based funding is a loan that a business agrees to pay back over time by promising a chunk of its future revenue to the financier until a fixed dollar amount is reached.

  • Why is revenue-based financing a better fit for social impact startups?

    • Because profits are not linear - revenue-based financing aligns the return of capital with the flow of revenue, ensuring a shared success model.

  • Why is this partnership with Miami University Social Impact Fund so important?

    • Because our social startups bring deal flow of vetted, investable social startups to the fund, which will, in turn, provide critical access to early-stage funding for the startups

 

INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE?

Contact our Executive Director, Laura Tepe

Email: laura.tepe@flywheelcincinnati.org