Philanthropreneur®

We created the Philanthropeneur® impact investing group to strategically invest in startups that represent a brighter tomorrow. Philanthropreneurs® provide essential funds for crucial programming and capital support for our region’s social entrepreneurs. Investors have an opportunity for hands-on learning about impact investing, angel investing, alternative capital structures, and a connection to the community leaders and founders tackling our region’s social and economic challenges.

We invite you to join this network of socially-minded investors who make access to capital and resources more equitable for startups making a difference in the Greater Cincinnati region. As a Philanthropeneur®, your annual contribution supports:

• Philanthropeneur® events and experiences

• Operational support for Flywheel’s small and mighty team as they deliver critical program support to our region’s social entrepreneurs.

• A portion of each contribution will support “Pay it Forward” stipends for participating startups, providing essential capital for growth and business development in the early stages.

There are three levels of membership:

$500 Changemaker Society — As a Changemaker, you’ll directly support a Flywheel founder building a business with purpose and measurable community impact. You’ll help provide coaching, tools, and community that propel social enterprises forward. You’ll receive invitations to upcoming Flywheel events and Changemaker meetups, as well as the opportunity to organize your own with the support of the Flywheel team.

$3,000 Innovator Club — Invest in a Founders’ Journey — Your investment supports a founder’s journey through our Elevate Impact program—from strategy to storytelling, from mission to market. You’ll be recognized at Demo Day, and invited to participate in exclusive Impact Circles with our founders and coaches.

$5,000 Visionary — Transform our Community — Your leadership as a Visionary Philanthropreneur® unlocks capital, coaching, and capacity building for mission-driven businesses ready to grow throughout and after graduating from our programs. In addition to recognition at our events and participation in our Impact Circles, you’ll be invited to private roundtables with founders, Flywheel and community leadership.

Interested in becoming a Philanthropreneur®?

Donate here or contact Donna Zaring, Executive Director to learn more.

Donna.zaring@flywheelcincinnati.org

Be the reason someone changes their neighborhood—and the world.

Miami University Social Impact Fund

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, Donna Zaring

Email: donna.zaring@flywheelcincinnati.org

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