Episode #024: Moving the Money: Connecting Investors and Underestimated Entrepreneurs
/“Next to parenthood, entrepreneurship is the second hardest job and more and more entrepreneurs are women of color with children and full-time jobs. As service providers and investors we need to do better to provide services, resources, networks as well as patient, flexible capital that works for them and not what is easy for us. (may be changed)”
On today’s episode we speak with Elaine Rasmussen, Founder and CEO of Social Impact Strategies Group, and Stephannie Lewis, their Director of Strategic Partnerships. Social Impact Strategies Group (SISG) a Black/Native-led certified B-corp social enterprise. SISG provides facilitation and consultation on racial equity and social impact audits, education workshops for investors & underestimated entrepreneurs, and produces the annual ConnectUP! MN Summit which promotes and grows inclusive and equitable entrepreneur ecosystems that drive positive, sustainable social impact grounded in economic justice.
Listen to this lively conversation filled with thoughtful insights and innovative ideas about how to co-design an ecosystem that prioritizes equitable access to resources, capital & networks. In our conversation, we dive into:
Why investors and support systems need to shift to invest in and work with underestimated entrepreneurs (those who are women, people of color and LGBT) also known as the Missing MIddle Entrepreneurs (MME).
How authentic relationship building and cross-pollinating networks of investors and businesses are critical to building a better entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The State of the Work Report 2019 published by SISG that proposes a framework and recommendations to addresses these disparities and equity gaps in the Minnesota entrepreneur ecosystem.
SISG’s annual ConnectUP! MN conference that supports state-wide black and brown women and underestimated entrepreneurs by bringing together entrepreneurs, investors and supporting entities within the ecosystem. And how this unique 2-day culturally grounded gathering can be replicated in other cities and states.
The story of Elaine’s experience in impact investing and how it inspired her to launch SISG and create a space and support for entrepreneurs who have made it to ‘first base’ but need guidance to move forward and scale to make it to ‘third base.’
Elaine and Stephannie’s advice for launching a business and partnering with others to grow it, including the importance of giving yourself grace, why women should raise their prices and embracing the motto “I Don’t Do Favors, I Do BUsiness”
How Elaine and Stephannie are working to make Minnesota the best place to have a business, not just start a business, for everyone.
In this episode we reference:
ConnectUP! MN Conference link here
Social Impact Strategies Group:
Contact Elaine Rasmussen: elaine@socialimpactnow.com
Contact Stephannie Lewis: slewis@socialimpactnow.com
Social Handles: @SISG_, @connectupmn, @connectup_, @YERasmus
Grab your “I Don’t Do Favors, I Do Business” t-shirts here!
About Elaine Rasmussen
Ms. Y. Elaine Rasmussen is Founder and CEO of Social Impact Strategies Group (SISG) a Black/Native-led certified B-corp social enterprise. SISG provides facilitation and consultation on racial equity and social impact audits, education workshops for investors & underestimated entrepreneurs, and produces the annual ConnectUP! MN Summit which promotes and grows inclusive and equitable entrepreneur ecosystems that drive positive, sustainable social impact grounded in economic justice. Rasmussen is a Cordes Fellow and RSF Social Finance Integrated Capital Fellow. Rasmussen was recently featured in Fearless Commerce Magazine and received the National Association of Women Business Owners Achieve! Innovation Award for her work on inclusive economic development.
About Stephannie Lewis
Stephannie L. Lewis, Director of Strategic Partnerships Stephannie brings more than 10 years of combined experience in project management, program management, operations, public policy research and consulting to her role as Director of Strategic Partnerships at Social Impact Strategies Group (SISG). In her role, Ms. Lewis’ primary focus is to build awareness of SISG’s innovative services and initiatives among prospective partners and to cultivate and nurture existing partnerships. Prior to her work at SISG, Stephannie provided project management and policy consulting services to nonprofits and public agencies. Stephannie has a Master of Public Policy degree and a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology and served as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Macalester College.