Superpowers for Good: Empowering Changemakers for Social Impact via Regulated Investment Crowdfunding from the SuperCrowd.

Devin Thorpe
  • 5.0 (23)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Daily

We host changemakers who are using regulated investment crowdfunding for social impact--impact crowdfunding--as impact investors or social entrepreneurs, catalyzing change with leadership skills we call superpowers. www.superpowers4good.com

  1. 2d ago

    ChatRx Uses AI to Make Healthcare More Accessible and Affordable

    Watch the show on television by downloading the SuperCrowd.tv Channel app to your Roku or Amazon Fire TV or e360tv channel app to your Roku, LG or Amazon Fire TV. You can also see it on YouTube. Devin: What is your superpower? Dr. Tod: My superpower is that is my mission. I’m a missional guy. Healthcare should not depend on how much money you have, where you live or whether you can get an appointment when you need one. After more than 30 years practicing medicine, Tod Stillson MD is working to make that principle a reality through ChatRx, an AI-powered virtual urgent care platform. As founder and CEO, Tod has built a patient-centered service designed to help people understand their symptoms and access appropriate treatment without the expense and complexity that can accompany traditional care. ChatRx uses a conversational approach to medical triage. Patients answer questions through a chat-based interaction, allowing the platform to assess common conditions and determine whether treatment is appropriate. The company focuses primarily on infectious conditions, including sinus infections, urinary tract infections and certain skin conditions. Tod explained that physicians have long used questions to understand what is happening with patients. ChatRx applies that approach through technology designed to make care more accessible. The platform offers a free symptom assessment. When patients qualify for treatment, the service costs $25. At the time of our conversation, ChatRx was operating in Indiana, Illinois and Michigan, with plans to expand into additional states. Tod’s commitment to this mission comes from decades of firsthand experience with the healthcare system. He understands both the value of medical care and the barriers that prevent people from receiving it promptly. He told me, “I really truly believe that everybody should have access to healthcare and at least have the ability to know what they’re dealing with, what their condition is, and how they can be helped.” That conviction also shapes how ChatRx approaches treatment. Tod emphasized that the company’s goal is not simply to prescribe medication. The platform is designed to identify patients who qualify for treatment while recognizing when treatment is unnecessary. That distinction matters, particularly when responsible antibiotic use is a priority. ChatRx is also raising capital through a regulated investment crowdfunding campaign on Wefunder. Tod sees community investment as an extension of the company’s mission, giving ordinary people an opportunity to support a business working to address a problem that affects their own communities. “We want an army of evangelists that are smaller investors because we believe that they’re going to help carry the word,” he told me. The capital will help ChatRx expand its reach and bring affordable care to more people. For Tod, success is about more than building a valuable company. It is about making a meaningful difference in people’s lives. By combining medical expertise, carefully designed technology and community participation, ChatRx is pursuing a practical way to help close gaps in access to healthcare. tl;dr: After three decades in medicine, Tod Stillson founded ChatRx to make healthcare more accessible and affordable through AI-powered virtual urgent care. ChatRx uses physician-designed, FDA-registered software to assess symptoms, identify appropriate treatments and help patients navigate common medical conditions. Partnerships with schools, universities and independent pharmacies help ChatRx reach people facing financial, transportation or other barriers to timely healthcare. Through regulated investment crowdfunding on Wefunder, ChatRx invites community members to invest and support its expansion into additional states. Tod’s superpower is mission-driven determination, fueled by a commitment to lower healthcare costs, serve patients responsibly and build a team around meaningful change. How to Develop Mission-Driven Determination As a Superpower Tod’s superpower is his unwavering commitment to a mission that puts people ahead of financial ambition. After more than 30 years practicing medicine, he founded ChatRx to make healthcare more accessible and affordable, particularly for people who face financial or logistical barriers. As he explained, “My superpower is that is my mission. I’m a missional guy.” He is not primarily motivated by building the next billion-dollar company. Instead, he wants to create a business that makes a meaningful difference in people’s lives. That purpose drives him to keep building, seek solutions and stay focused on what patients actually need. For Tod, mission-driven determination also means maintaining integrity, even when doing the right thing means telling a patient that treatment is unnecessary. Tod shared a heartbreaking experience involving a close friend he had cared for as a personal physician. Although his friend was relatively healthy, he became sick and could not get an appointment at the clinic. He put off seeking care, as many people do when access is difficult. Ultimately, he developed sepsis and died from an acute illness Tod described as treatable and preventable. The experience reinforced Tod’s determination to address gaps in healthcare access. ChatRx was created to help people receive timely assessments and appropriate treatment when needed. His mission also requires medical integrity: patients who do not need treatment should not receive it simply because they want it. Tips for Developing Mission-Driven Determination Identify a meaningful problem. Focus on a challenge that affects real people and that you genuinely want to help solve. Connect your work to a larger purpose. Define success in terms of the difference you can make, not just the size or financial value of your business. Do not put a ceiling on your ambitions. As Tod advised, “don’t put a ceiling on the things that you have in your heart to do.” Look beyond your perceived limitations. Do not let doubts about your money, knowledge or abilities automatically stop you from pursuing a worthwhile goal. Take action before everything is perfect. Build momentum by turning your mission into practical steps and learning along the way. Find people who share your purpose. Seek financial supporters, collaborators and team members who can help turn your vision into reality. Build a team rather than trying to do everything yourself. Tod emphasized that his work depends on the collective efforts of his 25-person team. Stay committed to doing the right thing. Make decisions that serve the people you are trying to help, even when those decisions are not the easiest or most commercially attractive. Listen to the people you serve. Let their experiences and feedback remind you why your mission matters and where your work can make a difference. Be courageous enough to think bigger. Recognize that meaningful change often requires stepping beyond the limits you have placed on yourself. By following Tod’s example and advice, you can make mission-driven determination a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world. Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you! Guest Profile Tod Stillson MD (he/him): Founder & CEO, ChatRx | Family Physician, ChatRx On-Demand Urgent Care About ChatRx On-Demand Urgent Care: ChatRx is a physician-led, AI-powered healthcare technology company advancing health equity by making trusted healthcare guidance and appropriate care more accessible, affordable, and easier to navigate for everyone. Guided by the principle of creating exceptional value for others, we combine ChatRx On-Demand Urgent Care with the ChatRx Care Navigation Network to connect individuals, families, employees, and communities with the right local and virtual healthcare resources. Our non-insurance-based model complements existing benefits and provider relationships while supporting people with commercial insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, health-sharing memberships, or no insurance at all. Through clinical leadership, intelligent technology, and partnerships with employers, pharmacies, healthcare providers, schools, churches, and community organizations, ChatRx is building a more equitable, connected, and human-centered healthcare experience. Website: chatrx.md Company Facebook Page: facebook.com/chatrx.md Other URL: https://wefunder.com/chatrx Biographical Information: Dr. Tod Stillson is a family physician, inventor, and Founder and CEO of ChatRx. Drawing on more than 30 years of frontline clinical experience, he developed the intellectual property behind ChatRx, including its FDA-registered medical device and proprietary Augmented Clinical Automation technology. This defensible technology powers an innovative and scalable model for affordable, non-insurance-based, direct-to-consumer healthcare through ChatRx On-Demand Urgent Care and intelligent care navigation. Dr. Stillson combines the perspective of an experienced physician with the vision of an inventor and entrepreneur, using technology to lower barriers to care, expand access for people regardless of insurance status, and advance health equity. Personal Facebook Profile: facebook.com/tod.stillson LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dr-tod-stillson-221918388 Instagram: @chatrx.md Start 30 days free SuperCrowd Career Path Job Postings Associate, Investment Operations — ImpactAssets · United States · Remote OK · $75,000–$83,000/yr WM Global Investment Office - Institutional Innovation Lead, Investing with Impact / Impact Private Markets, Executive Director — Morgan Stanley · New York, NY · $175,000–$265,000/yr Managing Director, WWF Impact — World Wildlife Fund · Washington, DC · $181,000–$260,200/yr Certified Diabetes Care and Edu

  2. 4d ago

    Blockchain Homes Aims to Give Every Property a Permanent History

    Watch the show on television by downloading the SuperCrowd.tv Channel app to your Roku or Amazon Fire TV or e360tv channel app to your Roku, LG or Amazon Fire TV. You can also see it on YouTube. Devin: What is your superpower? Cyndi: Beating to the rhythm of my own drum. Every home has a story, but buyers rarely get the whole picture. Seller disclosures and inspections can reveal important details, yet exemptions and hidden systems can leave gaps. Those gaps can become expensive surprises for new homeowners. Cyndi Robirds, founder and CEO of Blockchain Homes, wants to change that by creating a lasting record of a property’s history. Drawing on 17 years of real estate experience and a longstanding interest in technology, she is building a blockchain-enabled system to bring property information together. “When I was working with people that were buying houses,” Cyndi explained, she saw how disclosure exemptions could leave buyers without essential information. Inspectors also cannot see behind walls and may not be able to test seasonal systems. She said homeowners she spoke with had spent between $1,000 and $250,000 on unexpected repairs within three years of buying a home. Blockchain Homes aims to start with a more streamlined seller-disclosure process. Homeowners can share information that becomes part of a property’s permanent record, alongside relevant public information. The record can continue after a sale, helping homeowners track maintenance, receive reminders and connect with service providers. The system is intended to make information useful to more than buyers and sellers. Builders could use work histories and material records to support warranty accountability. Home warranty companies could better understand a home’s mechanical systems and maintenance history. When work is completed, the homeowner and warranty company can verify that it happened. Cyndi recognizes that real estate involves many participants, from lenders and title companies to agents, contractors and builders. Rather than attempt to transform every part of the industry at once, she is focusing on one area at a time and reducing friction for professionals and homeowners. Her advice about building the technology is equally practical: “You don’t want to give birth to a full-grown human. You want to give birth to a baby.” Start small, she says, then let the idea grow. Blockchain Homes is raising capital through AeQuitas invest, a crowdfunding platform Cyndi described as open to people beyond traditional accredited investors. The offering gives interested community members an opportunity to learn more and consider investing. A reliable property history will not eliminate every uncertainty in homeownership. But by making records easier to share and maintain, Blockchain Homes is working toward a more transparent real estate experience—one where important details about a home do not disappear when ownership changes. tl;dr: Cyndi Robirds draws on 17 years in real estate to address missing property histories and costly surprises for buyers. Blockchain Homes aims to preserve disclosures, repairs and maintenance records in a lasting, shareable property history. Homeowners, builders and warranty companies could use verified records to improve accountability, maintenance and real estate transparency. Cyndi is raising capital through AeQuitas invest, opening the opportunity to people beyond traditional accredited investors. Her superpower is independent thinking: finding overlooked inefficiencies, embracing willingness and building useful solutions one step at a time. How to Develop Independent Thinking As a Superpower Cyndi describes her superpower as “beating to the rhythm of my own drum.” She says this makes her “a unique thinker” and helps her “look at things in a different way.” Although it can feel lonely not to fit in, she sees value in noticing the big picture, identifying gaps in efficiency and bringing forward new ideas. “If everybody else is doing it, then we already have people doing it,” she explains. She wants to find the “little sweet spot” where a different approach can make a difference. Cyndi traces some of her independent perspective to growing up with profound hearing loss. She received hearing aids at age four and describes living between two worlds: the hearing world and the non-hearing world. She felt she did not fully fit into either, so she had to find her own way. That experience helped her notice differences in people and see the world from perspectives others might miss. Cyndi did not identify one specific incident that captures the superpower; instead, she described this lifelong experience as formative. Her transition from real estate into technology reflects that willingness to follow a less conventional path and build something she believes the industry needs. How to Develop Independent Thinking Ask yourself whether you are willing. Cyndi recalls a coach asking, “You can do anything, but are you willing?” Move beyond wanting a change and decide whether you will commit to it. Look for the gap others overlook. Notice inefficiencies, recurring frustrations and needs that existing approaches do not address. Question the default approach. Ask whether a familiar solution is genuinely effective or simply common. Treat “no” as information. Cyndi says, “No’s are great. They lead you into understanding how to move forward better.” Use objections to improve the plan rather than abandon the goal automatically. Start small and learn. Build an initial version of an idea, gather feedback and let it grow rather than trying to create the finished solution all at once. Find a community that challenges and supports you. Cyndi values One Million Cups, where entrepreneurs and investors share ideas, pitches and local opportunities. Seek people who will help you think and keep moving. Use your distinct perspective. Instead of treating differences as something to hide, consider how they may help you notice problems and possibilities that others miss. By following Cyndi’s example and advice, you can make independent thinking a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world. Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you! Guest Profile Cyndi Robirds (she/her): Founder/CEO, Blockchain Homes About Blockchain Homes: Blockchain Homes, LLC is an Omaha-based proptech company building Property Onchain, a permanent, verifiable record of a home’s history — repairs, inspections, permits, and warranties — recorded to the property itself so the data follows the house through every owner. Think Carfax, for the place you live. Today a home’s history effectively disappears at closing, and buyers are left relying on an inspection that captures a single day and only what happens to be visible. Property Onchain closes that gap for the people on every side of the transaction: homeowners and home buyers, builders, inspectors, contractors, title companies, appraisers, insurers, and lenders. The company has a signed letter of intent with an Omaha home builder and is currently raising through a Regulation Crowdfunding offering on AeQuitas Invest, open to accredited and non-accredited investors alike. Website: blockchainhomes.io Company Facebook Page: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588586022632 Other URL: app.aequitasinvest.com/campaigns/view/27 Biographical Information: Cyndi Robirds is the founder and CEO of Blockchain Homes, LLC, where she is building Property Onchain — a permanent record of a home’s history that stays with the property instead of walking out the door with the last owner. She has spent 17 years in the real estate industry, is a licensed Realtor in Nebraska and Iowa, and has worked at the intersection of blockchain and real estate since 2017. She teaches a certified continuing education course on blockchain in real estate for licensed agents, and is an active member of the Property Records Industry Association (PRIA) and the Foundation for International Blockchain and Real Estate Expertise (FIBREE). She lives in the Omaha area. Personal Facebook Profile: facebook.com/cyndi.schmillen/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/blockchain-homes-llc Start 30 days free SuperCrowd Career Path Job Postings Associate, Investment Operations — ImpactAssets · United States · Remote OK · $75,000–$83,000/yr WM Global Investment Office - Institutional Innovation Lead, Investing with Impact / Impact Private Markets, Executive Director — Morgan Stanley · New York, NY · $175,000–$265,000/yr Managing Director, WWF Impact — World Wildlife Fund · Washington, DC · $181,000–$260,200/yr Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES), Registered Dietitian — My Diabetes Tutor - Diabetes Education Telehealth · United States · Remote OK · $45.00–$48.00/hr Operations & Impact Analyst (AI-Native) — Hedge Impact headhunting · Palo Alto, CA · $140–$160/yr Affordable Housing Finance Product Manager - Executive Director — Morgan Stanley · New York, NY · $150,000–$250,000/yr Post a job Support Our Sponsors Our generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today’s advertisers include Startup showcase and Impact Membership. Learn more about advertising with us here. Max-Impact Members (We’re grateful for every one of these community champions who make this work possible.) Alisa Evans, Mission Enrollment | Brian Christie, Brainsy | Cameron Neil, Lend For Good | Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Eric Coury, Arthia AI | Joey Hayes, thru | John Berlet, CORE Tax Deeds, LLC. | Justin Starbird, The Aebli Group | Ken Steele, Rotarian | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Mark Grime

  3. Oct 1

    High-Performance Rocket Propulsion Meets Climate Sustainability

    Watch the show on television by downloading the SuperCrowd.tv Channel app to your Roku or Amazon Fire TV or e360tv channel app to your Roku, LG or Amazon Fire TV. You can also see it on YouTube. Devin: What is your superpower? Sascha: Balance of persistent curiosity paired with the practical focus required to run a sustainable business. Sustainable innovation only truly scales when it delivers a clear economic advantage over status-quo alternatives. For decades, aerospace propulsion has relied on toxic, highly explosive, and expensive solid rocket propellants. Sascha Deri, Founder and CEO of bluShift Aerospace, is turning that paradigm on its head by proving that clean technology can outperform traditional fuels while drastically reducing costs. From its headquarters at a former naval base in Brunswick, Maine, bluShift Aerospace has developed a proprietary, non-toxic, bio-derived solid rocket fuel. Beyond being virtually carbon neutral and safe enough to eat on camera, this innovative propellant is significantly cheaper to produce and far easier to transport than petroleum-derived counterparts. As Sascha explained during our interview: “We found that it not only worked, but it worked better than the petroleum fuel... Here’s something which is better for the planet. It’s virtually carbon neutral, the fuel itself. It’s non-toxic... It performs better. It’s a little more energy-dense than the petroleum version is, and very easily had all over the United States.” This breakthrough bridges the gap between environmental responsibility and market viability. By combining a high-performance bio-fuel with advanced hybrid rocket engine designs, Sascha and his team are creating scalable propulsion solutions for both research and commercial space applications. They have already achieved a world record by launching a commercial rocket using bio-derived fuel and are now advancing toward full commercialization. “I’ve always wanted to find that intersection between how technology can benefit humanity and the universe and the planet.” — Sascha Deri To fund this expansion and scale production, bluShift Aerospace is raising capital from everyday investors through a regulated investment crowdfunding campaign on Wefunder. Grounded in community-backed capital and hard-nosed engineering, Sascha demonstrates that aligned incentives can accelerate both planetary impact and business success. tl;dr: Sascha Deri founded bluShift Aerospace to build cost-effective bio-derived rocket propulsion systems. The company’s non-toxic solid rocket fuel offers superior energy density at lower costs. Everyday investors can back bluShift’s growth through their active Wefunder investment crowdfunding campaign. Sascha defines his superpower as persistent curiosity balanced with pragmatic business execution. Today’s episode explores how open feedback and innovative engineering advance sustainable aerospace technology. How to Develop Pragmatic Curiosity As a Superpower Sascha defines his superpower as a balance of persistent curiosity paired with the practical focus required to run a sustainable business. As Sascha explained, “the first part is the persistent curiosity, sort of that ongoing, like, what if this? Why not that? … Curiosity is great … But then there’s time for doing an execution that’s really needed to bring that commercial opportunity home. And so I think that’s my other sort of, I would say, complementary superpower is the curiosity and then the chill that comes … knowing when to like bring it in … what is the minimal viable product that can get us faster to commercialization.” While visiting his brother’s farm in Maine, Sascha noticed an everyday, bio-derived substance sitting on a windowsill. Driven by curiosity, he wondered if it could replace traditional petroleum-derived solid rocket fuels. He spent two weeks preparing the substance for a test burn and discovered that the non-toxic, bio-derived fuel actually performed better and offered higher energy density than petroleum alternatives. Sascha then channeled that initial breakthrough into building bluShift Aerospace and developing commercial-scale hybrid engines. Actionable Tips for Developing the Superpower: Cultivate persistent curiosity by continually asking “what if” and “why not” when examining complex problems. Balance creative exploration with strict execution focused on commercial viability and revenue generation. Remain open to feedback from team members, advisors, and external sources to refine your strategic path. Identify the minimum viable solution needed to bring innovations efficiently to market. By following Sascha’s example and advice, you can make pragmatic curiosity a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world. Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you! Guest Profile Sascha Deri (he/him): Founder & CEO, bluShift Aerospace About bluShift Aerospace: bluShift Aerospace is a propulsion company based in Brunswick, Maine, developing rocket engines and boosters for defense testing, commercial aerospace and suborbital research. Our MAREVL hybrid engine technology uses a proprietary, non-toxic, bio-derived solid fuel and is designed to combine throttle control with simpler manufacturing and lower production costs. Our near-term commercial focus is supplying boosters for hypersonic testing and targets, while continuing to advance applications in scientific research and commercial space. We aim to build a scalable American propulsion business that makes demanding missions more accessible and reduces the hazards associated with manufacturing and handling rocket fuel. Website: blushiftaerospace.com Company Facebook Page: facebook.com/bluShiftAero Instagram Handle: @blushiftaero Other URL: wefunder.com/blushiftaerospace Biographical Information: Sascha Deri is the founder and CEO of bluShift Aerospace, combining a background in physics and electrical engineering with more than two decades of entrepreneurial experience. In 1999, he co-founded altE Store, a renewable-energy products business. He founded bluShift in 2014 to pursue a different approach to rocket propulsion using a proprietary, bio-derived fuel. Under his leadership, the company has progressed from early experiments to a demonstration launch, full-duration engine testing and government-funded propulsion development. Raised in Maine, Sascha is committed to building an aerospace business that connects technical innovation with environmental responsibility, practical customer needs and skilled manufacturing opportunities in his home state. LinkedIn Profile: linkedin.com/in/sascha-deri Personal Facebook Profile: facebook.com/sascha.deri.1 Start 30 days free SuperCrowd Career Path Job Postings Managing Director, BCRF Venture Philanthropy Program — The Breast Cancer Research Foundation · New York, NY · Remote OK · 450–475/yr Community Impact Senior Program Officer, Florida — Knight Foundation · Miami, FL · 114–115/yr Sustainable Investing Co-op — Wellington Management · Greater Boston · Remote OK · 19.00–35.00/hr Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge - Program Manager, National Programs — Enterprise Community Partners · Portland, OR · 83,000–95,000/yr Head of Impact, Americas — Intrepid Travel · Golden, CO · Remote OK · 80,000–90,000/yr Manager, Project on Impact Investing — Harvard Business School · Boston, MA · Remote OK · 69,500–113,700/yr Post a job Support Our Sponsors Our generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today’s advertisers include Startup showcase and Impact Membership. Learn more about advertising with us here. Max-Impact Members (We’re grateful for every one of these community champions who make this work possible.) Alisa Evans, Mission Enrollment | Brian Christie, Brainsy | Cameron Neil, Lend For Good | Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Eric Coury, Arthia AI | Joey Hayes, thru | John Berlet, CORE Tax Deeds, LLC. | Justin Starbird, The Aebli Group | Ken Steele, Rotarian | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Mark Grimes, Networked Enterprise Development | Mike Babbit | Coledger Solutions | Mike Green, Envirosult | Nick Degnan, Unlimit Ventures | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Pearl Wright, Global Changemaker | Scott Thorpe, Philanthropist | Sharon Samjitsingh, Health Care Originals | Add Your Name Here Upcoming SuperCrowd Event Calendar If a location is not noted, the events below are virtual. Join the SuperCrowd Impact League! You can be recognized for making impact investments via Reg CF. See how your activity compares to your peers. It’s free. Win valuable prizes. Start now! SuperCrowd Impact Member Networking Session: Impact (and, of course, Max-Impact) Members of the SuperCrowd are invited to a private networking session on October 13th at 8:00 PM ET/5:00 PM PT. Mark your calendar. We’ll send private emails to Impact Members with registration details. Upgrade to Impact Membership today! SuperCrowdHour, October 21, 2026, at 9:00 AM Pacific. Devin Thorpe, CEO and Founder of The Super Crowd, Inc., will lead a session on “Before You Click ‘Invest’: Due Diligence for Crowdfunding Investors.” Drawing on his experience as a former investment banker, impact investor, and crowdfunding expert, Devin will explore the key questions investors should ask before putting money into a crowdfunding offering. The session will break down practical due diligence steps, including how to review a company’s financial information, understand its business model, assess risks, evaluate the offering terms, and identify important questions that may not be obvious at first glance. Attendee

  4. Sep 29

    Overcoming Civic Paralysis: How Culture and Action Can Save Democracy

    Watch the show on television by downloading the SuperCrowd.tv Channel app to your Roku or Amazon Fire TV or e360tv channel app to your Roku, LG or Amazon Fire TV. You can also see it on YouTube. Devin: What is your superpower? Paul: What I am good at, I guess, is reflecting those who really do the work... My superpower is the bridge between the people on the ground who aren’t thinking about how to do marketing or to get people to act... I bring their stories and I tell their narratives and I help them go to a much wider audience who then support them. Anxiety is overcome by action. Across the country, tens of millions of independent voters, moderate Democrats and moderate Republicans feel completely overwhelmed by political drift and the sheer volume of choices available. That flood of options causes a form of paralysis where people want to do something to protect democracy, but simply do not know where to start. When I sat down with my guest Paul Katz—Chair and CEO of Entertain Impact Advocacy Alliance, multi-Grammy-nominated producer, author and social impact entrepreneur—he outlined a remarkably simple path to turn that passive concern into meaningful civic participation. Through his initiative, Commit Together, Paul is providing an easy on-ramp for anyone who wants to take a first step, whether they have ten minutes or five hours to spare. Visitors to CommitTogether.org can select their key issues, input their general political leanings and receive three aligned organizations that match their values to take immediate action. Paul’s work draws directly on his deep history of mobilizing pop culture for social change, from organizing celebrity advocacy on Capitol Hill to raising awareness for civil rights heritage and global health initiatives. As Paul shared during our conversation: “Anxiety is overcome by action. Doesn’t matter how small it is or, you know, just a little step. But we agree that democracy is a good thing that we want to keep for our kids.” He further emphasized that taking that initial step transforms how we experience public life: “Just by taking the first step, your anxiety kind of flows away from you, and then you feel a little bit more empowered. And what happens there is you find community.” By lowering the barrier to entry, Paul shows us that protecting democratic institutions doesn’t require complex strategies—it begins when ordinary citizens choose simple, constructive engagement over quiet paralysis. tl;dr: Paul Katz introduced Commit Together to guide citizens from political anxiety into direct civic engagement. The nonpartisan Commit Together initiative connects voters with organizations matching their personal value systems. Paul shared how pop culture and artist advocacy amplify vital social impact and civil rights initiatives. Paul defined his superpower as acting as a bridge between frontline changemakers and wide audiences. Today’s episode highlighted how local community engagement and simple actions help protect democratic participation. How to Develop Bridge As a Superpower Paul’s superpower is acting as a bridge between frontline changemakers and the broader public. As Paul explained, “what I am good at, I guess, is reflecting those who really do the work... My superpower is the bridge between the people on the ground who aren’t thinking about how to do marketing or to get people to act... I bring their stories and I tell their narratives and I help them go to a much wider audience who then support them.” To demonstrate how he uses his superpower as a bridge, Paul described an initiative aimed at increasing voter participation among the Black faith-based community in Georgia. Rather than relying solely on high-profile figures like Kerry Washington and Common, Paul bridged directly into local communities across 105 counties. By connecting with trusted local leaders—such as local barbers and ministers—he enabled communities to mobilize internally. This grassroots bridge successfully mobilized thousands of individuals to participate in the democratic process who otherwise might not have voted. Actionable Tips for Developing the Superpower: Practice vote tripling during elections by directly contacting two friends and inviting them to vote with you. Share compelling, purposeful stories with neighbors and colleagues to foster local connection. Engage in direct, open conversations with members of your immediate community to build trust. Take one concrete step at a time to connect ordinary people to meaningful causes. By following Paul’s example and advice, you can make bridge a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world. Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you! Guest Profile Paul M. Katz (he/him): Chair and CEO, Entertain Impact Advocacy Alliance About Entertain Impact Advocacy Alliance: The Entertain Impact Advocacy Alliance specializes in digital-first awareness and advocacy campaigns. We work independently and in partnership with local and national organizations to expand grassroots organizing capacity, promote voter participation among underrepresented communities, and support community-led civic action. Our partners include non-profits, 501(c)(3)s and 501(c)(4)s, PACS, NGOs, organizers, and philanthropists. Website: paulmkatz.com, committogether.org Other URL: a.co/d/0h3jxjQp Biographical Information: Paul M. Katz is an author, social impact entrepreneur, attorney, civic participation leader, and multi-Grammy-nominated producer whose career has spanned entertainment, philanthropy, advocacy, and public policy. He is the author of *Commit Together: A Practical Guide to Reclaiming Democracy* and founder of the nonprofit Commit Together initiative, which helps people move from concern to constructive civic action by connecting them with trusted organizations and practical ways to participate. Over more than two decades, Katz has led more than 100 social-impact campaigns through his company Entertain Impact, working with major foundations, nonprofits, cultural institutions, and leading artists and public figures. He also founded the nonpartisan Entertain Impact Advocacy Alliance, including the #NoVotesBarred initiative, which helps eligible citizens with past convictions understand and exercise their voting rights. He is also the author of the award-winning and Amazon #1 bestseller *Good Influence how to engage Influencers for Purpose and Profit”“. Earlier in his career, Katz was a senior music executive at Jive Records and later headed music for Participant and Summit studios across major film projects including *Twilight*, *Green Book*, and *12 Years a Slave*. Paul has served on several boards including Witness, Grammys and ELMA Music Foundation US. His work today is built around a simple idea: people care. The challenge is not apathy — it is helping them find a place to start. Instagram Handle: @paulmkatzofficial SuperCrowd Career Path Job Postings Managing Director, BCRF Venture Philanthropy Program — The Breast Cancer Research Foundation · New York, NY · Remote OK · 450–475/yr Community Impact Senior Program Officer, Florida — Knight Foundation · Miami, FL · 114–115/yr Sustainable Investing Co-op — Wellington Management · Greater Boston · Remote OK · 19.00–35.00/hr Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge - Program Manager, National Programs — Enterprise Community Partners · Portland, OR · 83,000–95,000/yr Head of Impact, Americas — Intrepid Travel · Golden, CO · Remote OK · 80,000–90,000/yr Manager, Project on Impact Investing — Harvard Business School · Boston, MA · Remote OK · 69,500–113,700/yr Support Our Sponsors Our generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today’s advertisers include Startup showcase and Impact Membership. Learn more about advertising with us here. Max-Impact Members (We’re grateful for every one of these community champions who make this work possible.) Alisa Evans, Mission Enrollment | Brian Christie, Brainsy | Cameron Neil, Lend For Good | Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Eric Coury, Arthia AI | Joey Hayes, thru | John Berlet, CORE Tax Deeds, LLC. | Justin Starbird, The Aebli Group | Ken Steele, Rotarian | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Mark Grimes, Networked Enterprise Development | Mike Babbit | Coledger Solutions | Mike Green, Envirosult | Nick Degnan, Unlimit Ventures | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Pearl Wright, Global Changemaker | Scott Thorpe, Philanthropist | Sharon Samjitsingh, Health Care Originals | Add Your Name Here Upcoming SuperCrowd Event Calendar If a location is not noted, the events below are virtual. Join the SuperCrowd Impact League! You can be recognized for making impact investments via Reg CF. See how your activity compares to your peers. It’s free. Win valuable prizes. Start now! Join the Superpowers for Good Live Pitch featuring Nathalya Mamane of Anywhere Dx, Andrei Klochko of Airthium, Lidio Meireles of Immunomatics, and Phillip Nalwalker of Eagle Cathedral City, with Devin Thorpe as host and judges Léa Bouhelier-Gautreau of KingsCrowd, Sherwood “Woodie” Neiss of Crowdfund Capital Advisors, and Paul Lovejoy of Stakeholder Enterprise. Watch the live pitches on SuperCrowd.tv or e360TV, then join the Private Investor Session for a direct conversation with the founders about their offerings, terms, and next steps. SuperCrowd Impact Member Networking Session: Impact (and, of course, Max-Impact) Members of the SuperCrowd are invited to a private networking session on October 13th at 8:00 PM ET/5:00 PM PT. Mark your calendar. We’ll send private emails to Impact Members with registration deta

  5. Sep 24

    Collaboration and Innovation Fuel Efforts to End Global Hunger

    Watch the show on television by downloading the SuperCrowd.tv Channel app to your Roku or Amazon Fire TV or e360tv channel app to your Roku, LG or Amazon Fire TV. You can also see it on YouTube. Devin: What is your superpower? Barron: One of the superpowers I believe I hold is turning a vision into execution. The fight against global hunger remains one of humanity’s most urgent challenges. As I discussed with Barron Segar, President and CEO of World Food Program USA, in today’s episode, the dynamics have shifted over the last decade. Despite declining government funding and rising costs, Barron remains hopeful—and solutions-driven. “When I started ten years ago, hunger was on the decline,” Barron told me. “Today, we’re battling wars, extreme weather events, rising costs, and decreased funding. Yet, we’re proud that the U.S. remains a significant contributor while the private sector has stepped up to fill some gaps.” As the representative of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning World Food Program, Barron highlighted how the organization is navigating these changing dynamics. One of its key innovations, he noted, is leveraging partnerships and pre-positioning supplies to respond to emergencies quickly, such as recent events in Nepal and Venezuela. Still, he emphasized, war stands as the leading cause of hunger today, making humanitarian access and supply delivery increasingly difficult. Barron shared an eye-opening statistic: “Over 262 million people today are suffering acute hunger.” This growing crisis, he explained, requires extraordinary efforts and resources to reach those most in need. In war zones like Gaza, the World Food Program is averting famine and feeding hundreds of thousands daily, yet the need remains massive. While discussing hotspots like Gaza, Ukraine, Haiti, and Honduras, Barron painted a vivid picture of the struggles faced by refugees and vulnerable communities forced to flee their homes. Reflecting on his visit to the Ukraine-Poland border shortly after the conflict began, he recalled meeting displaced women, children, and even elderly individuals carrying nothing but their few belongings—and their hope. Barron’s optimism remains grounded in action. He credits both resilient frontline workers and scalable, innovative solutions, including cash-based transfers to sustain functioning marketplaces. Moreover, he directed listeners to “JustServe,” a platform helping volunteers address local needs domestically, while encouraging global responsibility. This episode underscored the dire need for collaboration and creative problem-solving to combat hunger and build long-term resilience. Barron’s leadership highlights how strategic partnerships and unwavering dedication can drive impactful results—even in the face of unprecedented challenges. tl;dr: Barron Segar highlighted how wars, climate events, and underfunding exacerbate global hunger challenges. Innovations like cash-based transfers and strategic pre-positioning strengthen emergency food delivery. The World Food Program USA engages both governments and private sectors to address funding gaps. Barron emphasized creating a collaborative culture while setting measurable growth goals for leadership success. Hunger relief efforts showcase the need for global and local teamwork to build long-term resilience. How to Develop Vision into Action As a Superpower Barron’s superpower is his ability to turn vision into action. As he explained in today’s episode, “One of the superpowers I believe I hold is turning a vision into execution.” He shared how his role as President and CEO of World Food Program USA requires him to not only articulate ambitious goals but also lead his team toward achieving them. Barron pointed to collaboration, measurable results, and difficult but mission-centered decisions as integral to his execution-focused leadership. One example of this superpower is Barron’s plan to dramatically grow private sector funding for the organization. When he started in 2020, the World Food Program USA raised $19 million annually. This year, it will surpass $130 million, with a goal of reaching $250 million annually in the next five years. Barron emphasized measurable outcomes and strategic investments, supported by pro bono insights from the Boston Consulting Group, to drive results. Tips for Developing Vision into Action as a Superpower: Focus on creating a high-performance, collaborative culture of respect, optimism, and accountability. Set ambitious but achievable goals that push you and your team beyond your comfort zone. Communicate strategy clearly and align your resources to maximize impact. Establish measurable key performance indicators to track progress and stay focused. Be prepared to make tough decisions and accept that not everyone will always agree with you. By following Barron’s example and advice, you can make vision into action a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world. Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you! Guest Profile Barron Segar (he/him): President & CEO, World Food Program USA About World Food Program USA: The World Food Programme is the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and the world’s leading humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate extremes. World Food Program USA, a 501(c)(3) organization based in Washington, D.C., proudly supports the mission of the World Food Programme by mobilizing American policymakers, businesses and individuals to advance the global movement to end hunger. To learn more about World Food Program USA’s mission, please visit wfpusa.org. Website: wfpusa.org Company Twitter Handle: @WFPUSA Company Facebook Page: facebook.com/WFPUSA Instagram Handle: @wfpusa Biographical Information: Barron Segar is the President and CEO of World Food Program USA, the nonprofit charged with inspiring and mobilizing people in the United States to support the mission of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to feed the world’s hungriest people. He has more than 20 years of experience growing philanthropic and cause marketing platforms for organizations spanning global humanitarian aid, public broadcasting and finance. As President and CEO, Barron leads an integrated portfolio spanning Development, Marketing and Communications, Public Policy and Operations. He has aligned these functions into a unified effort to raise resources, expand awareness, and strengthen support for WFP’s life-saving work. Under his leadership, World Food Program USA quadrupled its revenue in fewer than three years while working closely with the Board of Directors to create strategy, inform policy and drive sustainable growth. World Food Program USA has earned top scores for its financial health, accountability and transparency. For the past five years, The NonProfit Times has recognized Barron on its Power & Influence Top 50 list for leadership centered on innovation, broad sector influence and developing replicable organizational models. A leading voice on global food security, Barron has been featured in media outlets including Bloomberg TV, NBC News Now, CNN, MSNBC, Forbes, The Guardian and The Chronicle of Philanthropy and at events hosted by Reuters, Devex, Axios, Food Tank, Climate Week NYC, Association of Fundraising Professionals and The Global Philanthropy Forum, among others. He has also led visits to field operations in Senegal, Lebanon, Liberia, El Salvador, Jordan and the Polish border of Ukraine to shine a light on WFP’s life-saving work. Prior to World Food Program USA, Barron served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer at UNICEF USA, with organization-wide responsibility for strategy, budget and critical operational priorities, raising $500 million in annual revenue. Previously, Barron served as the Director of Development for Georgia Public Broadcasting, where he and his team were nationally recognized for record-breaking fundraising performance. Barron was a Founding Executive Board Member at the Elton John AIDS Foundation, serving over 30 years on the National Board of Directors. He currently serves on the Advisory Board for Open Hand Atlanta and Board of Directors for The Nonprofit Alliance. Personal Twitter Handle: @WFPUSA_CEO SuperCrowd Career Path Job Postings Sustainable Investing Co-op — Wellington Management · Greater Boston · Remote OK · 19.00–35.00/hr Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge - Program Manager, National Programs — Enterprise Community Partners · Portland, OR · 83,000–95,000/yr Head of Impact, Americas — Intrepid Travel · Golden, CO · Remote OK · 80,000–90,000/yr Manager, Project on Impact Investing — Harvard Business School · Boston, MA · Remote OK · 69,500–113,700/yr Support Our Sponsors Our generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today’s advertisers include Startup showcase and supercrowd.tv. Learn more about advertising with us here. Max-Impact Members (We’re grateful for every one of these community champions who make this work possible.) Alisa Evans, Mission Enrollment | Brian Christie, Brainsy | Cameron Neil, Lend For Good | Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Eric Coury, Arthia AI | Joey Hayes, thru | John Berlet, CORE Tax Deeds, LLC. | Justin Starbird, The Aebli Group | Ken Steele, Rotarian | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Mark Grimes, Networked Enterprise Development | Mike Babbit | Coledger Solutions | Mike Green, Envirosult | Nick Degnan, Unlimit Ventures | Paul Lovejoy, Stakehol

  6. Sep 22

    Triage360 Automates Critical Care Decisions to Save Lives in Chaos

    Watch the show on television by downloading the SuperCrowd.tv Channel app to your Roku or Amazon Fire TV or e360tv channel app to your Roku, LG or Amazon Fire TV. You can also see it on YouTube. Devin: What is your superpower? Jessica: I think just not being afraid to try something. Healthcare frequently operates in crisis mode. Jessica Queen, Founder and CEO of Triage360, sees chaos as an opportunity to transform patient care. During this episode, Jessica shared how her invention provides a much-needed fix for an overwhelmed system. Triage360 is an autonomous triage system designed to monitor vital signs, prioritize critical patients, and simplify decision-making under pressure. “The faster we get care, the more lives we save,” Jessica explained. The device, sleek and adhesive, affixes to a patient’s chest, instantly measures key vitals, and assigns triage priorities. Real-time data allows a central base station to rank and rerank patients continuously, ensuring the sickest are treated first. The goal isn’t to replace providers but to give them the tools to manage overflow effectively. “In the middle of chaos, we can have super cognitive overload,” Jessica said. “This is just there to help.” The inspiration for Triage360 came from Jessica’s personal experiences as an ER nurse navigating tragic moments born from what she called “failure to rescue.” It wasn’t always a lack of skill or effort—often, it was limited information or inadequate resources leading to devastating outcomes. “I’ve walked in and found patients who didn’t make it, simply because we didn’t know they were going downhill,” she said. Jessica’s journey from nurse to tech entrepreneur exemplifies grit and vision. After losing colleagues to the moral injury of preventable tragedies, she said, “I refused to let this be the status quo.” She built her company step by step, leveraging community support, securing grants, and assembling a team to bring Triage360 to life. With growing interest from industries beyond hospitals, including the military and disaster response organizations, Triage360 promises to improve outcomes on battlefields, in disaster zones, and potentially even in space. Triage360 highlights how innovation, rooted in compassion, can drive meaningful change. Jessica exemplifies what it means to dream big—and execute boldly. tl;dr: Jessica Queen introduced Triage360, a device that prioritizes patients during emergencies to save more lives. The system autonomously monitors vitals, ranks patients, and supports overwhelmed healthcare providers in decision-making. Jessica’s drive stemmed from personal experiences as an ER nurse witnessing preventable tragedies. Triage360 has drawn global attention, from disaster response organizations to battlefield applications in Ukraine. Perseverance, fearlessness, and bold outreach have propelled Jessica into solving big problems with innovative solutions. How to Develop Fearless Action As a Superpower Jessica’s superpower is fearlessly taking action. As she explained during this episode, “I think just not being afraid to try something” is her defining strength. She lives by Eleanor Roosevelt’s advice to “do something every day that scares you.” Whether reaching out to global leaders or presenting to high-stakes audiences, Jessica’s ability to move past fear allows her to build bold solutions that save lives. Jessica’s willingness to act reached global proportions when she messaged Roman Kuzov, medical commander of Ukraine’s Donbas region, on LinkedIn. Despite the urgent challenges he faced, Roman responded immediately, recognizing the life-saving potential of Triage360. Their subsequent conversations—and eventual in-person meetings—have positioned Jessica’s technology to make an impact in one of the world’s most chaotic environments. Tips for Developing Fearless Action as a Superpower: Take one small step daily that pushes you out of your comfort zone. Remember that the people you admire are human too; treat them as approachable. Don’t fear rejection; take no as redirection, not defeat. Surround yourself with a supportive team to help you persevere through setbacks. Believe that your efforts can change lives, motivating you to keep moving forward. By following Jessica’s example and advice, you can make fearless action a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world. Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you! Guest Profile Jessica Queen (she/her): Founder, Triage360 Website: triage360.com X/Twitter Handle: @triage_360 Company Facebook Page: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584567013037 Instagram Handle: @triage360 Other URL: aequitasinvest.com About Triage360: Omedus is the creator of the Triage360 system, the world’s first autonomous triage system built for chaos. From ER to in the field, to a busy post-operative floor, Triage360 looks at all patients in the area and reports who is the most critical with real time updates. Triage360 allows responders to be everywhere at once, ensuring the most critical patients come first. Biographical Information: Jessica Queen is nurse practitioner who has spent 20 years at bedside managing chaos from the med surg units to cardiology to ER. Her time at bedside revealed the real issue with caring for patients always came down to too many of them and not enough providers to be everywhere at once. Refusing to accept this as the way it is, Jessica set out to create a system that allows her and other providers to always see all the patients at the same time and know every change as its happening in real time so no patients are lost to failure to rescue. She is a fierce patient advocate and enjoys the challenge of bring bedside knowledge into real products to change how healthcare works. Personal Facebook Profile: facebook.com/jessica.queen.362060 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jessqueen SuperCrowd Career Path Job Postings Sustainable Investing Co-op — Wellington Management · Greater Boston · Remote OK · 19.00–35.00/hr Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge - Program Manager, National Programs — Enterprise Community Partners · Portland, OR · 83,000–95,000/yr Head of Impact, Americas — Intrepid Travel · Golden, CO · Remote OK · 80,000–90,000/yr Manager, Project on Impact Investing — Harvard Business School · Boston, MA · Remote OK · 69,500–113,700/yr Support Our Sponsors Our generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today’s advertisers include SuperGreen Live and supercrowd.tv. Learn more about advertising with us here. Max-Impact Members (We’re grateful for every one of these community champions who make this work possible.) Alisa Evans, Mission Enrollment | Brian Christie, Brainsy | Cameron Neil, Lend For Good | Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Eric Coury, Arthia AI | Joey Hayes, thru | John Berlet, CORE Tax Deeds, LLC. | Justin Starbird, The Aebli Group | Ken Steele, Rotarian | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Mark Grimes, Networked Enterprise Development | Mike Babbit | Coledger Solutions | Mike Green, Envirosult | Nick Degnan, Unlimit Ventures | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Pearl Wright, Global Changemaker | Scott Thorpe, Philanthropist | Sharon Samjitsingh, Health Care Originals | Add Your Name Here Upcoming SuperCrowd Event Calendar If a location is not noted, the events below are virtual. Join the SuperCrowd Impact League! You can be recognized for making impact investments via Reg CF. See how your activity compares to your peers. It’s free. Win valuable prizes. Start now! SuperCrowd Impact Member Networking Session: Impact (and, of course, Max-Impact) Members of the SuperCrowd are invited to a private networking session on October 13th at 8:00 PM ET/5:00 PM PT. Mark your calendar. We’ll send private emails to Impact Members with registration details. Upgrade to Impact Membership today! SuperGreen Live is where climate solutions meet the capital and community needed to scale them. This global virtual gathering brings together entrepreneurs, investors, sustainability leaders and changemakers to explore practical solutions for building a greener future. Expect inspiring conversations, innovative companies, investment opportunities and actionable ideas—all designed to help turn climate ambition into meaningful progress. Join the growing community working to accelerate solutions for people and the planet on February 4, 2027. Learn more at SuperGreenLive.org. Visit Our Complete Community Event Calendar If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 10,000+ changemakers, investors and entrepreneurs who are members of the SuperCrowd, click here. Manage the volume of emails you receive from us by clicking here. We share educational information—not investment advice. Some links may generate compensation. See our full disclosure. We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe

  7. Sep 17

    Community Capital Funds Could Help Communities Take Back Their Economic Futures

    Watch the show on television by downloading the SuperCrowd.tv Channel app to your Roku or Amazon Fire TV or e360tv channel app to your Roku, LG or Amazon Fire TV. You can also see it on YouTube. Devin: What is your superpower? Chris: What I’ve decided my superpower is now is naivete. We have this ridiculously big idea in front of us and a tool to make it happen, and I believe that we’re going to do this. Locally controlled community investment funds can help communities keep wealth circulating at home rather than watching outside capital extract it. That is the big idea Chris Miller, founding board member and chair of the National Coalition for Community Capital, brought to this episode. Chris and I have been talking about community capital for years. What makes this moment exciting is that NC3 is moving from education and advocacy into replicable, on-the-ground fund creation. Chris described NC3 as “a decade-old overnight success.” The organization grew out of the early investment crowdfunding movement, including the passage of state-level crowdfunding exemptions like the Michigan law Chris helped champion in 2013. For years, NC3 trained communities and entrepreneurs on the promise of community capital. Then Chris had a humbling experience. After working with more than 100 Michigan communities that had used donation crowdfunding for public spaces, he expected to help many of them shift into investment crowdfunding for local businesses and real estate. Instead, only a couple of projects moved forward. That failure became insight. “It’s not rocket science, but there’s no ecosystem,” Chris said. “There’s a very small ecosystem supporting this really radical change in how capital can flow in our communities.” That realization led NC3 to create its Community Capital Accelerator and what it now calls the Diversified Community Investment Fund. The structure uses real estate as a foundation. Once 60 percent of a fund is invested in real estate, the fund can invest in other local priorities, often businesses. NC3 has helped build funds in Rhode Island, Detroit and Petoskey, Michigan. It is working actively in four more communities, with a pipeline of 12 to 18 additional prospects. With support from Kresge, NC3 is also partnering with the International Economic Development Council to work with 21 communities. Chris’s vision is rooted in local control. He warned that too many communities now depend on outside businesses whose model is to put in as little as possible and take out as much as possible. “We have to get back to the place where we again decide what happens in our communities and have the opportunity to make investments into those projects and businesses and housing so that we can reap the benefit of it,” Chris said. The goal is not just more capital. It is more democratic capital, more local ownership and more resilient communities. “We have to take a dollar into our community,” Chris said. “We have to pass it around five or six or 10 or 12 times in order to really build wealth.” tl;dr: Chris Miller and NC3 are building community investment funds that let local residents invest locally. Diversified Community Investment Funds use real estate structures to unlock broader community business investment. Chris sees extractive outside capital draining wealth from towns and wants dollars recirculating locally. NC3 has launched or developed funds in Rhode Island, Detroit and Petoskey with more coming. Naivete helps Chris pursue huge goals, move legislation quickly and keep pushing despite obstacles. How to Develop Naivete As a Superpower Chris named his superpower with a smile: “What I’ve decided my superpower is now is naivete.” He explained that NC3 is pursuing “this ridiculously big idea” of putting community investment funds everywhere, adding, “I believe that we’re going to do this.” To Chris, naivete is not ignorance. It is the willingness to imagine a better system before the current one gives permission. “As long as people don’t keep saying this is a bad idea to us, we’re going to be naive enough to imagine this happening across the country,” he said. Chris’s favorite example came from Michigan in 2013. With no prior experience passing securities legislation, he helped introduce a state investment crowdfunding law in August. By December, he was in the governor’s office watching it be signed. The bill passed with just one no vote across both chambers. That early success showed him that big systems could move quickly when passion, relationships and the right idea aligned. Soon after, he helped a neighboring community use the law for a microbrewery raise that filled so fast he missed the chance to invest himself. Hold a dream big enough to pull you through hard work and uncertainty. Start from genuine care for people, communities and shared opportunity. Stand up, say something and do something before you have every answer. Treat difficulty as expected, not disqualifying: say, “So what? Let’s do it anyway.” Build relationships with people who share the vision and can bring skills you lack. Use early wins to prove to yourself and others that broken systems can change. Stay naive enough to believe change is possible and prepared enough to execute well. By following Chris’s example and advice, you can make naivete a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world. Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you! Guest Profile Chris Miller (he/him): Founding Board Member and Chair, National Coalition for Community Capital About National Coalition for Community Capital: NC3 works to advance the Community Capital movement. This engagement of regular (retail) investors into businesses and projects in their own communities empowers citizens while it builds financial resilience and wealth for individuals and communities. Website: NC3now.org Biographical Information: Chris Miller is chair and one of the founding board members of the National Coalition for Community Capital, a 501c3. Among NC3’s goals are to empower ordinary citizens and strengthen local economies though community investment and ownership, with particular attention to wealth-building by non-accredited investors and to underserved populations and communities. Chris has been working on community, economic, and entrepreneur development in Michigan for nearly 20 years in a variety of roles, including as an appointed and elected city official, as a board member and frequent chair of a variety of community and economic development organizations, as a partner with student teams from the University of Michigan and Michigan State University, as an Innovation Fellow at the Michigan State University EDA Center for Regional and Economic Innovation, and as the City of Adrian’s economic developer. During that time, in addition to securing millions of grant dollars and matching private investments, he also developed a local investor group, led a community business plan competition, and worked with local schools to implement entrepreneurship education. While working his day job in Adrian, he also introduced and championed Michigan’s MILE – an investment crowdfunding exemption that served as a national model, and he currently has introduced legislation that would create a first in the nation investment incentive available to any state resident regardless of wealth. During 2023, Chris worked extensively on a new program the International Economic Development Council developed called the Economic Recovery Corps. Funded with Cares Act dollars from the Economic Development Administration, 65 ERC Fellows were awarded to 65 hosts from across the county. The Fellows will work full time with their hosts for 2.5 years addressing underserved communities in a variety of economic and community development projects. NC3 was awarded a Fellow to work in Michigan in the start-up and incubator space, adding community investors to capital required by new or expanding businesses. Over the past decade Chris has spoken across the country on the promise and future of community capital, while also working on the ground on donation and investment crowdfunding campaigns with communities and entrepreneurs. Chris is the developer and lead for NC3’s Community Capital Accelerator which is now piloting NC3’s Diversified Community Investment Fund in large projects in Detroit, Michigan and Cincinnati, Ohio, and expects to see the launch of funds in Rhode Island and Petoskey, Michigan in 2024. In addition, the organization is working on projects in nearly a dozen states. Today, Chris and his wife Joyce own and live in a 170-year-old downtown Adrian building where they renovated the commercial floor for The Buzz Café and Marketplace. Joyce and her business partners opened The Buzz during COVID, after an investment crowdfunding campaign which received investment from 45 investors in 7 different states. When not working on their building renovation, Chris led the team that brought PlaneWave Instruments from California to Michigan, and now serves as their Special Projects Consultant. In that role Chris serves as the primary community and education outreach lead, manages campus arts partners, and works with economic development organizations as well as State and Federal governments to secure resources for PlaneWave. From their headquarters in Michigan, PlaneWave leads the world in the design and manufacture of high-tech observatory class research telescopes. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/nc3now Support Our Sponsors Our generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today’s advertisers include Startup showcase and supercrowd.tv. Learn more about advertising

  8. Sep 15

    Tampon Tribe Turns Plastic-Free Period Care Into Purpose Built Growth

    Watch the show on television by downloading the SuperCrowd.tv Channel app to your Roku or Amazon Fire TV or e360tv channel app to your Roku, LG or Amazon Fire TV. You can also see it on YouTube. Devin: What is your superpower? Jennifer: My superpower is really resilience and never giving up. Through all the trials and tribulations that we all go through in life; I never lose hope and never give up on my dreams. Tampon Tribe is proving that certified organic, plastic-free period products can become a fast-growing business when impact, community and product integrity stay at the center. I welcomed Jennifer Eden, co-founder and CEO of Tampon Tribe, back to Superpowers for Good to celebrate the company’s Purpose Built 100 recognition. Tampon Tribe ranked number 10 overall, number 2 among environmental solutions and number 2 among women founder CEOs. That recognition reflects both growth and mission. Jennifer explained that the company began with two pillars: health and the environment. After struggling with endometriosis, she found that switching products changed her own experience. That personal discovery became the basis for a company now working to eliminate toxins, man-made materials and plastics from period care. “We don’t compromise,” Jennifer told me. “We don’t use any additives, we don’t use any chemicals, any toxins, any waxes, any glues, any perfumes, any dyes or any plastics.” She also shared a major milestone: Tampon Tribe recently became GOTS-certified organic as a company. Jennifer emphasized that this certification goes beyond cotton quality. “It’s an entire impact certification from seed to shelf,” she said, noting that it considers fair work practices, water use and environmental impact. The product line has grown from tampons to include pads, liners, reusable pads, menstrual cups, period underwear and wellness items. Jennifer sees the company becoming a trusted resource across the full life cycle for people who get periods, including tweens and teens preparing for a first period. One of the most compelling parts of the story is how community helped build the business. Tampon Tribe began with an Indiegogo campaign, then used regulated investment crowdfunding on Wefunder and debt crowdfunding through SMBX. I’m proud to be an investor. 🏆 Congratulations to Jennifer Eden, co-founder and CEO of Tampon Tribe, Inc., on ranking #2 among PurposeBuilt100™ Woman Founder/CEOs, #2 in Environmental Solutions, and #10 overall in the inaugural PurposeBuilt100™! Check the full rankings: https://purposebuilt100.com “The crowd’s been instrumental,” Jennifer said. “Tampon Tribe at its core is a community-based company.” That community did more than provide capital. It helped validate demand, shape the product mix and create advocates. Jennifer recalled that early backers quickly asked for pads and liners, prompting the company to add them almost immediately. “When you’re invested in the company, you’re also an advocate,” Jennifer said. For impact entrepreneurs, Tampon Tribe offers a powerful example. Build from lived experience. Listen to customers. Refuse to compromise on mission. Invite the crowd in. That combination can protect bodies, reduce plastic waste and build a company worth celebrating. tl;dr: Jennifer Eden built Tampon Tribe around certified organic cotton, plastic-free packaging and period product safety. Tampon Tribe ranked tenth overall in the Purpose Built 100, second among environmental solutions. Community financing helped validate demand, expand products and turn customers into active advocates. Resilience carried Jennifer through $13 bank balances, rooftop sleeping and pizza delivery side hustles. Her advice: believe in yourself, pivot when needed, ask for help and keep going. How to Develop Resilience As a Superpower Jennifer’s superpower is resilience. She told me, “My superpower is really resilience and never giving up,” adding that she has always believed “you can achieve anything you put your mind to.” That doesn’t mean ignoring fear. Jennifer acknowledged the 3 AM worries and the moments when “you can’t see much light at the end of the tunnel.” Her practice is to keep moving anyway. “As long as you see a little bit of light, for me, that’s enough,” she said. “Get knocked down but get back up.” Jennifer illustrated that resilience with the earliest days of Tampon Tribe. At one point, the company had only about $13 in the bank while she waited for a potential $100,000 investment from the Launch Group. Before that, Jennifer and her co-founder had rented out their bedrooms, kept one room as an office, slept in a tent on their Santa Monica rooftop and delivered pizzas at night to build the first cash for the business. “There are always solutions,” she said. “What can we do? What are our resources?” That gritty optimism helped turn an idea into a multimillion-dollar company. Have courage and choose to believe in yourself before circumstances prove you right. Keep looking forward; treat each day as a fresh chance to solve the next problem. Learn what you do not know, practice it, try again and get back up when you fail. Pivot quickly when an idea is not resonating rather than pushing blindly. Ask for help from people nearby who have capabilities you need. Look for even a little light at the end of the tunnel and move toward it. Use the resources you have without resentment, even if the work feels humble or hard. By following Jennifer’s example and advice, you can make resilience a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world. Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you! Guest Profile Jennifer Eden (she/her): Co-Founder / CEO, Tampon Tribe Website: tampontribe.com X/Twitter Handle: @tampontribe Company Facebook Page: facebook.com/tampontribe Biographical Information: An entrepreneur at heart, Jennifer is an internationally awarded marketer, business leader and broadcaster. Beginning her career in Australia, and working as a live news anchor, journalist and broadcaster both there and in China, Jennifer is no stranger to making very quick decisions under extreme pressure. She founded, grew and exited two businesses in Beijing, and has led several marketing teams from business inception to exit. Jen was awarded Women in Business in Asia’s MarCom Director of the Year and graduated from Charles Sturt University with a Communication and Marketing degree and a triple major in economics, politics and sociology. Jen is a fast problem solver, is quick to pivot and has worked extensively leading results-driven teams in sales, management, marketing and communication. Personal X/Twitter: @Jen90545305 Personal Facebook Profile: facebook.com/jennifer.eden.520 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jeeden/ Instagram: @tampontribe @jen_eden Support Our Sponsors Our generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today’s advertisers include SuperGreen Live and supercrowd.tv. Learn more about advertising with us here. Max-Impact Members (We’re grateful for every one of these community champions who make this work possible.) 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We host changemakers who are using regulated investment crowdfunding for social impact--impact crowdfunding--as impact investors or social entrepreneurs, catalyzing change with leadership skills we call superpowers. www.superpowers4good.com

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