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. 3d ago

    Jiminy’s Turns Cricket Protein Into Climate-Friendly Dog Food

    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? Anne: I tend to question everything. Jiminy’s is proving that cricket protein can help dogs live healthier lives while cutting the carbon pawprints of America’s pets. Anne Carlson, founder and CEO of Jiminy’s, has built a purpose-driven company around an idea that sounds surprising until you hear the science. Jiminy’s makes dog food, treats and dental chews using insect protein. Anne explained the mission simply: “At Jiminy’s, we help dogs live longer, healthier lives on a greener planet.” The environmental case is powerful. Anne shared that a UCLA study found that 25 to 30 percent of the environmental impact of meat consumption in the United States comes from dogs and cats. Replacing traditional animal protein in pet food with insect protein can reduce land use, water use and greenhouse gas emissions. For Anne, the mission began at home. “I had this conversation with my daughter, and she really hit me with a bombshell,” she told me. “She told me that she didn’t want to have kids. And the reason was she was worried about what the world would be like by the time those kids grew up.” That moment changed her career path. She had worked in the pet industry and knew there was room for innovation. Then she saw a United Nations study suggesting insects could help address world hunger. She ordered dry-roasted crickets online and offered them to her dogs. “The dogs went crazy for it,” Anne said. “As soon as they started drooling, I knew we had something that we could work with.” Anne Carlson will be speaking at SuperCrowd26 featuring PurposeBuilt100™️! Register now to watch his session live. What impresses me most is that Jiminy’s is not just a clever brand with a fun name. Anne and her team have invested in science. They worked through FDA and AAFCO processes to demonstrate digestibility, palatability and real health benefits. Anne said the protein has been shown to support the microbiome, skin and coat health and even oral health. That science has translated into products dogs love and pet parents can feel good about buying. Jiminy’s has won industry recognition for its food, treats and dental chews while growing distribution online and in independent pet stores. Anne is showing that purpose and growth can run together. By asking better questions about what we feed our pets, she is helping build a healthier future for dogs and the planet they depend on. tl;dr: Jiminy’s uses cricket protein to create sustainable pet food that reduces environmental impact. Anne’s climate concern for her daughter inspired her purpose-driven entrepreneurial journey. Science-backed benefits for dogs include improved gut health, oral health, and overall wellness. Jiminy’s has earned industry recognition for its eco-friendly pet food innovations and growth. Anne’s superpower is questioning everything and tenaciously pursuing innovative solutions. How to Develop Question Everything As a Superpower Anne’s superpower is Question Everything. She told me, “I tend to question everything,” adding that she is “curious” and likes “to understand how things work.” That habit is not passive. Anne continues to ask, “What else can we do? How else can we have impact?” For her, the question is only the beginning. She emphasized that it is “not just ask the question, but then follow up,” because when a path emerges, “you’ve got to be tenacious to get it done.” Anne illustrated her superpower with a discovery that began on her floor at home. Her older dog Tuco was breathing in her face, and she wondered, “How the heck does Tuco have good breath?” She opened his mouth and saw white teeth. Because she was not giving him dental chews, she asked her scientists whether insect protein could be affecting his mouth. They hypothesized that medium-chain fatty acids might be responsible. Anne kept pushing. The company conducted a study, proved the oral microbiome benefit and relaunched dental chews that later won a major innovation award. Be fully present when talking with people so you notice ideas worth exploring. Do not let questions pass through your mind without asking them out loud. Probe for the underlying reason when something surprises you or does not make sense. Use science, data and expert partners to test your hypotheses. Follow up on promising questions with tenacity until you discover whether they lead somewhere useful. Keep asking how your work can create more impact for customers, animals and the planet. By following Anne’s example and advice, you can make questioning everything 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 Anne Carlson (she/her): Founder & CEO, Jiminy’s, Inc. About Jiminy’s, Inc.: Jiminy’s is disrupting the pet industry; fighting climate change as we feed our pets. We make sustainable dog food and treats using a novel protein source - insect protein! Jiminy’s products nourish our pets and promote long-term stewardship of the earth. Website: jiminys.com Company Facebook Page: facebook.com/jiminysforpets Biographical Information: Meet Anne Carlson – the dog-loving entrepreneur who’s revolutionizing pet food by thinking outside the (kibble) box! As the founder of Jiminy’s, she’s on a mission to make dog food and treats that are both tail-waggingly delicious and planet-friendly, using – wait for it – cricket protein! Her innovative approach is turning heads in the pet industry, with Jiminy’s racking up impressive recognition in 2024: snagging the Pet Innovation Award for Best Dry Dog Food with Good Grub, winning Pet Age Magazine’s Editor’s Select Award for their mouthwatering Sweet Potato & Peas Training Treats, and scoring Pet Product News Magazine’s Editor’s Choice Award for their game-changing Dental Chews! When she’s not leading her award-winning company, you might find Anne geeking out over insect agriculture (yes, she literally wrote the scientific playbook for cricket protein in dog food!). Her groundbreaking work earned her the 2019 Entrepreneur of the Year award, but her real critics are her four-legged taste-testers: Tuco and Timber, her beloved pups. Before becoming the “Cricket Queen” of pet food, Anne was a corporate powerhouse at Big Heart Pet Brands and founded Secant (which she later sold to IRI). She’s got the brains to back her vision – with degrees from Wash U and NYU – but these days, she’s focused on changing the world one sustainable kibble at a time. When she’s not disrupting the pet food industry, Anne’s hanging with her family in Berkeley, CA, where her husband Eric and daughter Boothe have learned to embrace her passion for sustainable pet parenthood! Personal Facebook Profile: facebook.com/anne.t.carlson LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annetcarlson/ Instagram: @jiminysforpets Support Our Sponsors Our generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today’s advertisers include PurposeBuilt100™ Winners 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.) Brian Christie, Brainsy | Cameron Neil, Lend For Good | Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Eric Coury, Arthia AI | 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 September 8th 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! SuperCrowd26 featuring PurposeBuilt100™: This August 25–27, founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders will gather for a three-day, broadcast-quality global experience focused on disciplined capital formation, regulated investment crowdfunding, and purpose-driven growth. We’re bringing together leading voices in impact investing, compliance, digital marketing, and circular economy innovation to deliver practical frameworks, real-world case studies, and actionable strategies. The event culminates in the PurposeBuilt100™ Showcase, recognizing 100 of the fastest-growing purpose-driven companies in the U.S. Register now to secure your seat and get all the details. August 25–27, streaming worldwide. 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 t

  2. 5d ago

    Investing With Impact: How Two Reg CF Experts Choose Startups

    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? Tom: Passion is what fuels the fire in my belly… It gets me excited, keeps me up late, and helps me go after these investments. Glenn: My superpower is bringing people together, adding value wherever I can… I try to help founders after I invest by sending resources or opportunities their way. Regulated crowdfunding has leveled the playing field for investors, allowing almost anyone to back startups with significant growth potential. During this episode, I had the pleasure of discussing strategies with two veteran Reg CF investors, Tom J Wright and Glenn Burney, who’ve honed distinct approaches to choosing impactful investment opportunities. Glenn emphasizes the importance of early-stage research and trusted tools like KingsCrowd, a platform that evaluates crowdfunding opportunities. “I usually start there, and if they’re rated at least a four, I start digging deeper,” he explained. Glenn’s diligence doesn’t stop there; he carefully evaluates the founders. “The most important things I look for before I invest are the founders and the total addressable market. If I believe in the founder and the product or service, that’s when I invest.” Tom echoed many of Glenn’s insights but with his own seasoned approach, placing a special emphasis on market size. “I love a big TAM (total addressable market) because a startup can grow as big as the market allows,” he said. Using a memorable analogy, Tom compared startups to goldfish, explaining that their growth often depends on the size of their environment: “A goldfish will be small in a small tank, but if it’s in a lake, it can grow to a foot long.” Beyond market size and founder qualities, Tom also values passion and disruptive potential. “Is the founder full-time? Are they going to do whatever it takes to make this thing successful?” He noted that revolutionary technology is often his green flag: “I love revolutionary tech because it can reset an entire market.” Valuation also plays a critical role in their decision-making. Glenn shared his preference for startups with valuations under $20 million, explaining his goal of achieving at least a 10x return: “If I feel like I can get at least a 10x return, then I feel like the valuation is good.” Tom approaches things similarly but allows for higher valuations when the opportunity feels right. “You want in early… Low valuation and a big TAM? That’s a powerful combination.” Their stories also highlight the importance of intuition and alignment. “Does it resonate with me personally?” Tom asked, reflecting on how his values influence his choices. Glenn concluded by sharing his proudest success: investing in a startup that became a unicorn, providing him with a 21x return. The insights shared by Tom and Glenn prove that regulated crowdfunding isn’t just about profit—it’s about backing great people with big ideas while making a difference in the world. For investors, their advice is invaluable: do your research, trust your instincts, and focus on opportunities that combine potential impact with strong fundamentals. tl;dr: Tom and Glenn share strategies for evaluating and investing in Reg CF startups for impact. They highlight tools like KingsCrowd and key criteria such as TAM and founder commitment. Glenn recounts his story of helping a startup raise $125,000 via a meaningful introduction. Tom and Glenn discuss aligning investments with personal values and market trends for success. Both emphasize the power of passion and networking in transforming investments into impact. How to Develop Passion and Networking As a Superpower Tom’s superpower is his passion, which fuels his mission to make the world more just. As he explained, “Passion is what fuels the fire in my belly… It gets me excited, keeps me up late, and helps me go after these investments.” Glenn’s superpower is networking and connection. He shared, “My superpower is bringing people together, adding value wherever I can… I try to help founders after I invest by sending resources or opportunities their way.” Glenn shared a story that exemplified his networking prowess. After investing in a startup, he connected them with an accelerator program that ultimately helped them raise $125,000. His introduction led the company to win the program’s grand prize, underscoring how impactful his connections could be for early-stage companies. Tips for Developing the Superpower: Continuously seek inspiration by surrounding yourself with motivational materials, like books and quotes. Look for examples of courage and perseverance from history and everyday life to reignite passion. Focus on adding value to others before asking for help in networking situations. Leverage social media platforms like LinkedIn to build meaningful professional connections. Look for ways to champion others’ success through introductions and referrals. By following Tom and Glenn’s example and advice, you can make passion and networking your superpowers. With practice and effort, you could develop these skills to do more good in the world through impactful investments and purposeful connections. 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 Tom J Wright (he/him): Angel Investor/Unicorn Hunter/Crowdfunding Course Creator, Angel Investor, Crowdfunding Course Creator About Online Angel Investing/Crowdfunding Courses for Investors: Tom Wright is currently preparing several online angel investing/crowdfunding courses for investors who want to learn how to take advantage of the INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES that now exist for every-day people, in start-up companies. These courses will be part of an amazing, informative and highly actionable group of ongoing courses available through Tom’s Angel Investing Academy, available soon at Kajabi.com Website: Please look for his angel investing courses soon at Kajabi Other URL: youtube.com/watch?v=yDjYw0mfRHc Biographical Information: Tom Wright is an accomplished angel investor and startup expert with a portfolio spanning 141 startup companies. An early investor in Cisco, Tom has built a reputation for identifying promising companies and supporting entrepreneurs at the earliest stages of growth. He was ranked #7 among startup investors worldwide on Wefunder, one of the world’s leading equity crowdfunding platforms. His experience has also led him to become an angel investing expert and course creator, helping others understand startup investing and how to evaluate emerging opportunities. Tom’s influence extends across the startup and investment community. At Wefunder, he is followed by Mr. Wonderful of Shark Tank, StartEngine, and more than 555 other angel investors, startup founders, and venture capital firms. With deep firsthand experience as both an investor and educator, Tom brings a practical perspective on startup investing, portfolio building, and finding high-potential companies before they become widely recognized. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tom-wright-59a80324 Glenn Burney (he/him): Accounting Manager, American University About American University: ⁠American University is a student-centered research institution located in Washington, DC, with highly ranked schools and colleges, internationally renowned faculty, and a reputation for creating meaningful change in the world. Our students distinguish themselves for their service, leadership, and ability to rethink global and domestic challenges and opportunities. Biographical Information: Glenn Burney is an accounting professional and active angel investor based in Arlington, Virginia. He serves as an Accounting Manager at American University, where he leads a team responsible for financial reporting, reconciliations, endowment accounting, and other critical financial operations. Outside of his professional career, Glenn has built a diverse portfolio of early-stage investments across healthcare, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, energy, consumer products, and other emerging industries. He is especially passionate about identifying promising founders and companies before their potential is widely recognized. Glenn approaches angel investing with disciplined curiosity, combining detailed research, thoughtful founder engagement, and a willingness to support ambitious ideas that could create meaningful economic and social impact. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/glenn-k-burney-jr-68a55842/ Personal Facebook Profile: facebook.com/glenn.kevin.3 Support Our Sponsors Our generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today’s advertisers include PurposeBuilt100™ Winners 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.) Brian Christie, Brainsy | Cameron Neil, Lend For Good | Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Eric Coury, Arthia AI | 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

  3. Aug 13

    Azure Printed Homes Turns Plastic Waste Into Faster, Lower-Cost Housing

    Devin: What is your superpower? Gene: I’ve always felt that range is more important than depth. That’s where I am. Azure Printed Homes is turning recycled plastic into faster, lower-cost housing while attacking two crises at once: housing scarcity and plastic waste. Gene Eidelman, President of Azure Printed Homes, joined me to explain how the company uses robotics and 3D printing to manufacture housing in a factory. “Azure is a platform that uses robotics and 3D printing to manufacture housing,” Gene said. “30% less expensive, 70% faster, and no waste.” That simple description understates the breadth of the impact. Azure began with backyard studios and ADUs during COVID. The company has since expanded into homes for people experiencing homelessness, affordable housing, wildfire rebuilds and soon, Gene says, multi-story apartment buildings. What I find so compelling is the way Azure’s model layers benefits. The company reduces construction waste, reuses plastic that might otherwise end up in landfills or oceans and creates housing more quickly in places where people desperately need it. Gene confirmed that the company has already recycled “millions upon millions” of plastic bottles’ worth of material. The work is no longer theoretical. Gene told me the company has delivered more than 150 homes across six states. Its largest project so far is a 62-unit village for people experiencing homelessness in San Luis Obispo, California. By using ground screws rather than traditional foundations, Azure fit nearly twice as many units on the site as conventional construction would have allowed. “We took a very small site, 3/4 of an acre site, and put a lot of units,” Gene said. “If it would be done traditional construction, they couldn’t take more than 34 units, but we did 62.” Azure’s market is broad. The same platform can support a small safe home for someone leaving homelessness, an ADU in a California backyard or a luxury rebuild in Malibu. “It’s really a platform to expand what can be done quicker and less expensive,” Gene said. I’m also excited that Azure is using regulated investment crowdfunding to fuel its growth. Gene explained that the company has completed six campaigns across several platforms, building a community of more than 2,500 investors in 48 states and 20 countries. Azure is currently raising debt capital through a Honeycomb campaign, which you can find at geneeidelmanmedia.com. For impact investors who care about housing, climate and innovation, Azure’s progress offers a powerful case study in how purpose-built businesses can scale solutions that matter. tl;dr: This episode explores Azure Printed Homes’ mission to turn recycled plastic into faster, lower-cost housing. Gene explains how robotics and 3D printing reduce waste while expanding housing options across markets. Azure has delivered more than 150 homes, including a 62-unit homeless village in California. The company is raising growth capital through a regulated investment crowdfunding debt campaign on Honeycomb. Gene’s superpower, range, helps him pivot quickly while staying focused on solving big problems. How to Develop Range As a Superpower Gene’s superpower is range. He told me, “You can acquire deep knowledge. You can hire for deep knowledge. It’s the range that is necessary.” For Gene, range means staying focused on the solution while remaining open to the tools, materials, customers and business models that can get you there faster. He said entrepreneurs should “focus on the solution” while also thinking about “how other products that they might be thinking of could be used for this solution.” That perspective helped Azure move from construction to 3D printing, material science, robotics, light-gauge steel and homes on wheels. Gene saw this superpower earlier in his career while building childcare centers. A nearby hospital loved the centers but explained that its nurses could not afford them. Gene quickly reframed the problem. If the hospital funded a center on campus, there would be no rent burden and nurses could access care. That pivot created a corporate childcare business that grew to become the third largest in its niche in the country before being sold to a publicly traded company. Focus on the solution first, not the initial product or business model. Build range by continuously educating yourself across disciplines, markets and technologies. Use new tools yourself before asking your team to adopt them. Hire experts when deep technical knowledge is required. Bring team members with you to meetings so they can observe, learn and generate ideas. Listen actively to customers, partners and industry veterans before prescribing answers. Stay open to unexpected markets when customers reveal new uses for your solution. By following Gene’s example and advice, you can make range 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 Gene Eidelman (he/him): President, Azure Printed Homes About Azure Printed Homes: Azure Printed Homes transforms recycled plastic into 3D-printed houses—built 70% faster and at 39% lower cost than traditional construction—tackling both the housing shortage and the global plastic waste crisis. Website: azureprintedhomes.com Company Facebook Page: facebook.com/azureprintedhomes Other URL: geneeidelmanmedia.com Biographical Information: Gene Eidelman is the co-founder of Azure Printed Homes, founded in 2022 to create sustainable, affordable housing using recycled polymers. Azure’s patented 3D-printing technology builds homes faster and at lower cost than traditional methods, while reducing environmental waste. Gene leads the company’s mission to deliver scalable housing solutions for families, communities, and disaster recovery. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/geneeidelman Instagram: @geneeidelman Support Our Sponsors Our generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today’s advertisers include PurposeBuilt100™ Winners 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.) Brian Christie, Brainsy | Cameron Neil, Lend For Good | Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Eric Coury, Arthia AI | 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 August 11th 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, August 19, 2026, at 12:00 PM Eastern. Devin Thorpe, CEO and Founder of The Super Crowd, Inc., will lead a session on “How to Make Money As an Impact Investor Starting with $10.” Drawing on his experience as a former investment banker, impact investor, and crowdfunding expert, Devin will demonstrate how anyone can begin building wealth while investing in companies that create positive social and environmental impact—even with as little as $10. In this session, he’ll explore how impact crowdfunding has opened investment opportunities to everyday investors, explain how to identify promising mission-driven companies, and share practical strategies for building a diversified portfolio over time. Attendees will learn how to get started with limited capital, manage risk, evaluate investment opportunities, and avoid common mistakes new investors make. Whether you’re completely new to investing or looking for an affordable way to expand your impact investing portfolio, this SuperCrowdHour will provide actionable insights to help you invest with purpose, build long-term wealth, and make a meaningful difference. Register now! SuperCrowd26 featuring PurposeBuilt100™: This August 25–27, founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders will gather for a three-day, broadcast-quality global experience focused on disciplined capital formation, regulated investment crowdfunding, and purpose-driven growth. We’re bringing together leading voices in impact investing, compliance, digital marketing, and circular economy innovation to deliver practical frameworks, real-world case studies, and actionable strategies. The event culminates in the PurposeBuilt100™ Showcase, recognizing 100 of the fastest-growing purpose-driven companies in the U.S. Register now to secure your seat and get all the details. August 25–27, streaming worldwide. Community Event Calendar Successful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events. Register Now! Join Investors Circle and DAF Commons on August 19, 2026, from 12:00–1:30 PM ET for an insightful conversation on how Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) can become a powerful engine for impact investing. Hear from leaders at ImpactAssets, Impact Charitable, and RSF – Regenerative Social Finance as they explore ways to p

  4. Aug 11

    Emily Brown Is Scaling Food as Medicine Through Health Care

    Devin: What is your superpower? Emily: So I think— I, I don’t— it’s hard for me to boil it down to just one, but I would simply say my superpower is really rooted in connecting dots. And so seeing things that others may not see because I’m able to put the dots together. Food as medicine can move from a hopeful idea to a scalable health care solution when the people closest to the problem build the system. That is the lesson I heard from Emily Brown, founder of Attane Health and now Chief Healthcare Officer at Sifter Solutions after Attane’s acquisition. Emily’s work began not with a business plan but with her daughter’s diagnosis and a family grocery budget that suddenly could not keep up. “It all started with lived experience, my family’s own personal experience with food insecurity and just the need to have specific foods to support my daughter’s health,” Emily told me. “We were on WIC, SNAP. I’m actually a former Medicaid recipient.” That experience revealed a gap in health care that millions of families know too well. Doctors can diagnose food-related conditions but families are often left alone to figure out how to pay for and prepare the foods that could help them heal. Emily first responded by founding a nonprofit that helped get special dietary foods into food banks and pantries. Under her leadership, the organization launched one of the first food prescription programs in Kansas, serving clients who had prescription diet orders from physicians. Over time, Emily saw that charity alone could not solve the problem at national scale. Health care needed the tools, data and infrastructure to make food and nutrition care part of routine delivery. “I knew that technology was gonna be really important to scaling our work,” she said. “So I left the nonprofit, started what became Attane, really to develop the technology and the infrastructure to do food and nutrition care at scale.” Attane Health now works as the health care arm of Sifter Solutions, partnering with health plans, pharmacy benefits and health systems to expand access to nutrient-dense foods, education and measurable outcomes. Emily pointed to high-risk maternal health as one powerful example, where better nutrition can support mothers facing gestational diabetes or preeclampsia while helping reduce risks for babies. Her message is practical and hopeful. Food is not a side issue in health care. For millions of people living with chronic conditions, food is part of the standard of care. Emily is helping build the bridge so patients can actually access it. tl;dr: This episode shows how lived experience can spark scalable health care innovation. Emily Brown built Attane Health to make food and nutrition care accessible. Attane Health now grows through Sifter Solutions after a strategic acquisition. Emily explains why storytelling helps turn hidden health challenges into action. This article highlights practical ways to develop the superpower of connecting dots. How to Develop Connecting Dots As a Superpower Emily describes her superpower as “connecting dots” and “being able to tell that story.” She sees things others may miss because she can “put the dots together,” then frame the insight in a way that helps others act. She said, “The power of storytelling is really significant because we learn through stories, we connect through story.” That combination has helped her move from being a mother on Medicaid facing food insecurity to becoming a venture-backed founder building solutions for families like hers. Emily’s superpower became visible when her daughter received a diagnosis that required a gluten-free diet. Overnight, Emily looked in her pantry and realized many of the foods her family relied on were no longer safe. Her grocery budget quadrupled while her resources shrank. Instead of accepting a system that paid only for clinic care, she began identifying every point of friction. That led her to start a nonprofit, create food prescription programs, advocate before federal agencies and eventually build Attane Health to integrate food and nutrition care into health care at scale. Frame your challenges as opportunities for growth, connection and innovation. Ask what is missing from the data before assuming the data tells the whole story. Look for the friction points hiding in plain sight and treat them as places to build solutions. Bring others with you by using stories from data, patients and partners. Be patient when building disruptive solutions because meaningful change often takes time. By following Emily’s example and advice, you can make connecting dots 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 Emily Brown (she/her): Founder of Attane Health, Chief Healthcare Officer at Sifter Solutions, Attane Health, Now a Sifter Solutions Company About Attane Health: To improve health through food and nutrition care by providing access to health foods, education, and actionable data. Website: attane-health.com, siftersolutions.com Company Facebook Page: facebook.com/attanehealth Biographical Information: Emily is the Co-founder of Attane Health and Chief Healthcare Officer of Sifter Solutions, a digital health company in the “food is medicine” space. Rooted in lived experience, Emily leads a passionate team dedicated to changing health outcomes through harnessing the healing power of food. After experiencing first-hand, the challenges of managing chronic health conditions with limited resources, Emily founded Food Equality Initiative (FEI). Under her leadership the nonprofit grew to a 7-figure annual budget, supporting patients access to healthy food. Emily is a national patient advocate who has provided both oral and written testimony to the FDA and USDA. A member of the 2025 Child and Adult Core Set Annual Review Workgroup, Emily works to advance health equity in all pursuits. Her research interests include food systems, health disparities, and patient-centered approaches to care. Emily is a published co-author of several peer-reviewed articles with top research institutions in allergic disease. Emily believes in the power of patients and data to achieve greater health outcomes. Personal X/Twitter: @emilybrownspeak Personal Facebook Profile: facebook.com/emily.brown.37853 Instagram: @emilybrownspeaks Support Our Sponsors Our generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today’s advertisers include PurposeBuilt100™ Winners 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.) Brian Christie, Brainsy | Cameron Neil, Lend For Good | Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Eric Coury, Arthia AI | 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 August 11th 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, August 19, 2026, at 12:00 PM Eastern. Devin Thorpe, CEO and Founder of The Super Crowd, Inc., will lead a session on “How to Make Money As an Impact Investor Starting with $10.” Drawing on his experience as a former investment banker, impact investor, and crowdfunding expert, Devin will demonstrate how anyone can begin building wealth while investing in companies that create positive social and environmental impact—even with as little as $10. In this session, he’ll explore how impact crowdfunding has opened investment opportunities to everyday investors, explain how to identify promising mission-driven companies, and share practical strategies for building a diversified portfolio over time. Attendees will learn how to get started with limited capital, manage risk, evaluate investment opportunities, and avoid common mistakes new investors make. Whether you’re completely new to investing or looking for an affordable way to expand your impact investing portfolio, this SuperCrowdHour will provide actionable insights to help you invest with purpose, build long-term wealth, and make a meaningful difference. Register now! SuperCrowd26 featuring PurposeBuilt100™: This August 25–27, founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders will gather for a three-day, broadcast-quality global experience focused on disciplined capital formation, regulated investment crowdfunding, and purpose-driven growth. We’re bringing together leading voices in impact investing, compliance, digital marketing, and circular economy innovation to deliver practical frameworks, real-world case studies, and actionable strategies. The event culminates in the PurposeBuilt100™ Showcase, recognizing 100 of the fastest-growing purpose-driven companies in the U.S. Register now to secure your seat and get all the

  5. Aug 6

    Dignity First Leadership Powers Corporate Climate Action

    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? Jim: I think it might be more of a willingness to sacrifice creatively. You know, like, I think meaning is a wage that is paid for self-chosen self-sacrifice for the other. Dignity-first leadership can make corporate decarbonization more effective by helping companies work together to serve people as well as the planet. Jim Boyle, CEO and founder of Sustainability Roundtable, Inc., joined me to explain how his firm has spent 18 years helping major companies set goals, drive progress and report results in sustainability. What began as a membership-based strategic advisory service during the financial panic of 2009 has grown into a platform trusted by large enterprises working to decarbonize at scale. Jim described Sustainability Roundtable’s Net Zero Consortium for Buyers as a way to “help democratize utility-scale clean energy.” By bringing high-credit corporations together, the consortium gives them the scale to procure major clean energy projects they could not easily accomplish alone. The results are impressive. Jim shared the example of an aggregated procurement involving seven off-takers, including Akamai Technologies, Teradyne and the City of Cambridge. The project was built in southern Illinois, coal country, where clean power has especially high climate and health value. “When you replace coal with large-scale solar and batteries, you are really making a difference in the carbon cycle,” Jim said. “And you are making a difference in the particulate matter in that given area as well.” That health impact is measurable. Jim said the first gigawatt Sustainability Roundtable helped clients procure saved more than 3,700 disability-adjusted life years in its first year of operation alone. It also avoided $985 million in healthcare costs. “This move from molecules to electrons, from extracted fossil fuel to clean electrons, it has many wonderful impacts even beyond reducing carbon in our atmosphere,” Jim said. Jim’s new book, Dignity First Leadership: Developing and Driving a World Class Sustainability Strategy, co-authored with Ann Whitney, connects that practical climate work to a deeper leadership framework. He argues that business should not treat efficiency as its highest goal. Instead, leaders should focus on magnifying the dignity of stakeholders, including employees, customers, suppliers, communities and investors. “In every instance, it’s the CEO’s job in particular to create value in the near, mid, and long term with each and all your stakeholders,” Jim said. I love that framing. Climate solutions work best when they honor the people they affect. Jim’s work reminds us that sustainability is not just about cleaner electrons. It is about healthier lives, better communities and leadership that puts human dignity first. tl;dr: Today’s episode explores how dignity-first leadership strengthens corporate sustainability and climate action. Jim explains how Sustainability Roundtable helps companies procure utility-scale clean energy together. Today’s episode connects renewable energy projects to measurable health benefits and avoided costs. Jim shares why CEOs should create value for all stakeholders, not efficiency alone. Today’s episode highlights Creative Sacrifice as Jim’s superpower for service-centered leadership. How to Develop Creative Sacrifice As a Superpower Jim described his superpower as “a willingness to sacrifice creatively.” He explained, “I think meaning is a wage that is paid for self-chosen self-sacrifice for the other.” Grounded in his faith, his admiration for leadership as service and his work with executives, Jim sees sacrifice not as depletion but as empowerment. He said he can “bring a lot of energy to leadership as service,” especially in a business built around helping clients lead. Jim illustrated Creative Sacrifice with a recent challenge at Sustainability Roundtable. His team was developing a new compliance collaborative to help global companies master mandatory sustainability reporting. The deadlines were real, the complexity was high and the product was not ready. Instead of pretending otherwise, Jim told member executives the truth: the team needed help. That vulnerability felt embarrassing and risky, especially with prospective clients present. The result was powerful. More than half a dozen senior executives volunteered meaningful time, with some teams contributing more than 100 hours each, to co-design a better service. Choose service before ego when others need your leadership. Look for self-chosen sacrifices that create meaning for you and value for others. Be honest when you do not have the answer instead of pretending you do. Invite stakeholders to help design solutions that will serve them. Treat dignity as a practical leadership goal in every decision. Build a team culture that asks people to sacrifice together for clients and impact. Recognize that a high-performing team is not the same as a family, then lead accordingly. By following Jim’s example and advice, you can make Creative Sacrifice 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 Jim Boyle (he/him): CEO and Founder, Sustainability Roundtable, Inc About Sustainability Roundtable, Inc: SR Inc works to be the world’s most respected strategic advisor in enterprise decarbonization. For more than fifteen years, leaders at over 100 Fortune 500 and global growth companies have trusted SR Inc to provide membership-based strategic advisory and support services. SR Inc helps executives to set goals, drive progress, and report results as they lead their organizations to more sustainable high performance. Website: sustainround.com X/Twitter Handle: @sustainround Other URL: https://www.amazon.com/Dignity-First-Leadership-World-Class-Sustainability/dp/B0G525KKYV Biographical Information: Jim Boyle is the CEO & Founder of Sustainability Roundtable, Inc. For more than fifteen years, Jim has led full-time teams of diverse experts to assist nearly 100 Fortune 500 and growth companies in their move to more sustainable high-performance. Specifically, SR Inc has helped world-leading sustainability leaders, real estate owners, and federal agencies set goals, drive progress, and report results in their move to greater Corporate Sustainability. Mr. Boyle led in the creation of SR Inc’s Net Zero Consortium for Buyers (NZCB), which advises and represents Fortune 500 and fast growth companies across the U.S. and internationally in the development of renewable energy strategies and the procurement of both on and off-site advanced energy solutions. Before founding SR Inc, Mr. Boyle co-led Trammell Crow Company Corporate Advisory Services in San Francisco and returned to his native Boston and Trammell Crow Company’s market leading team in Greater Boston where he received the Commercial Brokers Association’s Platinum Award for the highest level of commercial real estate transactions. Earlier, he advised companies on real estate and environmental matters as an attorney at a large law firm based in Boston. Jim is a graduate of Middlebury College, where he co-captained the football team, and Boston College Law School. Early in his career, he served as a federal law clerk, an aide to John F. Kerry in the U. S. Senate, and on Vice President Al Gore’s campaign for President. Jim lives in Concord, MA with his wife and kids near the Emerson House on the route to Walden Pond. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/sustainability-roundtable-inc-/ Support Our Sponsors Our generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today’s advertisers include PurposeBuilt100™ Winners 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.) Brian Christie, Brainsy | Cameron Neil, Lend For Good | Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Eric Coury, Arthia AI | 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 August 11th 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, August 19, 2026, at 12:00 PM Eastern. Devin Thorpe, CEO and Founder of The Super Crowd, Inc., will lead a session on “How to Make Money As an Impact Investor Starting with $10.” Drawing on his experience as a former investment banker, impact investor, and crowdfunding expert, Devin will demonstrate how anyone can begin building wealth while investing in companies that create positive social and environmental impact—

  6. Aug 4

    Eric Coury Is Building Guardrails for Ambient AI

    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? Eric: I’ve been thinking about that since we booked this. Um, you know, I, I think if I was to really boil it down, my superpower is being mission-driven. ARTHIA AI is building a privacy-first behavioral governance layer so ambient AI can support people in real time without putting them at risk. During today’s episode, Eric Coury, founder and CEO of ARTHIA AI, helped me see both the promise and the danger of the AI future racing toward us. As a former teacher, Eric watched social media change the way young people communicate. Now, as a father of three daughters, he is determined not to let the next wave of technology arrive without guardrails. “Regardless of whether we like it or not, AI will be embedding itself more and more in our lives,” Eric told me. “I thought about my three daughters. I thought about, you know, hopefully their kids someday. I thought about other kids. And I realized that I think it’s important to have a protection layer.” ARTHIA is not another large language model. Eric describes it as infrastructure any AI model can plug into to become ambient. In other words, it helps AI know when to speak, what to say and how to say it inside live human interactions. The company is building what Eric calls a signal stack, a longitudinal profile and a set of evidence-based frameworks drawn from fields like psychology, sociology and linguistics. The goal is to make AI useful in moments that matter: difficult conversations, medical appointments, learning challenges, coaching, therapy and daily life. At the same time, Eric is focused on privacy and safety. He explained, “There’s no recording of raw audio. All of your data is encrypted and stored on your device. It’s never in the cloud for access to others. Data is never sold. It’s never shared.” That commitment is built into the business structure. ARTHIA is a Public Benefit Corporation, making privacy protection and human safety part of the company’s charter. Eric also said ARTHIA has filed 11 patents covering more than 70 inventions, aiming to create a standard for safe ambient AI. I was especially excited that ARTHIA is raising capital through regulated investment crowdfunding on Wefunder at wefunder.com/arthia. This gives everyday investors a chance to participate before institutions dominate the opportunity. Eric’s motivation is deeply personal. “The people who should own a part of the future of ambient AI should be the people that it’s going to impact the most,” he said. I love that philosophy. If ambient AI is going to be in our homes, workplaces and ears, then all of us deserve a voice in shaping it. tl;dr: Today’s episode explores how ARTHIA AI aims to make ambient AI safer for everyone. Eric Coury draws on teaching experience to design privacy-first AI behavioral infrastructure. ARTHIA helps AI know when to speak, what to say and how. Today’s episode highlights ARTHIA’s regulated investment crowdfunding campaign on Wefunder. Eric’s superpower is mission-driven service focused on helping people thrive. How to Develop Mission-Driven Service As a Superpower Eric describes his superpower as being “mission-driven,” rooted in a lifelong desire “to leave the world a better place than it was when I came into it.” For him, that mission includes “a deep understanding of people and what they need and what they deserve.” ARTHIA represents the culmination of that service: working with children with special needs, teaching for 14 years, building companies and now creating infrastructure to “ensure that AI serves people and not the other way around.” As a teacher, Eric repeatedly heard students say, “I can’t do it, Mr. Corey. I’m stupid.” His answer was always, “Stupid doesn’t exist.” He taught them that some people work hard, believe in themselves and keep going. He told them smart is something you earn. That experience shaped his belief that confidence often comes from having a mentor or guide. ARTHIA grew from that insight. Eric wants to put that kind of mentor into everyone’s life, privately and safely, so one person’s growth can compound into help for many others. Define a mission bigger than yourself and return to it when decisions get difficult. Step outside yourself and turn off preconceived notions before judging people or problems. Practice seeing situations as a neutral observer so you can better understand what others feel and need. Do not take everything at face value; look for the deeper human context behind behavior. Build confidence in others by helping them believe effort, persistence and support can change outcomes. Choose structures, partners and business models that protect the mission rather than compromise it. By following Eric’s example and advice, you can make mission-driven service 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 Eric Coury (he/him): Founder & CEO - former educator, ARTHIA AI, Inc. About ARTHIA AI, Inc.: ARTHIA AI, Inc. PBC is a Rhode Island Public Benefit Corporation building the behavioral intelligence infrastructure layer for ambient AI — the foundational architecture that governs when AI speaks, what it says, and how it says it inside live human interactions. As a Public Benefit Corporation, privacy protection and human safety are legal charter obligations, not product features, and certainly not an afterthought. ARTHIA’s architecture is model-agnostic, 11 patents pending at the USPTO, and designed so any AI model can operate safely and effectively alongside real people — in coaching, therapy, sales, education, healthcare, and into the inevitable future of 24/7 ambient ai companions. We believe everyone deserves someone in their corner, and we’re building the infrastructure to make that possible safely at scale. Website: arthia.ai Company Facebook Page: facebook.com/ARTHIAai Other URL: wefunder.com/arthia Biographical Information: Eric Coury is the Founder and CEO of ARTHIA AI, Inc. PBC, who conceptualized and invented the behavioral intelligence infrastructure layer for ambient AI. A former classroom teacher and first-generation college graduate, Eric paid for his undergraduate education by working full-time in a psychiatric hospital as a behavior therapist while attending college full time - simultaneously. He holds a B.A. in Sociology and an M.Ed. in Leadership — disciplines rooted in human behavior, not software engineering. After a decade teaching in classrooms watching social media reshape young lives — including those of his own three daughters — Eric made a decision: he would not watch the most powerful technology of his lifetime get built without guardrails a second time. He self-funded and spent his life savings filing patents on the foundational behavioral infrastructure layer for ambient AI. No engineering degree. No law firm. No team. Six weeks. Alone. Eric incorporated ARTHIA AI as a Public Benefit Corporation before raising a single dollar — making privacy protection and human safety legal obligations of the company charter. He is currently raising on Wefunder, (wefunder.com/arthia) offering regular people access before any institutional investor. Because everyone deserves the chance to invest in and benefit from the early architecture of the next big technology. Personal Facebook Profile: facebook.com/ecoury LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ericcoury Support Our Sponsors Our generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today’s advertisers include PurposeBuilt100™ Winners 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.) Brian Christie, Brainsy | Cameron Neil, Lend For Good | Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Eric Coury, Arthia AI | 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 August 11th 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, August 19, 2026, at 12:00 PM Eastern. Devin Thorpe, CEO and Founder of The Super Crowd, Inc., will lead a session on “How to Make Money As an Impact Investor Starting with $10.” Drawing on his experience as a former investment banker, impact investor, and crowdfunding expert, Devin will demonstrate how anyone can begin building wealth while investing in companies that create positive social and environmental impact—even with as little as $10. In this session, he’ll explore how impact crowdfunding has opened investment opportuni

  7. Jul 30

    Optimist Ventures Creates A New Kind of Capital for Asheville's Recovery

    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? Jeffrey: But I do want to say the superpower is Being really good with names, and it’s taken a lot of practice and many, many years of work, but being able to meet somebody, remember their name, make a connection, and see them anytime later and be able to call them out, remember their name instead of just being like, hey, buddy. Being able to call someone’s name lets them know you see them, you hear them, you care about them, and they’re important to you. Post-Hurricane Helene recovery in Western North Carolina needs capital that treats local entrepreneurs as builders, not charity cases. Jeffrey Kaplan, CEO of Optimist Ventures and Director of Venture Asheville, is helping make that possible with a new fund designed for Asheville’s real economy. During this episode, Jeffrey explained how Venture Asheville grew out of the region’s economic development work. The team had already planned to launch an accelerator and fund before Hurricane Helene. Then the storm hit. Assumptions changed. Fundraising changed. The community changed. Rather than step back, Jeffrey and his team pivoted. Optimist Ventures raised its first fund, invested in seven companies last year and is preparing to invest in 13 more. That matters because, as Jeffrey said, “net new job growth creation is coming out of small businesses.” He sees local entrepreneurship not as a side project but as core economic development. In a place better known for hospitality, food and beverage, health and wellness than high-growth startups, that shift is powerful. The fund pairs philanthropy with investment capital. Each participating company receives $50,000. Half is a grant. Half is structured through a Shared Profit Agreement note, or SPA Note, a new instrument Optimist Ventures created to avoid the limits of traditional grants, debt and equity. Jeffrey described the thesis this way: “Could we create a localized fund that wasn’t a debt fund, that wasn’t onerous equity, that would also have a built-in liquidity system to get returns to investors without strangling our founders, without forcing exits or acquisitions or IPOs?” The answer became a purpose-fit profit-sharing model. Companies repay from net profit over six years. The structure encourages founders to reinvest, take care of employees and grow sustainably instead of chasing a quick exit. Jeffrey made the impact plain: “Every dollar stays here in Asheville. Every dollar helps recovery. Every dollar is creating a job.” I love this model because it brings dignity and accountability together. Founders get capital and support. Philanthropists get meaningful local impact. Investors get a potential return tied to rebuilding a resilient economy. Optimist Ventures is also welcoming community investors through a regulated investment crowdfunding campaign at ventureasheville.com. That makes this work even more exciting to me. It gives people who care about Asheville a chance to participate in the recovery not just as donors but as investors in the future of the community. tl;dr: Today’s episode shows how Optimist Ventures blends grants and investment for Hurricane Helene recovery. Jeffrey explains the SPA Note, a profit-share model designed for resilient Main Street businesses. Today’s episode highlights Asheville’s choice to rebuild toward what can be, not just what was. Local investors can support recovery through regulated investment crowdfunding and learn more at ventureasheville.com. Jeffrey’s superpower, remembering names, reminds us that dignity begins with seeing people. How to Develop Remembering Names As a Superpower Jeffrey’s superpower is remembering names. He told me names matter because they “make such an impression when you’re trying to build a network and build community.” For Jeffrey, this is not a party trick. It is a practice of respect. He said, “Being able to call someone’s name lets them know you see them, you hear them, you care about them, and they’re important to you.” In his work, where social capital helps move philanthropy, investment and entrepreneurship together, remembering names becomes a tool for trust. Jeffrey especially practices this superpower with children. When he meets a friend’s child or sees a kid at an event he is emceeing, he learns the child’s name immediately, calls them out and invites them to help. He does this because kids need special attention and affirmation. He believes being seen by an adult can shape a child’s self-esteem and sense of possibility. That simple act of remembering a name becomes a way to say, you matter here. Say the person’s name back immediately after you hear it. Ask how to spell the name so you spend a few extra seconds with it. Visualize the letters of the person’s name over their head. Repeat the name early in the conversation to build memory. Connect on LinkedIn or another appropriate platform soon after meeting. Make the name conversation playful by asking about nicknames, spelling or origins. Practice with everyone, including parents at school, kids at events and casual acquaintances. By following Jeffrey’s example and advice, you can make remembering names 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 Jeffrey Kaplan (he/him): CEO, Optimist Ventures About Optimist Ventures: Optimist Ventures is a post-Hurricane Helene economic recovery fund based in Western North Carolina. It pairs $50,000 in capital with a 14-week accelerator for capital-efficient, community-rooted growth, targeting companies with $150,000 to $2 million in revenue. The fund blends grant and investment capital through a new instrument it created called the SPA Note, a hybrid grant-plus-investment structure designed to fund founders in disaster-affected communities without the usual friction between philanthropic and investment capital. Website: optimistventures.co Company Facebook Page: facebook.com/VentureAVL Other URL: ventureasheville.com Biographical Information: Jeffrey Kaplan is CEO of Optimist Ventures and Director of Venture Asheville. He is an award-winning entrepreneurial scholar and published author in entrepreneurship education from the University of Florida, and a frequent speaker on entrepreneurship, including a 2022 TEDx Talk, “How to Build a Better Entrepreneur.” Over his prior decade at Venture Asheville, his work helped produce more than 405 local jobs, $65 million raised, and over $150 million in portfolio revenue. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jeffdude Instagram: @ventureavl Support Our Sponsors Our generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today’s advertisers include PurposeBuilt100™ Winners and Climatize. 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.) Brian Christie, Brainsy | Cameron Neil, Lend For Good | Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Eric Coury, Arthia AI | Hiten Sonpal, RISE Robotics | John Berlet, CORE Tax Deeds, LLC. | Justin Starbird, The Aebli Group | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Mark Grimes, Networked Enterprise Development | Matthew Mead, Hempitecture | Michael Pratt, Qnetic | Mike Babbit | Coledger Solutions | Mike Green, Envirosult | Nick Degnan, Unlimit Ventures | Dr. Nicole Paulk, Siren Biotechnology | 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 August 11th 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, August 19, 2026, at 12:00 PM Eastern. Devin Thorpe, CEO and Founder of The Super Crowd, Inc., will lead a session on “How to Make Money As an Impact Investor Starting with $10.” Drawing on his experience as a former investment banker, impact investor, and crowdfunding expert, Devin will demonstrate how anyone can begin building wealth while investing in companies that create positive social and environmental impact—even with as little as $10. In this session, he’ll explore how impact crowdfunding has opened investment opportunities to everyday investors, explain how to identify promising mission-driven companies, and share practical strategies for building a diversified portfolio over time. Attendees will learn how to get started with limited capital, manage risk, evaluate investment opportunities, and avoid common mistakes new investors make. Whether you’re completely new to investing or looking for an affordable way to expand your impact investing portfolio, this SuperCrowdHour will provide actionable insights to help you invest with purpose, build long-term wealth, and make a meaningful difference. Register now! SuperCrowd26 featuring PurposeBuilt100™: This August 25–27, founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders will gather for a three-day, broadcast-quality global experi

  8. Jul 28

    Transforming Communities Through Collaborative Ownership

    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? Pierre: Unwavering desire to see everyone win by fostering equitable opportunities and collective success. In a world where communities often find themselves excluded from wealth creation, Pierre Clark has introduced a transformative idea: community wealth building through local ownership and collaboration. During this episode, Pierre, Managing Partner of NuMillennium Opportunity Capital Ltd., shared his bold vision for empowering communities to take control of their economic destinies. Inspired by a 2024 report detailing net worth disparities in Chicago, Pierre’s journey began with a simple yet profound question: “Why don’t we hear more about this?” That curiosity catalyzed his mission to combat what he calls the “extractive economy,” which strips wealth from communities instead of enabling the people who live there to benefit. “Our communities don’t own where they live,” Pierre said. “They don’t employ themselves, don’t own the land, and don’t benefit from the prosperity passing through.” His solution is to mobilize local resources, partnerships, and education to ensure that communities have a stake in their economic infrastructure. Pierre emphasized that there’s more capital in communities than many realize, locked in pension funds, retirement plans, and other assets. However, the lack of access for non-accredited investors leaves local residents disconnected from the wealth-building process. Through NuMillennium Opportunity Capital, Pierre is crafting strategies and tools to flip the narrative—helping communities wield their collective resources to achieve ownership and self-determination. These concepts are no longer abstract for Pierre and the people he serves. He shared the exciting news of a forthcoming real estate development project in Chicago, which will be among the first truly community-owned ventures in the country. “The community not only owns part of it,” Pierre explained, “but they gain the return on investment and all the benefits from the cash flow.” For Pierre, this journey is deeply personal, shaped by decades of experience in development, nonprofit work, and collaborative entrepreneurship. With a firm belief that teamwork and local ownership are the future, he leads a growing movement to address wealth gaps through empowerment and education. Pierre’s vision for community-driven economics is both inspiring and compelling, offering hope to millions who feel left behind in traditional economic systems. By empowering communities, this model paves a path for others to follow—and it all begins with ownership. tl;dr: Pierre Clark discusses his vision for reversing economic inequity through community wealth building. The concept of the “extractive economy” is explored, highlighting its impact on community ownership and wealth retention. Pierre unveils an upcoming Chicago real estate project, one of the first community-owned ventures. The guest shares insights from working on the Clinton Administration’s Empowerment Zone program. Pierre emphasizes the importance of collective success and equitable systems for long-term change. How to Develop Collective Success As a Superpower Pierre’s superpower is his unwavering desire to see everyone win by fostering equitable opportunities and collective success. As he explained, “I truly want everybody to win. Nobody gains when only a few people win.” He emphasized that prosperity and stability depend on cooperation, mutual dependence, and creating systems that benefit whole communities. For Pierre, everyone’s success is interconnected—an idea that drives his mission. Pierre recounted his work with the Clinton Administration’s Empowerment Zone program in the 1990s, which aimed to give communities control over their economic development. In Chicago, he helped design and win the award for a program that harnessed collective decision-making to direct resources. Despite political resistance and setbacks, this initiative laid the foundation for his current endeavors and illustrated what genuine community empowerment looks like. Tips to Develop This Superpower Recognize Interdependence: Understand that every aspect of life is collaborative, from work to daily conveniences. Advocate for Equity: Identify disparities in the systems being operated within and work to level the playing field. Foster Collective Action: Encourage teamwork and create strategies that benefit groups rather than serving individual interests. Educate and Empower: Use education to clarify complex issues and provide tools for others to achieve success. By following Pierre’s example and advice, collective success can become a skill. With practice and effort, it can become a superpower that enables positive impact 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 Pierre Clark (he/him): Managing Partner, NuMillennium Opportunity Capital Ltd. About NuMillennium Opportunity Capital Ltd.: We are The Development Intermediary For Community Wealthbuilding And Collaborative Entrepreneurship(tm). We provide tools, resources and support in creating The Thrive Economy(tm) and develop the platform for creating community owned wealth management assets leveraging community wealthbuilding. Website: numillenniumcapital.lovable.app Biographical Information: Pierre Clark has worked at the intersection of community development, technology and economic empowerment and community wealthbuilding for residents for 4 decades. Having been a technology consultant and digital access advocate since 1990, in community development as writer/editor/designer of the National Empowerment Zone document which President Bill Clinton cited as one of the best in the country as one of six selected December 21, 1994 by the Clinton administration, and as a community/non-profit/development consultant/founder-co-founder since 1995, Clark has been at the forefront of economic change and resident empowerment. A national columnist on entrepreneurship for 30 years with an estimated 2 million readers, Clark now manages NuMillennium Opportunity Capital Ltd., which champions community wealthbuilding and defines The Thrive Economy(tm), advocates for community investment and ownership, and financial education/empowerment using software based financial tools and resources. Pierre attended Holy Angels, St. Ignatius (honors graduate), Harvard and U. of Chicago, various educational institutions, was a National Merit Finalist/National Achievement Scholar, and is now a proud dad and granddad. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/pierreaclark Support Our Sponsors Our generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today’s advertisers include PurposeBuilt100™ Winners and Climatize. 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.) Brian Christie, Brainsy | Cameron Neil, Lend For Good | Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Eric Coury, Arthia AI | Hiten Sonpal, RISE Robotics | John Berlet, CORE Tax Deeds, LLC. | Justin Starbird, The Aebli Group | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Mark Grimes, Networked Enterprise Development | Matthew Mead, Hempitecture | Michael Pratt, Qnetic | Mike Babbit | Coledger Solutions | Mike Green, Envirosult | Nick Degnan, Unlimit Ventures | Dr. Nicole Paulk, Siren Biotechnology | 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 August 11th 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, August 19, 2026, at 12:00 PM Eastern. Devin Thorpe, CEO and Founder of The Super Crowd, Inc., will lead a session on “How to Make Money As an Impact Investor Starting with $10.” Drawing on his experience as a former investment banker, impact investor, and crowdfunding expert, Devin will demonstrate how anyone can begin building wealth while investing in companies that create positive social and environmental impact—even with as little as $10. In this session, he’ll explore how impact crowdfunding has opened investment opportunities to everyday investors, explain how to identify promising mission-driven companies, and share practical strategies for building a diversified portfolio over time. Attendees will learn how to get started with limited capital, manage risk, evaluate investment opportunities, and avoid common mistakes new investors make. Whether you’re completely new to investing or looking for an affordable way to expand your impact investing portfolio, this SuperCrowdHour will provide actionable insights to help you invest with purpose, build long-term wealth, and make a meaningful difference. Register now! SuperCrowd26 featuring PurposeBuilt100™: This August 25–27, founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders will gather for a three-day, broadcast-quality global experience focused on disciplined capital formation, regul

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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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