Breaking Down Barriers

Economic Impact Catalyst
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This podcast explores the opportunity to build wealth in local, regional, and national economies through entrepreneurship-led economic development. Episodes feature changemakers with innovative approaches to empowering people to start businesses that create wealth for their families and improve outcomes for their communities. Conversations highlight work being done in communities across the US to break down barriers to entrepreneurial opportunity in underserved and underrepresented communities. In this series, we share authentic stories about the impact that entrepreneurship-led economic development has on the local economy and connect a global network of passionate economic developers. Find out more at economicimpactcatalyst.com/impact

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  1. Seven Years of Curiosity, Growth, and Impact – A Special Anniversary Reflection

    ÉPISODE 1

    Seven Years of Curiosity, Growth, and Impact – A Special Anniversary Reflection

    In this special 7-year anniversary edition of the Breaking Down Barriers podcast, the senior leadership team at Economic Impact Catalyst (EIC) reflects on its journey from a single founder’s vision to a growing, mission-driven organization. Founder David Ponraj, alongside Chief Operating Officer McKenzie Dial-Fritscher and VP of Client Experience Molly King, revisits the early days of EIC, the lessons learned, and the people who have made the most impact along the way. The conversation explores themes of growth, curiosity, resilience, and the evolving role of leadership. They discuss the importance of staying grounded, how personal values shape professional decisions, and the need for empathy in scaling a team. As they look to the future, the team shares their hopes for continued progress and the lasting legacy they aim to build through meaningful relationships and impactful work.

    30 min
  2. Inside Denver's Public-Sector Playbook for Entrepreneurial Growth with Michael Bevis, Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship for the City of Denver

    ÉPISODE 2

    Inside Denver's Public-Sector Playbook for Entrepreneurial Growth with Michael Bevis, Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship for the City of Denver

    In this insightful episode of "Breaking Down Barriers," host David Ponraj sits down with Michael Bevis, the Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship for the City of Denver, and founder and CEO of Cool Skins. They delve into Denver's unique and thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem, which David and Michael recognize as the "entrepreneurship capital of the United States." The discussion highlights Michael's journey from a 12-year-old entrepreneur to his current role, where he's dedicated to supporting underserved entrepreneurs and fostering business growth. They explore the critical importance of a government-led, entrepreneur-centric approach to economic development, focusing on the ScaleUp Network program's success in helping businesses grow from $1 million to over $10 million in revenue. The conversation also emphasizes the vital role of data collection in understanding entrepreneurial journeys, measuring impact, and securing continued funding, ultimately contributing to job and wealth creation within the community. View an example of our dashboard example here or Book a Demo to receive an in-depth look at custom dashboards.

    42 min
  3. Rethinking Capital Access for Small Businesses with CDFI and Fintech Leader Charles Kollo

    ÉPISODE 3

    Rethinking Capital Access for Small Businesses with CDFI and Fintech Leader Charles Kollo

    In this episode of Breaking Down Barriers, EIC CEO David Ponraj is joined by Charles Kollo, fintech leader and Head of Innovation at BBF Capital, to explore the urgent need for innovation in the financial system. From immigrant entrepreneurship to the role of AI in capital deployment, they dig into why traditional banking fails many small businesses—and how community-first, tech-enabled solutions can build a more resilient and inclusive economy.

    41 min
  4. America's Startup Spirit: Organizing for the Next 250 Years with Victor Hwang

    ÉPISODE 4

    America's Startup Spirit: Organizing for the Next 250 Years with Victor Hwang

    David Ponraj speaks with Victor Hwang, founder of Right to Start, about how our policy framework for entrepreneurship is stuck in the 20th century. They discuss the barriers entrepreneurs face, the effects on a society's wealth creation through entrepreneurship, and how the new “America the Entrepreneurial” campaign is mobilizing communities nationwide ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary. Learn more about "Right to Start" Learn more about "America the Entrepreneurial" Read "TRACTION: GET A GRIP ON YOUR BUSINESS", by Gino Wickman

    43 min
  5. California's SCALE Network: Building a Unified Ecosystem for Small Business Success

    ÉPISODE 5

    California's SCALE Network: Building a Unified Ecosystem for Small Business Success

    What happens when you create a comprehensive support network that serves nearly 4.3 million small businesses across an entire state? In this insightful episode of "Breaking Down Barriers," host David Ponraj interviews Dr. Tara Lynn Gray, Director of the California Office of the Small Business Advocate, about the remarkable impact of California's SCALE network—a groundbreaking mesh network approach to small business support. SCALE (Success, Capital Access and Leadership for Entrepreneurs) was created by the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) to help California's diverse small businesses across the state access more resources to start up, grow, and create jobs. This innovative program transforms the traditional hub-and-spoke model into a connected mesh network that places small businesses at the center, allowing them to access support from multiple points across the network. Dr. Gray reveals the strategic vision behind this unified ecosystem and explains how California has built the most robust small business support network in the country. The conversation explores how SCALE transitions from a traditional hub-and-spoke model to a connected mesh network, providing redundancy and resilience by allowing small businesses to access support from multiple points across the network. The episode also delves into the network's data-driven approach to measuring success, ensuring accountability, and building the case for sustained funding to serve California's 4.3 million small businesses. Key Topics Discussed The philosophy behind meeting businesses "where they are"How California's mesh network model creates resilience by connecting all stakeholders—investors, educators, technical experts—around one goal: small business successThe importance of unified data models for tracking real-world impactBreaking down barriers to capital for BIPOC-owned businesses who are denied capital at disproportionate ratesStrategies for advocating for long-term program fundingBuilding interconnected pathways rather than siloed support systemsThe $25.3 million program funded through the U.S. Treasury's State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) and American Rescue Plan Act California's Small Business Support Network: Seven Years of Measurable Impact The numbers tell a powerful story of entrepreneurial support across California's extensive network: Businesses & Training 845,185 small businesses served34,788 training events completed13,900 new businesses launched Economic Impact 84,437 jobs created781,050 jobs retained68,730 new contracts secured Capital Access $2.9 billion in lending capital approved$3.6 billion in equity raised Program Impact & Funding Funding for this $25.3 million program comes from the U.S. Treasury's State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), which was created by the U.S. Congress in 2010 and reauthorized through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Additionally, it will support the deployment of $1.1 billion in federal funding separately approved for capital support programs, with lenders across the state expected to leverage this into $18 billion in new loans for small businesses. Resources & Links SCALE Network Information: a href="https://calosba.ca.gov/for-small-businesses-and-non-profits/small-business-centers/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

    39 min
  6. Software that Enables Community Engagement with Miami-Dade County's Strive305 Hub

    ÉPISODE 6

    Software that Enables Community Engagement with Miami-Dade County's Strive305 Hub

    I this episode, we're bringing you recent panel discussion on how Miami-Dade County is building a more inclusive '305 economy.' Our guests, Anthony Bonamy and Manny Cid share practical strategies for connecting entrepreneurs to the right resources, eliminating blind spots in support systems, and creating responsive programs through initiatives like Strive305Hub that truly serve local businesses and founders across the county. Watch the full discussion here

    58 min
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À propos

This podcast explores the opportunity to build wealth in local, regional, and national economies through entrepreneurship-led economic development. Episodes feature changemakers with innovative approaches to empowering people to start businesses that create wealth for their families and improve outcomes for their communities. Conversations highlight work being done in communities across the US to break down barriers to entrepreneurial opportunity in underserved and underrepresented communities. In this series, we share authentic stories about the impact that entrepreneurship-led economic development has on the local economy and connect a global network of passionate economic developers. Find out more at economicimpactcatalyst.com/impact

Informations

  • Création
    Economic Impact Catalyst
  • Épisodes
    93
  • Saisons
    6
  • Classification
    Tous publics
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Economic Impact Catalyst
  • Site web de l’émission
    Breaking Down Barriers