Lift & Climb: Recent Episodes
Bold Xchange
Lift & Climb is a podcast telling the stories of organizers, executives, and investors dedicated to making entrepreneurship accessible in America.Join host Doug Spencer, Co-founder & CEO of Bold Xchange—a gifting company powered by Black-owned brands that helps business leaders send more thoughtful gifts—as we learn from mission-driven leaders about making business more inclusive.
This episode features Leah Edwards, Investment Director at Lighter Capital.
Lighter Capital is a revenue-based financing firm headquartered in Seattle, Washington. Each year, Lighter works with hundreds of tech-enabled entrepreneurs, providing much needed access to capital without taking an equity stake.
In addition to her work at Lighter, Leah serves as a business lecturer at multiple renowned universities where she leverages her extensive background as a former founder, executive coach, venture capitalist, and angel investor.
Topics Include:
- Helping entrepreneurs assess their financing options
- Blending dilutive and non-dilutive financing
- Executing quickly as an entrepreneurial team
- Teaching the principles of innovation and teamwork
Lift & Climb is brought to you by Bold Xchange.
Music by Lakey Inspired.
This episode features Jay Nwachu, President and CEO of Innovation Works.
The mission of Innovation Works is to reduce Baltimore’s racial and neighborhood wealth divide by accompanying members of divested communities to build and own successful social enterprises that create sustainable neighborhood economies.
Innovation Works lives out its mission through individualized support for social entrepreneurs in Baltimore.
Jay is also President of Ignite Capital, which is Innovation Works’ bold and unique solution to address the critical gap in access to capital for underserved social enterprises.
Topics include:
- Defining the Term "Social Entrepreneurship"
- Supporting Non-traditional Business Owners
- Providing Capital in Innovative Ways
- Measuring Real Community Impact
Lift & Climb is brought to you by Bold Xchange.
Music by Lakey Inspired.
This episode features Pilar Johnson, Cofounder & Managing Partner at Debut Capital.
Debut Capital is a venture capital firm that invests in Black, Latinx, and Indigenous founders and their early-stage startups.
Debut’s portfolio consists of companies dedicated to creating products and services that serve underrepresented markets, challenging and changing the status quo.
Prior to Debut Capital, Pilar led operations at Prolific Interactive, a mobile-first product agency that was acquired by The We Company.
Topics Include:
- Introducing Youth of Color to Entrepreneurship
- Penetrating Venture Capital From a Non-Traditional Background
- The Business Case For Investing in Founders of Color
- Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
Lift & Climb is brought to you by Bold Xchange.
Music by Lakey Inspired.
This episode features Gabe Angieri, Executive Director of Arch Grants.
Arch Grants is a St. Louis-based non-profit. Since 2012, through its global startup competition, Arch Grants has awarded equity-free grants to more than 230 companies.
Originally, Arch Grants awarded each high-growth potential startup with a $50,000 grant. Recently, that figure was increased to a $75,000 award for companies already based in St. Louis and $100,000 for companies that relocate to St. Louis.
Topics Include:
- Creating a Unique Non-Profit Structure
- The Importance of Economic Development in St. Louis
- Increasing the Survival Rate of Startups
- Removing Access To Capital Barriers
Lift & Climb is brought to you by Bold Xchange.
Music by Lakey Inspired.