Lindsay Lehr

Funding is broken for the bottom 60% of local economies. Backbone Funder is establishing a Global Impact Asset Fund to invest in diverse primary market innovators: entrepreneurs, creatives, communities, and non-profits. Our proprietary BBF InvesTech Platform offers significant advancements to current finance tools and forms the “backbone” of Backbone Funder’s securitized impact asset trading ecosystem. The BBF InvesTech Platform supports end-to-end fund services to benefit our innovators, investors and impact fund partners. Backbone Funder seeks value-added partners, where each partner focuses on what they do best and together we provide higher quality services and measurable impact returns to our innovator and investor clients. Backbone Funder seeks key value-added partners. 1. Under a comprehensive end-to-end services agreement with BBF InvesTech, the software and tech services partners will support the implementation and infrastructure framework (i.e., AI, ML, DevOps, and custom automation and development) of our proprietary InvesTech Platform for the entire BBF Ecosystem. 2. Under an Investment Management Agreement with the BBF Main Fund, impact fund partners will be able to fund and manage their own impact asset portfolio investments within BBF Global Impact Asset Fund. 3. Under a Fund Services Agreement with the BBF Fund Manager, fund services partners will provide institutional grade global fund administration of digital and physical assets. Interested value-added partners please message Christianne Carin on LinkedIn. Thank you. https://lnkd.in/eCJP6VN5 https://lnkd.in/g6rEniWR #ImpactInvesting #BackboneFunder #GlobalImpactAssetFund #InvesTech #FundServices #SoftwareServices

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Profitable venture scale businesses. Its a new thing. Its the way businesses should be built. But only the best founders and capital allocators can do it successfully.

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“Getting paid two days early…..was the major innovation of Chime. So many community financial institutions already HAD THAT, but did not have the ability to drive adoption.  Basic blocking and tackling……the bar here is really low.”  - Ted Brown, Co-Founder, Digital Onboarding, Inc. Ted nailed the point that -- for all the #ai, #analytics, and #martech talk -- most banks still either don't have the WILL or the people-process-technology WAY to execute on competitive basics like client outreach. So, it leaves them vulnerable to the likes of Chime, Rocket Mortgage, Square or the next ambitious #bank or #fintech competitor. Great to chat about the #industry, #leadership, and the experience of being a #founder with Ted, Fintel Connect Founder & CEO Nicky Senyard, and Forbes contributor Ron Shevlin all on a comfy Vegas sofa in the elbow-twisting halls of the Coachella of Banking -- The Financial Brand Forum. Check it out (link in the comments). Would love to hear more about this from other founders like Kathleen Craig, Riaz Syed, Stephen Bohanon, Ralph Marcuccilli, Skye Isard,Keoni Schwartz, Nathaniel Harley, Kim Snyder, Jay Mossman, Tom Shen, Joe Welu, Curry Pelot, and Jon Rigsby. Looking forward to next Fintech Hustle coming up with Abrigo CMO Laura Broderick, Alkami Technology CMO Allison Cerra, Revio CEO Brian Bauer, TruStage Ventures’ Managing Director Sam Das, and guest co-host (and new podcast Money Isn’t Everything host) Mary Wisniewski.  Stacey Bryant and Al Dominick will join me co-hosting upcoming episodes from the halls of Finovate and Association for Financial Technology (AFT). #summertour #fintech #hustle

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An important discussion that I see first hand in both my very deep tech focused investing industry in venture capital and as an ethnic minority. The anti-woke discussion MUST not derail critical corporate DEI initiatives but the lesson is we need to more than box tick. Fabric Ventures Money20/20

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Have consumers lost the ability to imagine their own future? Financial advisers know short-term thinking blocks long-term financial solutions. Here's a preview of my standout keynote at MDRT in Nashville Tennessee

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There were further fascinating sessions at yesterday’s In-House Agency Forum (IHAF) Leadership Summit in Chicago, with three more exceptional speakers who shared their expertise on leadership, transformation, and brand building. Jorge Orozco-Cordero of Discover Financial Services shared his personal change story as a child immigrant to the USA, linking it to corporate transformation. He emphasised that challenges often only require minor adjustments rather than fixing something that’s wrong. He also pointed out that agency leaders are frequently promoted for the wrong reasons, resulting in a loss of creative talent and inexperienced managers and the need to ensure they are supported with the right training. He couldn’t stress enough the understanding that IHA leaders are a bridge back into the business during times of change. Then Marissa Eddings of 7-Eleven took us through the evolution of their digital content team into a full-fledged in-house agency. By intentionally building the necessary infrastructure and gaining C-suite buy-in, her team apparently now handles 60% of the company’s creative work. Specifically, Marissa highlighted the benefits of IHAs being access, speed, transparency, and efficiency. Jennifer Martindale of the Chicago Cubs gave a super-fun but insightful talk focused on fan engagement. She made a fabulous case for brands to lift the lid on their own history (no matter how short) and mine their culture for stories that can drive narratives for their customers. This way, turning customers into fans means giving them a reason to be invested in the brand itself (=loyalty). I had a very instructive time, and it was well worth the trip to meet with an awesome community. Thanks to these speakers and those amazing folks at IHAF, who curated a first-class line up. Each presentation had a different emphasis and shared insights that often challenged the audience. Over the past eight or nine years that EKCS have supported them, I've seen that this is what IHAF is all about. Here’s to the next time we meet, at the IHAF Conference and Awards in Boston, November 12 and 13! #IHAFConference

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Lots to consume in this blog post that can help place Apple's tremendous contribution to digital commerce into the context of all that's going on in payments! You're one of the few who can see and make sense of the patterns, thanks for allowing me to contribute!

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We're building the world's largest multistakeholder, multidisciplinary network in Responsible Tech at All Tech Is Human! Check out this inspiring community that is united around a mission to tackle thorny tech & society issues and co-create a tech future aligned with the public interest. When I started All Tech Is Human in 2018, there was a pressing need for an organization to be a connective tissue for the hundreds of orgs and thousands of individuals working toward a better tech future. Together, we are stronger. Today we have over 550 people in our working groups, 9k people across 90 countries in our Slack, 400 people in our current mentorship program (over 1k people have gone through), a weekly livestream series, and have held dozens of in-person gatherings that have brought together thousands of people (23 gatherings last year). If you are looking to get involved with the Responsible Tech movement, we have a place for you. Hard problems require collective understanding and action, which is why we have a wide range of activities (both in-person and virtual) that bring together thousands of people across the globe to understand values, tensions, trade-offs, and best practices. Together, we work to solve tech and society’s thorniest issues. Join in! #AllTechIsHuman #ResponsibleTech

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Rockstar panel this morning at Battelle's Innovations in Climate Resilience Conference, featuring Tailwind's co-founder Katie MacDonald, ISeeChange's founder and CEO Julia Kumari Drapkin, Streetlife Ventures's co-founder Sonam Velani and Kettle's new head of partnership Alex Laplaza. Key takeaways 🤓 👉🏻 We need more hard tech innovation in adaptation and resilience: There are some physical solutions that are starting to be deployed, like BurnBot, Inc. wildfire management robots, but we need more of them. 👉🏻 Last mile delivery is critical! Researchers, scientists and innovators need to develop their product with the end customers in mind, and work with frontline communities for most impact. 👉🏻 Pick you source of financing carefully: Venture Capital is the most expensive type of financing, compared to grants and other non-dilutive awards. There are many federal programs to support climate-related R&D right now, lean on those as much as possible. 👉🏻 Other ways government can help: make procurement easier and more accessible, give access to testbed for new technologies in real-life settings, point researchers towards the greatest needs for innovation. 👉🏻 Don't let the better be the enemy of the good: data may not be perfect, but it can already help save life. Share findings early and often, start deploying measures that can help protect residents from extreme heat, floods and other climate hazards. Much remains to be done, but it was exciting to hear from thought-leaders in the field about their work! 🚀

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Dear CEO: Lessons from San Francisco's Shift—Adaptability in the Face of Rapid Change The real takeaway for executives from San Francisco’s transformation, especially with the rise of remote work and shifts in work models, is a master class in adaptability and proactive change management. San Francisco’s story dramatically shows how swiftly external changes can shake up established structures—whether we’re talking real estate, urban demographics, or service infrastructure. Here’s how this translates to the corporate world: Just as San Francisco had to handle shifts in space demands due to remote work, businesses need to be ready to quickly tweak their operational and business strategies in response to technological or market changes. Being able to pivot business models is crucial for survival and long-term growth. The rise of remote work in San Francisco resulted in less demand for commercial spaces, hitting local businesses hard. Similarly, executives should not only consider the direct impacts of market changes but also the indirect effects that could disrupt their operations, supply chains, or customer bases. The homelessness crisis in San Francisco underscores the need for more sustainable and socially responsible business approaches. Companies that anticipate and mitigate the social impacts of their operations can avoid crises and build significant goodwill with stakeholders and communities. The situation in San Francisco calls for innovative solutions from both public and private sectors. In the corporate world, this means innovating not just in products and services, but also in operational models and community engagement strategies to adapt to new realities and expectations. In short, San Francisco’s situation serves as a critical reminder that anticipating and responding to change is not just necessary for survival and long-term success, but also crucial for building a resilient and responsible operation in a rapidly transforming world. So, dear CEO, as San Francisco shows, ignoring the winds of change can leave more than your strategies outdated—perhaps ready to sweep the streets clean of any lingering denial? Or will you wait until the mess is on your front step to start thinking about a cleanup?

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In Episode 69 of the Investing in Impact podcast, I speak with Alasdair Maclay, Chief Strategy Officer at GSG Impact, on impact data and strategic leadership in Impact Investing. The conversation covers Alasdair Maclay's journey into impact investing, the work of GSG Impact, and the concept of impact valuation. It delves into the challenges and opportunities of impact investing, the role of blended finance, and the vision for a new economic system where impact is at the heart of every decision. The discussion also explores the use of impact valuation in making investment decisions and the potential for transparency in impact data through barcodes and consumer apps. The conversation covers a wide range of topics related to impact accounting, government policies, financial incentives, and the future of impact investing. It explores the challenges and opportunities in driving better outcomes for people and the planet, with a focus on the role of governments, financial markets, and local interventions. The discussion also highlights the importance of mandatory impact accounting, capital mobilization in emerging markets, and the need for collaborative efforts to achieve sustainable impact. "Our vision is an economic system where impact is at the heart of every investment, government, consumer spending decision."

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Today on #ParentingWithImpact with #impactparents Elaine Taylor-Klaus and Diane Dempster, founders of ImpactParents, are certified coaches with their own lived experience raising children with complex challenges such as ADHD, anxiety, depression, learning disabilities, gender identity issues, and more. Stop the Roller Coaster, I want to get off! In today's fast-paced world, resilience and flexibility are crucial for survival. With constant changes happening around us, being able to adapt and bounce back from challenges is key to thriving in this environment. Understanding complex children is also essential for their well-being and development. Each child is unique, with their own set of needs and characteristics. By taking the time to truly understand and connect with them, we can support their growth and help them navigate the complexities of the world. Listen to this Parenting With Impact episode with Elaine and Diane about stress, anxiety and difficult situations. Listen Now: https://bit.ly/PWIPodcast

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Really proud of all the work put in over the last year by Sarah Millar and our partner orgs - 2Gether-International, All Raise, BLCK VC, StartOut, SomosVC, Vets In Tech - to create a standardized protocol for how to collect diversity demographic data. The Diversity Data Alliance aims to leverage its collective industry data to identify and fill funding gaps for underrepresented investors, founders, and operators, because we can't change what we're not measuring! And this is just the beginning. 🚀 Learn more >> https://lnkd.in/eQkKXTpc #diversitydataalliance, #measuretochange

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An honor to collaborate with the Classy team with this blog post below on the intersection of AI and community, an area that I’ve seen Classy embrace deeply since inception. Read here: https://lnkd.in/gND8VuaD

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Unique perspective on exponential growth and how to make it successfully work in your business.

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It has been three months since I last did a podcast episode, but thankfully tpg.ee members have kept the substack alive 3+ months with weekly insights! Without it, I would not have had the reason to make another episode. So thank you Maria 🌺 Lasprilla, Urmo Keskel, Anna-Liisa Reinson, Nikolay Roll, Janika Liiv for delivering product insights weekly and making TPG what it is today! But ❗❗ ❗ , this is not what I wanted to 📣 at the moment! It was an absolute 🍒 to discuss the experiences of wonderful Bruna de Guimarães! The episode is packed with insights about expanding to new markets, when does she get called in to solve product problems at C-level, some funny 'culture shock' stories and much more! So please listen to the episode, https://lnkd.in/dUvF-FgA I would really appreciate if you can leave feedback here in the comments, at substack or slide into my DMs.

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"Is DEI DEI-ing? Unpacking the 2024 anti-diversity trend." I am super excited to be at Money20/20 tomorrow alongside these brilliant panellists to answer this important question. We will be recording our thoughts on this for a live episode of FinTech's DEI Discussions at the MoneyPot! 🎙️ I will be joined by: ⭐️ Mary Kemi A., Director of Now You're Talking Network ⭐️ Lynda Strutton, COO at Tribe Payments ⭐️ Anil Hansjee, General Partner of Fabric Ventures What are your thoughts on this title? and what has been your experience? From my talent perspective, I have been astounded by the hiring decisions made when unemployment rises. With more choices, I have seen hiring managers take steps backwards to value 'done it before' over 'potential to grow'. I have also seen decision-making paralysis in hiring that makes the traditional retirement system even more exclusive (and not in any good way.) Please drop by to listen to the pod or stay tuned for its release. In the meantime please share your comments in my DMs or below. Stay tuned for the episode release! #investinpeople #inclusivehiring #walkthetalk #M2020EU #Money2020 #HarringtonStarr

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We just dropped a very special The J Curve episode with Dave Nangle, founder and CEO at emerging markets-focused growth investment firm VEF, whose Latam portfolio includes the likes of Creditas, Solfácil, Gringo and Konfío We talked about Dave’s investment strategy, focusing on growth-stage companies that have nailed unit economics and product-market fit; discussed the most common mistakes founders make when pitching to VEF, why trying to predict exit timing in emerging markets is often a losing game, and why Dave prefers M&A over IPO as the go-to exit strategy. Dave also shared his perspective on the most underrated tech company in Latin America 🤔 We discuss: 1️⃣ VEF’s investment strategy playbook: single country, single product focus and big scale up market 2️⃣ Build for exit: how to make M&A a viable exit strategy in VC and why an IPO might be less attractive than you think?  3️⃣ The holy grail of private markets: the pros and cons of a permanent capital vehicle structure in venture capital  4️⃣ Emerging markets are not all the same: what makes some particularly attractive for venture capital investors? 5️⃣ Brazil deconstructed: key factors making it a top tech investment market Watch / listen to the episode by tuning into The J Curve podcast on Youtube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. All 🔗 in the first comment 👇🏻 #vef #emergingmarkets #growthinvestor #venturecapital #entrepreneurship #fromlatamtotheworld

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