#plugintodevin - Your Mark on the World with Devin Thorpe

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Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/29Erjtc.

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Following the passage of the 2012 JOBS Act, the greatest excitement in the startup finance community was on Title III, which has now been implemented by the SEC as Regulation Crowdfunding. Title IV of the Act, however, is proving to be where the real action is.

The SEC’s implemented the rules for Regulation A+ on June 19. An article by Amy Wan at Crowdfund Insider provides some key statistics about offerings being conducted under the act. 105 offerings were filed, 44 of which were “qualified” by the SEC.

Elio Motors raised almost $17 million earlier this year. Paul Elio joined me twice in the last year to discuss his offering, here and here. The scale of that offering suggests appropriately that Reg A+ offerings are not intended for idea-stage or seed-stage transactions. They may be best seen as a path to an early and more affordable IPO, as the shares of a company that has completed a Reg A+ offering can be listed.

Seed Equity Ventures, a sponsor of our work here at GoodCrowd.info, is a FINRA-registered broker dealer providing investment banking services to early-stage companies. Founder and CEO Todd Crosland has indicated that the firm hopes to make it easier and more affordable for small companies to raise money with a Reg A+ offering.

Todd notes that Seed Equity’s inside legal counsel will work with companies and their legal advisors to ensure complete and affordable regulatory compliance. The firm will help with the company’s offering materials, the closing process and “everything in between,” he says.

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Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/29Erjtc.

Need a speaker for an event, learn more about Devin Thorpe at devinthorpe.com.

Never miss another interview! Join Devin here: http://bit.ly/joindevin.

Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2a0iqhv.

Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher.

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“Some of the world’s most intractable social and environmental problems are in need of new solutions. From climate change to resource scarcity to exploding global population growth, the traditional levers of change, including philanthropy and government aid, are insufficient to address the critical issues of our time,” says Fran Seegull.

Seegull, Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director for ImpactAssets, says impact investing may be the key to solving global problems. Impact investing is the practice of investing funds for both a financial return and social impact.

ImpactAssets is a nonprofit financial services firm that earns fees from managing donor advised funds and other investment products. It also receives grant support, largely to help with its advocacy work for the field of impact investing. The nonprofit has $292 million under management and has 17 employees. It was originally founded under the wings of the Calvert Foundation.

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Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/2a0iqhv.

Need a speaker for an event, learn more about Devin Thorpe at devinthorpe.com.

Never miss another interview! Join Devin here: http://bit.ly/joindevin.

Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/29EQkor.

Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher.

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Clean Energy Advisors is lighting up cell phones at concerts of Dead & Company (the band includes members of the Grateful Dead) around the country this summer. The concerts are context for a lot of good.

Chris Warren, CEO of Clean Energy Advisors, our sponsor, explains, “The CEA Solar Tour is currently touring the country in support of the Dead & Company’s Participation Row. Working with the band, HeadCount.org (a non-partisan voter registration organization) and Reverb (a non-profit organization that works to make tours and events more environmentally friendly) we are providing cell phone charging stations at every show an powering Participation Row. Participation Row is an area where local non-profits from each community are given an opportunity to come out and share their message with fans.”

The effort is proving to have tremendous reach. “During the tour we will educate and inform tens of thousands of concert goers about climate change and what each person can do to make a positive impact. In addition, approximately 15,000 fans will take actions on Participation Row that directly benefit our non-profit partners, Chris says.

“We are about halfway through the summer and so far the excitement and engagement has far exceeded our expectations. We are seeing some amazing things out there and raising awareness and money for good causes as diverse as environmental action and music education,” he concludes.

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Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/29EQkor.

Need a speaker for an event, learn more about Devin Thorpe at devinthorpe.com.

Never miss another interview! Join Devin here: http://bit.ly/joindevin.

Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/29kJJ28.

Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher.

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The new Spotfund app is taking an interesting approach to fundraising for charity by capping donations at $3. The theory seems to be that if you are only allowed to give a little, everyone will. The cap removes the social pressure to give until it hurts!

Co-founder and CEO Sanford Kunkel says, “There is a disconnect between a problem and its call to action. Say you’re watching the news on the Flint Water Crisis and want to help. First, you have to get up off the couch, get to your laptop and register for the one of the many organizations or GoFundMe pages open to this. Then you have to determine how much you want to give to really make a difference and which charity to donate to.”

Spotfund, only available for Apple’s ios devices, simplifies donating by allowing you to do it from your phone–if you’re like me you have it with you all the time–and by placing a ridiculously low cap on donations. Using the app removes the fear that you’ll discover a cause to which you’ll want to give next month’s rent and allows you the comfort that you can come back and make a donation to any cause that moves you any time.

Sanford says that Spotfund takes the worry out of donating. “It’s part of our core values to vet and identify the single best charities to include. There was a need for a product that’s conducive with the lifestyle of mobile first today and Spotfund provides that. We’re putting democracy into charity – it’s not just a donation platform, it’s an awareness platform.”

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Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/29kJJ28.

Need a speaker for an event, learn more about Devin Thorpe at devinthorpe.com.

Never miss another interview! Join Devin here: http://bit.ly/joindevin.

Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/29odxyC.

Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher.

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Zach Hagopian, co-founder and COO for Accelevents, a provider of silent auction app for nonprofit fundraisers, shares tips from his experience in helping nonprofits optimize their fundraising.

He says nonprofits need to make fundraising “accessible, easy and engaging” for both organizers and donors.

1. Use Technology.

My first tip is to utilize the amazing online and mobile tools that are prevalent in today’s society, and focus these tools on fundraising. Online and mobile technology have improved many facets of everyday life – now is the time for these tools to improve fundraising too!

2. Reduce Barriers.

My second tip is to make fundraising easier by reducing barriers to donation. There are many people around the world who are interested in supporting a great cause, but may find the donation process old-fashioned or difficult in nature. Using technology to reduce donation barriers is a win-win for causes and donors.

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Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/29odxyC.

Need a speaker for an event, learn more about Devin Thorpe at devinthorpe.com.

Never miss another interview! Join Devin here: http://bit.ly/joindevin.

Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/29HTk3d.

Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher.

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Serial entrepreneur Molly Hayward has a fresh take on feminine hygiene, reimagining everything from the absorbent materials to the packaging. With a deep commitment to social justice, she has paired her new products with a program to get girls in the developing world back to school by providing appropriate monthly products for them, too.

Hayward’s new venture, Cora, was launched early this year and with just four employees isn’t yet profitable. Hayward declined to provide margin specifics, but notes that unit sales of the product are profitable.

Entrepreneur Dave Heath, founder of social venture and sock maker Bombas, is an advisor to Cora. He say, “Cora is a off to a very promising start as a business, with a dedicated core customer base and strong month over month growth since its launch earlier this year.”

Hayward’s commitment to actually helping young women in the developing world–starting with India–is already being seen, Heath says. “Even at its early stage, the company has already started purchasing and distributing pads to economically underprivileged girls and women there.”

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Read the full Forbes article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/29HTk3d.

Need a speaker for an event, learn more about Devin Thorpe at devinthorpe.com.

Never miss another interview! Join Devin here: http://bit.ly/joindevin.

Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1TZGeUd.

Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher.

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Martin Shulze is artist and social entrepreneur who is working to make the world a better place with tea. The pu’er tea comes from the Yunnan Province in China and is sold by Misty Peak Teas.

But, we’re getting a little ahead of ourselves.

Martin explains his early career in the art world. “I started in 2004 by working at Sprueth Magers, one of the world’s leading contemporary art galleries. After running a commercial gallery, a non-profit art space and working at Germany’s most visited museums, I founded the art non-profit Public Delivery, in hopes of finding a new model on how art can be produced and shared.”

He’s working to connect more people to the art world, giving people direct access to art in their lives. “I’m trying to bridge the gap between everyday people and institutions by empowering individuals, groups and communities to take part in art projects and become artists themselves, as well as then showing these results in established institutions.”

The transition from commercial art to nonprofit was difficult, he says. “The biggest challenge to overcome was leaving the commercial (art) world and its stability and believing in my own vision.”

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Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/1TZGeUd.

Need a speaker for an event, learn more about Devin Thorpe at devinthorpe.com.

Never miss another interview! Join Devin here: http://bit.ly/joindevin.

Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/29oYLHE

Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher.

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With equity crowdfunding less than 60 days old, measuring from the date the SEC’s Regulation CF became effective in May, the marketplace is beginning to take shape. Flashfunders is one of the players offering a crowdfunding portal.

Vincent Bradley, the CEO of Flashfunders, shared his take on the emerging crowdfunding market.

Vincent sees two related problems in the market. “Historically, there have been large hurdles in both the fundraising and investing spaces, namely a lack of accessibility. Startups and small businesses have had limited options for financing, many of which were expensive and time consuming to pursue. Additionally, those startups have often been unable to offer equity to investors who are truly passionate about their business model.”

The JOBS Act, which directed the SEC to implement crowdfunding, was passed four years before the SEC rules became effective.

With respect to the second problem, Vincent notes, “Before Title III went into effect giving power to average investors, there were very few investment options available. Private investing was a right reserved only for the 1 percent, the accredited investors.”

Crowdfunding fundamentally addresses both problems. Vincent explains the company’s international approach, saying, “FlashFunders’ equity crowdfunding platform is giving startups and small businesses a progressive financing option. It empowers companies to raise capital from all types of investors – the crowd, international, and accredited- in a single fundraising round. The platform also provides everyday investors with the tools they need identify and invest in innovative businesses that they believe in.”

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Read the full GoodCrowdinfo article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/29oYLHE.

Need a speaker for an event, learn more about Devin Thorpe at devinthorpe.com.

Never miss another interview! Join Devin here: http://bit.ly/joindevin.

Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/294dRm1.

Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher.

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The USDA estimates that nearly half the food grown and produced in the US goes to waste. At the same time, more than 50 million Americans face hunger and need help from their local food banks to fill the gaps near the end of the month when their paychecks and food benefits run out,” explains David Bobanick, Executive Director of Rotary First Harvest.

David’s Seattle-based, innovative nonprofit “works with farmers, truckers, volunteers, food banks and other partners to develop collaborative programs that capture millions of pounds of pounds of cosmetically imperfect but highly nutritious produce for distribution to those in need.”

While he acknowledges that Rotary First Harvest, which is a project led by Rotary District 5030, isn’t the single solution to hunger in the world, it has distributed nearly 200 million pounds of food since its founding in 1982.

He says, “One of our greatest challenges we face is the actual time it takes to coordinate, harvest, transport and distribute perishable produce before it spoils, rots or goes to waste. There is no one-size-fits all solution, so creativity and adaptability must be critical parts of an effective food recovery equation.”

David is able to see some challenges as opportunities; perhaps that is what defines an effective social entrepreneur. “We’ve learned that every bit of food that is wasted has a critical point at which it went from being potentially nutritious to being a costly challenge with negative environmental and human impacts. Our work is focused on finding that critical point, and creating a program or solution that redirects the food for good.”

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Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/294dRm1.

Need a speaker for an event, learn more about Devin Thorpe at devinthorpe.com.

Never miss another interview! Join Devin here: http://bit.ly/joindevin.

Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/294hx75.

Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwitunes or on Stitcher by clicking here: http://bit.ly/ymotwstitcher.

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If you run a nonprofit, your life can be overwhelmed by an endless cycle of demands from the people you serve and the donors who enable you to serve them. Take a few minutes to contemplate these three critical insights from Liz Baker, Executive Director of GreaterGood.org, a grant-making organization that supports 150 nonprofits around the world.

Liz says the key to making a real difference is in the three I’s of a nonprofit: impact, imagination and innovation.

In her own words:

I-1. Impact

Define your desired impact before starting a new nonprofit program. If you don’t take this “working backwards” approach, you will not have a clear path to reaching your end goal. The impact can be as narrow as “we want to ensure shelters participating in this program see a 20% lift in adoption rates each month” or as broad as “we want to deliver quality reading material into the hands of as many underserved youth as possible”. Understanding your impact is necessary to successfully imagine solutions and innovate processes.

I-2. Imagination

Once your impact is defined, you have to be able to imagine the problem is solvable. Sometimes this is a simple exercise, and sometimes it’s not. In order to tackle big issues, you need to exercise your imagination and be okay with exploring different possible solutions. With our Girls’ Voices Program, we imagined a way to allow girls in developing countries to tell their story to supporters around the world who could help them overcome barriers to a quality education.

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Read the full Your Mark on the World article and watch the interview here: http://bit.ly/294hx75.

Need a speaker for an event, learn more about Devin Thorpe at devinthorpe.com.