At the top of my bucket list is to invest in other people's dreams, particularly female entrepreneurs, by providing encouragement and expertise, as well as financial backing. After attending a full day workshop sponsored by the Pipeline Fund Fellowship (PFF), I've expanded that vision.
The Pipeline Fund Fellowship empowers women to become savvy angel investors through a combination of education, mentoring and the actual investing of $50,000 (each fellow invests $5,000 of her money), while focusing on what's called the triple bottom line of people, planet and profits. PFF was created by 27-year-old visionary Natalia Oberti Noguera, who is determined to not only fund social investors, but to teach women to invest.
There has been a great deal of talk about the increasing power of a woman’s purse, and yet it's estimated 13% of the angel investments made in 2010 were by women (according to the Kauffman Foundation it was 8% in 2006). Many women I know are quite adept at bootstrapping, and donating time and money to causes they care about. Oberti Noguera is determined to take this a step further, to expand the pool of women who are not only adroit at managing scarce resources, but who know how to build wealth through investing, and want to extend their influence in a meaningful way.
Source: NY Times/Erica Torres
Paraphrasing John Maynard Keynes, “we must have the courage to take limited means, and invest in and encourage others.” It's one thing to have someone invest in you (whether your education or a start-up), to take stock in your dreams.
What if you, in turn, invest in others?
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Thoughts?
In the context of the Psyche myth, why is learning to invest important?
Just to get you thinking and writing, when you leave a comment, you'll be eligible to receive the new book Warren Buffett Invests Like a Girl.
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More on the Pipeline Fund:
Business Week: A Bootcamp for Angel Investors
Teaching Women to Think Like Angels
NY Times: Angel Investors Learning to Assess Business Plans
More on women investors:
Forbes: Warren Buffett Invests Like a Girl?
Globe and Mail: Where are all the female investors?
Bloomberg: Female Outperformers
love this! It’s exactly what is needed. Let’s put our money where our mouths are.
I have started investing so am very interested in pipeline. I haven’t heard of it before. One thing I hope they cover is that investors shouldn’t expect every deal to be a winner. Most vc’s invest with the idea that 1 of 10 makes it. Setting realistic expectations will help. But I do think this action of investing is a way to shift the ‘seat at the table’ dynamics.
Wow…so inspiring. I’m in the process of trying to live my dream of starting a fabric shop. Thank you for helping women jump start their businesses and passions.
Whitney thank you for introducing me to these articles. While I have known about angel investors,there was so much more to learn. As always you open the horizon and elevate the view.
As always thank you Whitney. Your first sentence said it all. I t’s all about others. I want to say the more you give the more that comes back … but that’s not what it’s about.
Very interesting concept. This makes investing seem so much more accessible. Definitely something to put on my to do list.
I’ll first take a more “abstract” approach. I’ve found a helpful way to invest in others is to provide informational interviews. I’ve had several requests over the past few years to chat about what I do with individuals looking to enter the tutoring world, specifically, or provide a new service that is “one-on-one” enrichment oriented. It’s been a lot of fun, and also re-inspires me in my work!
Now, on to investing actual cash in others’ dreams. Looking back, I see that my investors were very interested in MY development, in addition to the company’s. It was a lot about ME. Was this decision wise for my investors? I hope so. They had vision for me and I am working to make good on that vision. So, in terms of practicality, when looking at woman’s business venture, I suggest 1) get to know her and see if you catch her vision, and if you catch it, invest! 2) be invested in her emotionally and when she feels that investment, it will drive her during the hard times 3) only invest in a business that has a rock solid business plan with a deeply researched market analysis.
Love this: John Maynard Keynes, “we must have the courage to take limited means, and invest in and encourage others.”
I still believe the greatest gift we can give each other is encouragement.
“The only illness is discouragement.”
–George Bernard Shaw
Thank you to each of you for sharing your thoughts, words of advice and encouragement. If any of you do want an introduction to the Pipeline Fund, please let me know.
In the meantime, Kristy Williams you have wond a copy of the book Warren Buffett Invests Like a Girl (I selected using http://www.random.org).
Will you e-mail me with your address so I can have a copy of the book sent to you?
My best to you all!
Whitney