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This Event is Co-Hosted by ImpactPHL and GPLEX 360
What is crowdfunding and why is it growing in popularity? Scholars have sought to identify how crowdfunding might differ from other sources of innovation finance, both in terms of geographic distribution and in the motives for supporting a given entrepreneur. There is currently a movement, in Philadelphia, that believes crowdfunding is a critical financial element in the financial success and stability of socially impactful businesses. Our panelists will investigate whether groups that have historically been underrepresented in capital markets gain additional access to capital markets through crowdfunding.
Moderator
Brian Rajan Nagendra is the Associate Director of Impact Investments at Spring Point Partners. Brian brings his 20 years’ experience in community development finance and community economic development to researching and supporting SPP’s investment partners. Brian is a dad to two wonderful kids and a live music connoisseur.
Panelists
George Cook is the Co-Founder and CEO of Honeycomb Credit, a VC-backed loan crowdfunding website that allows locally owned small businesses to borrow expansion loans from their own loyal customers and fans. Born and raised in southwestern Pennsylvania, George is a sixth-generation community banker. He started Honeycomb to counter the adverse effects of community banking consolidation and to provide small businesses an alternative to predatory products that do more harm than good.
Peter Leone is a member and past president of Robin Hood Ventures, a Philadelphia-based investment group focused on high-growth startups en route to building great companies. He is also a member of Investors Circle, which provides capital and counsel to help entrepreneurs in the Philadelphia region build companies with a clear social or environmental impact. Peter enjoyed a 33-year career as Executive Vice President and President of Leone Industries, a family-owned manufacturer of glass bottles and jars, with 350 employees based in Bridgeton, NJ. He is a member and past chair of the Opera Philadelphia board of directors; a member and past chair of the Board of Trustees of the Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center; and served on the Board of Trustees at The Baldwin School.
Who should attend?
High net worth individuals, family offices, endowment/foundation leadership, investment professionals, pension fund trustees, nonprofit leaders, and anyone interested in broadening their investment horizons.