Founders First, established in 2015, aims to close racial and social equity gaps by providing alternative growth capital and advisory programs to diverse-led companies, helping underrepresented founders build value-generating, mid market businesses to boost premium-wage jobs and build intergenerational wealth, while offering reliable and liquid financial returns to mission-driven investors.
Invest Appalachia (IA) is a regional impact investment platform designed by and for the people of Central Appalachia. IA provides blended investment capital to strengthen business opportunities, build equitable local wealth, advance critical sectors, and increase quality of life for everyone in Central Appalachia. IA was initiated through the Appalachia Funders Network and developed by a collaborative group of regional leaders representing CDFIs, public and private philanthropic entities, local institutions, and community organizations. Invest Appalachia will provide flexible capital to intermediaries, community projects, social enterprise businesses, critical infrastructure, and other efforts that that support healthy & resilient communities, wealth-building jobs, and inclusive market development. As a blended capital fund, IA is able to bring both investment and catalytic capital to support mission-aligned projects. IA’s capital is designed to advance key sectors and community infrastructure within the Central Appalachia region in partnership with – and frequently subordinate to – existing financial intermediaries. IA will partner with other sources of investment, including community lenders, commercial lenders, public financing, and philanthropy, to create the capital blend or “stack” of different forms of capital tailored to each project.
JFFVentures mission is to invest in founders with lived experience who are building technology companies that enable the economic mobility of low-wage workers. JFFV operates in partnership with a leading national nonprofit, Jobs for the Future (JFF), a 40-year-old organization with deep networks and expertise in education and workforce development. JFF works with various partners, including employers, educational institutions, and policymakers, to design and implement innovative strategies to create career pathways and improve economic opportunities for workers.
JFFV provides early-stage capital to founders with lived-experience who are closer to the problems they are seeking to solve; increasing access to quality and affordable learning and skilling solutions, access to career navigation and job placement; access to benefits and supports specifically designed for low-wage workers and ultimately increasing access to quality jobs and economic mobility.
