How to Build Startup Ecosystems That Work for Everyone

Eighteen months ago, in collaboration with Living Cities, Rockefeller and Surdna Foundations, we launched Start Up, Stay Up, Scale Up (SU)3 — an initiative designed to address the challenges in access to capital, social networks, and expertise that entrepreneurs of color often encounter while growing their businesses.
Coaching Cities on Using Capital to Build Inclusive Ecosystems
In order to lead these cities in developing their ecosystems to create the new capital structures that they require, they needed an investor and ecosystem builder who understands the capital challenges faced by entrepreneurs of color in their earliest fundraising rounds and how to create new models to help remove structural bias.
That’s where I came in…
Rodlene Paul
Monique
My name is Rodlene Paul, I am launching an app to improve financial literacy rates among minorities and immigrants. Our mandate is to make micro investing inclusive for all. I am a Senior Tehcnical advisor for USAID, World Bank and UN funded projects. We need mentoring using software to help users where the bank systems have failed. My last big project I managed was an $87 million launching mobile money and access to Finance for USAID in partnership with World Bank.