Why the world needs democracy angel investors
The seeds of better democracies are being planted by a growing movement of passionate entrepreneurs. Funding them could be the best investment you’ll ever make.
It is news to no one that we are facing a crisis of resurgent nationalism and autocracy around the world. Less visible, however, is the growing movement of incredible entrepreneurs throwing their hats in the ring to fight the ‘democruptcy’ that is threatening hard-won peace, prosperity and our ability to tackle critical global challenges, from climate change to ethical AI.
In the wake of every autocratic clamp down, every extremist resurrection, every election result that tilts towards those in power rather than those who vote (or should be able to vote), smart, passionate individuals and teams are building new solutions to strengthen democracy.
The approaches are varied: training for people who want to run for office, civic education programs, platforms to tap small citizen donations, apps for civic participation, fake news detection, prize-based incentives for ethical leadership.
Imagination and commitment are not the limiting factors. Money is.
Money and democracy
When we think of money and democracy today, we think of a destructive relationship — money buying favours for corporate interests, influencing elections in other countries through opaque spending on tech platforms, distracting elected officials from the work of government with a fundraising hamster wheel, deepening partisanship and so on. The list is long.
But money spent on rebuilding and protecting democracy’s infrastructure is the opposite: it is profoundly constructive and urgently needed. We have democracy entrepreneurs stepping up, now we need people with financial capital to step up. We need democracy angel investors.
There is precedent for rapidly unleashing a new generation of investors. In the first decade of the millennium, those with financial capital created enormous new value as they became angel investors in tech entrepreneurs. In the second decade, private risk capital started to flow to social entrepreneurs. In the third decade, this capital must expand to include investing in democracy entrepreneurs — applying the same principles of backing talented people with innovative solutions to important problems.
These investments will not produce extravagant financial or pleasingly photogenic returns. There will be no giant acquisitions by Facebook or giddy IPOs. There will be no photo opportunities next to wells dug in Africa or girls newly educated.
But what there will be is better governance, more informed voters and better political leaders. And these returns are priceless: they are scaffolding of flourishing economies, global development and equality. Without governance, leadership, and an educated electorate, our global community has a house with no foundations.
Never let a good crisis go to waste
Investing in this movement is not just about protecting what we have. As Winston Churchill quipped, “Never let a good crisis go to waste”. This is an opportunity to create something better. A reboot of democracy that does not overlook the losers of globalisation. Systems of governance that allow the world to collaborate around the existential challenges of our time which can only be solved through new forms of global collaboration.
It was with this in mind that I co-founded the Apolitical Academy, along with American Lisa Witter (a former public servant and long term democracy entrepreneur), Swede Daniel Sachs (a pioneering democracy angel) and South African Lindiwe Mazibuko (formerly the youngest leader of the parliamentary opposition in South Africa). For my part, I am a patriotic patchwork: a Kiwi, Brit, Botswanan, South African and — like all my co-founders — proud global citizen.
The Apolitical Academy is a non-profit, apolitical organisation. It runs non-partisan training programs for talented and traditionally excluded people who want to serve their cities, countries and world through the public service. We equip these aspiring leaders with the skills to campaign, training in ethics, networks of mentors and peers, and policy fundamentals — especially around solutions to tackle inequality, climate change and technological disruption. We currently have programs in Southern Africa and Sweden. And we cannot meet the demand for expansion: every few weeks, someone from another country or region approaches us wanting an Apolitical Academy in their country.
“I can not think of a more important mission to invest in,” says Daniel Sachs, explaining his long term interest in the area. “We have the most politically engaged young generation since 1968. At the same time trust in our democratic institutions is lower than ever. In order to address all of humanity’s great challenges, we need to revitalise representative democracy to restore trust.”
Become a democracy angel
If you’d like to help us expand our work so we can say yes more than we say no when people reach out to us for help in their countries, you can donate here.
If you’d rather fund a different approach to strengthening democracy, there is no shortage of brilliant solutions. Drop us a line and we would be happy to direct you to some of the initiatives we love most.
Whatever you invest in, and however much you can invest, please just invest quickly. The fight to strengthen democracy is like the fight to stop climate change: the longer we leave it, the harder it is to win.
