CEO of world’s largest asset manager tells companies that measuring impact is no longer optional — My firm, Village Capital, always tells entrepreneurs to build a product that’s a painkiller, not a vitamin. Vitamins are products people theoretically want, and make you feel better. People don’t need them, though. Painkillers are things that are necessary — not just nice to have. Put it this way, when…

A new marketplace to bring together capital from Abingdon to Arlington — Jerry Nemorin is a first-generation college student who grew up with a family that, like 50% of America, experienced deep debt. While in business school at the University of Virginia, Jerry developed a company, LendStreet, that helps Americans refinance their personal debt. Despite a great idea and a lot of…

The following is the prepared text of a speech that I gave this month to the students at Phillips Exeter Academy, where I graduated from high school, around the launch of my new book, The Innovation Blind Spot. When I was in high school, I thought my career options were…

UBS makes a move toward impact investing — Last week, Swiss bank UBS announced the launch of a new Global Impact Equity fund that’s focused on “long-term growth opportunities which aim to generate a positive social and environmental impact, alongside a consistent financial return”. …

Whether you’re an ag company in Abingdon or a cybersecurity startup in Arlington, this marketplace can help — Click here if you’re an entrepreneur in Virginia raising money, or an investor looking for good deals in Virginia. To learn more, read on. Sam English is an entrepreneur in Richmond who started a company called Attention Point. …

My firm Village Capital has been active in Austin over the last few years — we’ve invested in a couple of companies, and we have more investors in our fund from Austin than anywhere else in the country. …

This “Berkshire Hathaway for the little guy” could help entrepreneurs build lasting companies — This morning, I was on the floor of the NYSE promoting my new book, The Innovation Blind Spot. In the book, I talk about how we use a “one size fits all” structure of venture capital to support new companies. Incredibly, the way we finance the dreams of today’s entrepreneurs…

We all have them. These authors just help you realize it. — I’m releasing a book tomorrow called The Innovation Blind Spot: Why We Back the Wrong Ideas and What to Do About It. In it, I make two assumptions about the reader. First, I assume you are someone who is trying to make the world a better place. Second, I assume…

How impact investors can address systemic racism and economic dislocation — I had a conversation with a leader in impact investing this week about Charlottesville (UVA is my alma mater). The investor asked me, “In the wake of everything that’s happening, does impact investing even matter?” The investor’s question got me thinking. I re-read Antony Bugg-Levine’s ImpactAlpha post from February: Does…