Fuego Fino, Inc. is a progressive wine and spirits house. Their crowdfunding campaign is live on Wefunder.

Kanisha Dennis, Chief Marketing Officer of Fuego Fino, Inc. graduated Suma Cum Laude with Honors from the University of Georgia, with a bachelor of arts degree in Advertising. She obtained her Master of Science from Boston University, Advertising. Kanisha is the CMO of Fuego Fino, Inc.

“Experience is one of my greatest assets. I have helped a vast range of companies in industries ranging from marketing, construction, and healthcare.

My specialties lie in implementing more efficient methods for tracking and organizing information; supporting critical decision-making by analyzing processes and systems; identifying and anticipating problems, and providing creative solutions; forming strategic partnerships with vendors, community leaders, and key decision-makers; and developing targeted messages to manage relationships.

My fulfillment comes from being a valuable resource, leveraging my sense of accountability, resourcefulness, and adaptability to support the overall needs and goals of the team. This desire drives me to lend my personal time to public service and community involvement.

My volunteer experiences range from building/gardening with Habitat for Humanity, to serving food at transitional shelters, and fundraising for the American Cancer Society. I’m truly passionate about bringing out the best in others,“ says Kanisha Dennis, CMO of Fuego Fino, Inc.

About WIF AX Diversity Showcase

WIF AX, LLC (Women’s Innovation Fund Accelerator), is a venture capital fund that publishes a feature story about executives of color within its cohort companies in an effort to give them a showcase for their talents.

Websites:

Fuego Fino, Inc. Crowdfunding Site:

Invest in Fuego Fino, Inc.: Woman-led, eco-friendly wine and spirits company recently featured in Forbes. on @wefunder

WIF AX, LLC Site:

Home - WOMEN'S INNOVATION FUND ACCELERATOR

WIF AX Diversity Showcase: Kanisha Dennis CMO of Fuego Fino, Inc. was originally published in WIFAXVC on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

“We are pleased to announce the successful roll-out of our ‘Invest Alongside Our VC’ inclusive investing campaign for our accelerator graduates, with our initial launch on WeFunder (wefunder.com/fgfino), ” says Barbara Bickham, Managing Director of WIF AX, LLC.

The First Investment

WIF AX, LLC has invested in Fuego Fino, Inc., currently being crowdfunded after its exit from the WIF AX capital stack program. This investment can be found on Wefunder (wefunder.com/fgfino).

“I learned many things in the accelerator, especially in terms of our structuring of the investment, not as a SAFE note, but offering equity now, and having a structure for further offerings,” says Jessica Contreras, CEO of Fuego Fino, Inc.

The Rich Get Richer & The Poor Get Poorer

It is often said: “A rising tide floats all boats.” Thus if a larger portion of society benefited from investing, would we not be richer as a whole? Many people push the benefits of producing more with less. What if the same mindset was applied to people? By being able to benefit more people instead of less. Early investments up to this point have mainly given rise to the 1%, who have been the investors that benefited from early ‘wealthy investors only’ offerings in the Ubers and Facebooks of this era. But what if we allowed a greater portion of the population to gain from those early entries? Doesn’t this push towards a larger wealth distribution benefit us all?

What’s the difference? Structuring the foundation.

Crowdfunding opened the door to many offerings, the only issue is that many of those offerings were not structured as priced rounds. They were structured as SAFE notes, basically, a contract to own a future position. Whereas rounds in which many VC’s invested in were clear cut in terms of ownership, a structured entry, allowing the VC to have at least an eye towards an exit. What if this structure was provided and the VC invested alongside the general public through crowdfunding? This is what inclusive investing is all about, and it may serve to fill the wealth gap with action — rather than words.

“A SAFE note — future equity — means to us at WIF AX VC that you are taking on investors without understanding how that affects future rounds and returns. We encourage our accelerator graduates through our Capital Stack program to have structured entries — so that exits are possible. Founders need to understand what their structure is so that investors get a real ownership stake,” says WIF AX Managing Director, Barbara Bickham.

Websites:

WIF AX, LLC website:

Home - WOMEN'S INNOVATION FUND ACCELERATOR

Fuego Fino, Inc WeFunder Campaign website:

Invest in Fuego Fino, Inc.: Woman-led, eco-friendly wine and spirits company recently featured in Forbes. on @wefunder

Inclusive Investing? Invest Alongside a Venture Capitalist was originally published in WIFAXVC on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Jessica Contreras, (CEO) Fuego Fino, Inc (Left). Barbara Bickham, Managing Director of WIF AX, LLC (Right).

A Student Forever

“Though I have been a serial entrepreneur forever, I realize that having a mindset of being a student, always open to learning, is a plus. To think that because you are in business, you do not need the instruction of an accelerator or incubator, just means that you really do not need to be in business or you have decided that you are going to limit your growth” says Jessica Contreras, CEO of Fuego Fino, Inc.

The WIF AX Team

“One of the most valuable aspects that I bring to the table is my experience in launching and managing companies. I quickly realized that far too many fund management teams lack real startup experience, and they have an investment strategy which is the equivalent of throwing noodles against the wall to see what sticks, which they call diversification. This lack of experience leads them to make costly mistakes, such as the fact that they by proxy end up funding law firms. This happens when the average startup thinks that every document needs to be reviewed or drafted by an attorney, thus 2/3 of their funding goes towards legal costs, paying thousands for documents which a law firm created for another client or pulled of the internet — swapping out names and addresses. It is mind boggling the amount of money that startups waste which funds end up taking a loss on, relying on the law of averages — mixed with one off success stories — which they call Unicorns — to return an investment to their investors. I joined the WIF AX team to change this” says Jessica Contreras, CEO of Fuego Fino, Inc.Fuego Fino, Inc. graduates from WIF AX (Women’s Innovation Fund Accelerator) Accelerator Program With Honors & Valuable Lessons

Lesson 1 — The Hard Truth: Most Ventures Are Not Ready for Investors

Many ventures view themselves as being a hot investment, yet they fail to realize that they are not ready for an investment. Some have the wrong structure, such as an LLC (Limited Liability Companies) rather than C Corporation, which investors prefer because there is a clear line of just how much ownership they are purchasing. One of the most common mistakes is to think a business can offer a percentage of ownership of company to an investor, when they are structured as a partnership, which is how many LLC are treated both for tax purposes, and in terms of state filings.

Turning a Profit is not an Exit Strategy

Amazon is one of the most valuable companies in the world; however, it took 14 -years to turn a profit — not to mention Tesla, Facebook, Snap Chat, and others.

Many businesses make the mistake of thinking investors want to see them turn a profit, or worse, that they can return the money which investors put into a business when they become profitable. They use Pro Forma estimates to present the investor with a picture of how they will do this, not realizing that most VC’s view the word “pro forma” as being the equivalent of “my best guess.”

Far too many companies offer an investor no real exit strategy, they are more of an open book, money goes in, but there is no real plan to pay it back, because turning a profit is clearly not the most timely return on an investment.

Lesson 2 — Sustainability is a Part of Business Planning

A company that uses the planets assets must take an active role in preserving the planet. Consumers are requiring firms to become sustainable, and to give back to their respective communities, even those involved in industries such as wine and spirits.

“Once I reviewed Fuego Fino, Inc.’s activities and saw just how much waste was created. I changed how we were bottling, distributing, and giving back to the community. I also thought about how I could make this review and planning a part of doing business, and The Aclyd Group was born. I am not Elon Musk, a person that runs many organizations; however, when you are in business — you are solving a problem or meeting a need — and your operations should accommodate this” says, Jessica Contreras, CEO.

“I am proud to announce that our inaugural accelerator alumna include my partner and friend Jessica Contreras. She has brought many valuable skills to our group, and will go on excelling within any organization which she leads,” says Barbara Bickham, WIF AX Managing Director.

Websites:

Fuego Fino, Inc Crowdfunding Campaign:

Invest in Fuego Fino, Inc.: Woman-led, eco-friendly wine and spirits company recently featured in Forbes. on @wefunder

WIF AX Accelerator:

Academy - WOMEN'S INNOVATION FUND ACCELERATOR

WIF AX LLC Main site:

https://wifaxvc.com/

WIF AX Accelerator Proves Its Value With Fuego Fino Graduate was originally published in WIFAXVC on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

WIF AX, LLC (Women’s Innovation Fund Accelerator) is a Qualified Opportunity Fund which invests in growth related business that are gender-balance and environmentally sustainable. They run an virtual accelerator and capital stack program which prepares businesses for the next level of funding, growth, and environmental sustainability.

Fuego Fino, Inc. is a progressive wine and spirits house, which boast the title of being: “THE #1 WOMEN-LED ECO-FRIENDLY ALCOHOL COMPANY.” They endorse a gender-balanced c-suite, and plan to roll-out many eco-friendly objectives including bottle refunding programs and the reuse of alcohol waste for the production of hand sanitizer and biofuel. Their CEO, Jessica Contreras, has also taken the step of creating a venture where all companies must review their operations to see where they can become environmentally responsible in order to list on an index of consumer friendly companies.

“I am proud to lead the investment in Fuego Fino, Inc. As an advisor to the project I have seen the tremendous progress they have made, not just in our accelerator program, but personally. I look forward to taking part in their growth. I strongly believe that having a wine and spirits as a part of our portfolio is a big asset,” says Barbara Bickham, Managing Director of WIF AX, LLC.

“I learned many lesson in the WIF AX accelerator which I applied not only to my operations, but my exit strategy. I am proud to be a member of that team, and please with the decision that WIF AX made to lead our crowd funding round,” says Fuego Fino Founder Jessica Contreras.

Websites:

Fuego Fino WeFunder Campaign:

Invest in Startups You Love

WIF AX Accelerator:

Academy - WOMEN'S INNOVATION FUND ACCELERATOR

WIF AX, LLC Website

Home - WOMEN'S INNOVATION FUND ACCELERATOR

Fuego Fino, Inc. Company Site:

Fuego Fino Inc (Fine Fire Company) | Spirits & Wines, Quality Redefined

WIF AX Leads Investment In Women-led Wine & Spirits Company was originally published in WIFAXVC on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

LOS ANGELES, CA, February 18, 2020 — The Women’s Innovation Fund Accelerator, today announces the 9 startups that have been accepted into and will take part in their Online 2020 Cohort.

Tailored for advanced tech, gender-balanced businesses and available to seed stage ventures across all industries, the accelerator prepares companies for funding, sustainability and growth.

The companies include:

Baggage Nanny: The only approved baggage storage and delivery service for U.S. airports! #wegotyourbag

Cubby: A unique and modern On-demand luggage storage marketplace helping travelers go Un-bagged!!

JetSet: A blockchain powered end to end travel ecosystem

The Mr. & Ms. Collection: A fashion discovery platform that connects brands to members through a rental subscription model for clothing.

xBuzz: This app nudges you to save.

VdoChain: Changing the economics of distributing video via DLT; globally patented Video Data Technology and public Blockchain

Getcompete: With the app, you can compete against anyone, anywhere, at anytime using just your smartphone.

METAPYXL: A single platform with the aim to put control of digital content back in the hands of the creator and eliminate theft of creative property.

New Motion Beverages: We brew high and low ABV Kombucha beverages.

About Women’s Innovation Fund Accelerator:

Funding growth, equality, and sustainability within qualified opportunity zones. WIF AX, LLC (Women’s Innovation Fund Accelerator) is a venture fund building advance technology (Blockchain, AI, AR, IoT) women-balanced sustainable organizations within QOZ’s nationwide.

For more information on the fund and our accelerator, please visit:
www.wifaxvc.com

To apply for the next cohort, please visit our website:
https://wifaxvc.com/accelerator/

To sponsor the accelerator:
https://wifaxvc.com/sponsorships/

Womens Innovation Fund Accelerator Announces Fall Cohort was originally published in WIFAXVC on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

WIF AX, Women’s Innovation Fund Accelerator lands a key funding partner in its efforts to fund growth, sustainability, and equality.

“We are pleased to announce the growth of our Limited Partners, and look forward to expanding our efforts to bring gender balance to the venture capital space,” says WIF AX Managing Director Barbara Bickham.

“We have a unique combination of experiences both as entrepreneurs and fund managers which I strongly believe will play a big role in separating us from the pack,” says WIF AX Manager Jessica Contreras.

About WIF AX

WIF AX, LLC is a Women-led Opportunity/Impact fund that focuses on growth, sustainability and equality. The fund operates a business accelerator while developing real estate properties and businesses within QOZ’s nationwide.

For more information, press only:

PR Contact Email: Fund@wifax.vc

For more information on the Fund:

https://wifax.vc

For projects needing funding:

https://wifaxvc.com/home/accelerator/

For real estate projects seeking funding and growth:

Project Submission & Review

For accelerator sponsorships:

https://wifaxvc.com/sponsorships/

Women-led Fund Lands Key Funding Partner was originally published in WIFAXVC on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

“Shove It.” If you are a Qualified Opportunity Fund, your inbox is filled with Developers with “Shovel Ready Projects.” Some of these are great offers, but many are just developments that could not get funded without a tax incentive — meaning they were “garbage can ready projects” before QOZ.

“Take Care Of My Dog.” As a Qualified Opportunity Zone manager, you are required to manage that property for the next 10 years. Meaning that developer will walk away with a hand full of your investor’s cash, while you babysit their “turnkey” project for the next decade.

“Falling Objects Cut.” To combat your inbox against falling objects, which are developers who think QOZ is a way of offloading projects that could not get funded otherwise, require the developers to bring a funding source for that project. This means that outside of QOZ that development had some value, and it’s not just another dog needing a tax incentivized tail.

“It’s the Community’s Baby Stupid.” Stay aware of the spirit in which QOZ laws were written, to bring economic progress to low-income communities over a period of time. So QOZ managers are supposed to have their eyes on projects which offer consistent job creation, education, housing, and preferably entrepreneurship — since 6 in 10 jobs are created by small businesses.

“The Writing Is On The Wall.” So if you are managing or investing in a QOZ fund, know the community benefit spirit of regulations. After all, the authors of this legislation have threatened to yank the incentives if it does not benefit these economically challenged areas and ends up just being a tax haven for the wealthy. That announcement should have been a shot over the bow for QOZ funds launched by some wealth manager’s office as an extension of their services — who look to take advantage of the law by building cheap-hotel projects, a source of low-paying jobs with low elements of community benefit, a “Shovel in the QOZ Grave.”

“Impact is Profitable.” Bringing jobs to the community and launching solid projects which are sustainable returns not just a social benefit, but an economic one. Today’s consumers are holding companies accountable while at the same time benefiting those that are socially and environmentally responsible.

Jessica Contreras is the Co-Manager of WIF AX, LLC — Women’s Innovation Fund Accelerator, whose mission is to fund growth, equality, and sustainability within Qualified Opportunity Zones.

…..

Home - WOMEN'S INNOVATION FUND ACCELERATOR

Take Your Shovel and Shove It Somewhere Else! was originally published in WIFAXVC on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

“Tackling issues in an urban area is a challenge, and we were especially drawn towards David’s ability to not only lead the renovation of a major landmark; but moreover, his ability to create an economic revival by tapping into the entrepreneurial talents of the community. Creating factories leads to jobs and employment. But creating an environment where great ideas turn employees into employERs — creates wealth. I can think of no better outcome for an opportunity zone than to transform creative minds into employER opportunities,” says WIF AX Co-Manager Jessica Contreras.

WIF AX, LLC (Women’s Innovation Fund Accelerator) is an investment fund focused on building women-balanced organizations within Qualified Opportunity Zones.

“Joining the WIF AX VC team as an advisor is both an honor and incredible opportunity to share the lessons we have learned in Flint to make a much broader impact across the country. We have found that when you focus on ideas from the unusual suspects, in overlooked areas, you can drive economic growth in ways unimaginable. If talent is equally distributed throughout the world, it’s imperative to ensure the opportunity is as well,” says WIF AX advisor, David Ollila.

“Renovating a building is a challenge. Setting the bar even higher by creating an environment within that building which allows entrepreneurs to transform business plans into reality, is an experience which we value and strive to duplicate within our opportunity zones projects across the nation. ” Says WIF AX Manager, Barbara Bickham.

___

Website:

Home - WOMEN'S INNOVATION FUND ACCELERATOR

Accelerator Applications:

Apply to Women's Innovation Fund Accelerator

LinkedIn:

WIF AX LLC (Women's Innovation Fund Accelerator). | LinkedIn

Twitter:

WIF AX (@WIFAXVC) | Twitter

Medium:

WIFAXVC

Telegram:

Women’s Led Opportunity Funds Taps Into An Urban Success Story was originally published in WIFAXVC on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The California State Senate has recognized Barbara Bickham, Managing Director of WIF AX — Women’s Innovation Fund Accelerator — with the Heart Centered Tech Leadership award for her exemplary services and active commitment to the Los Angeles area tech community.

Heart Centered Tech gives out their Leadership awards to Technical Leaders who excel in their field as well as lead

with their heart.

Heart Centered Tech is a decentralized peer-to-peer network of trusted individuals for business and collaboration. Heart Centered TECH leaders were chosen in Los Angeles in a peer-to-peer network of a chain built on trust. This program was recognized with 21 recognition awards from the State of California for technology innovation.

As head of WIF AX, an investment fund focused on building women-balanced organizations within Qualified Opportunity Zones, Barbara has been acknowledged for her leadership and talents in furthering the cause of building technology organizations nationwide.

“I am extremely proud of the accomplishments which Barbara has achieved. She is doing and has done great things within her community which we are working hard to ensure have lasting national and global impact,” says Co-Manager of WIF AX, Jessica Contreras.

—

Website:

Home - WOMEN'S INNOVATION FUND ACCELERATOR

Accelerator Applications:

Apply to Women's Innovation Fund Accelerator

LinkedIn:

WIF AX LLC (Women's Innovation Fund Accelerator). | LinkedIn

Twitter:

WIF AX (@WIFAXVC) | Twitter

Medium:

WIFAXVC

Telegram:

Manager of Women-led VC Awarded State Senate Certificate of Recognition was originally published in WIFAXVC on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Han Ko, President & CEO USAKO Group has more than 3 decades of extensive commercial real estate investment and development experience, along with venture capital; investment and training in technology and startups.

For his commercial real estate venture, he has hands-on direct investment experience in managing and leasing of commercial properties in multiple states in the U.S. for more than 3 decades. His investment portfolio and network also include investment properties and connections in Asia. As a commercial real estate investor, Han has in-depth hands-on experience and knowledge in commercial real estate investment, development and transaction; contract negotiation, due-diligence, ROI projection, acquisition, sale, investment fundraising, financing, and escrow transaction, working with and managing communication with real estate legal professionals, brokers, TDD, and TIF. In the property management side, Han also has at least 3 decades of experience in property management, including overseeing tenant recruit, lease negotiation, property face-lift, upkeep, major tenant build out. Han has worked with many major international and national brands as his tenants as well so that he has a great understanding of tenant recruit and lease management.

For his technology and startup-investment side, he founded and has operated an international venture capital and accelerating company, USAKO Group, which primarily serves the U.S.A. and Asia. USAKO Group is an official global partner of the S. Korean government, and Han has extensive national and international connections in the startup ecosystem. More details on his bio can be found at USAKOGroup’s web.

“I am humbled and proud to bring such experience and expertise to our advisory board,” Says WIF AX Manager, Barbara Bickham.

—

Website:

Home - WOMEN'S INNOVATION FUND ACCELERATOR

Accelerator Applications:

Apply to Women's Innovation Fund Accelerator

LinkedIn:

WIF AX LLC (Women's Innovation Fund Accelerator). | LinkedIn

Twitter:

WIF AX (@WIFAXVC) | Twitter

Medium:

WIFAXVC

Telegram:

WIF AX Opportunity Fund Adds Real Estate Heavy Weight To Its Advisory Board was originally published in WIFAXVC on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.