“Dallas is leading, quietly.”

Benjamin Vann
President and CEO
Impact Ventures
.…on Impact Ventures becoming the second CDVC firm in Texas and one of 74 in the U.S., via LinkedIn.

Vann leads Impact Ventures, a nonprofit Dallas startup accelerator that “accelerates and invests in all shades of genius,” providing the critical resources for diverse founders to increase capacity, improve viability, and promote sustainability. Writing on LinkedIn, he said he was inspired to see the growth and focus on innovation within the CDFI industry at the Opportunity Finance Network’s annual Small Business Finance Forum last week in Chicago.

Vann’s news: Impact Ventures “will be considered 1 of 74 [Community Development Venture Capital] firms in the U.S.”—and the second in Texas—”providing more small businesses access to equity and equity-like capital, especially in times like today where interest rates are higher and traditional debt is considered to be expensive.”

The leadership and progress in providing equitable capital and supporting small businesses in Dallas are substantial, but may not be widely acknowledged or celebrated, which is what led to Vann’s Last Word today.

“This is not just the work we are leading,” he writes, but as he points out, “Dallas is leading, quietly.”

Received $500K grant from PNC Foundation

Impact Ventures recently received a $500,000 grant from the PNC Foundation to launch the PNC Community Micro Equity Fund, offering capital and support to under-resourced North Texas business owners. To apply for the next Impact Ventures Growth Accelerator Program, attend an information session (upcoming on June 26).

Inclusive Capital Summit July 26-27

Impact Ventures’ Inclusive Capital Summit will be held July 26 and 27 at Life in Deep Ellum and the UTD Center for Brain Health. You can join Impact Ventures for a two-part experience featuring insightful panels and app-driven workshops with local and national thought leaders from the impact finance, venture capital, policy, and private equity sectors. Highlights include the Trailblazer and Legacy Awards, a founder pitch showcase, and a keynote fireside chat with Mehrsa Baradaran, author of “The Color of Money,” a book that explores how a racially-segregated financial system built and maintained the racial wealth gap and inspired Netflix to commit $100 million to support Black communities.

Other agenda highlights include the Opening Plenary on “The Road to Closing the Wealth Gap,” a series of lightning talks on integrated capital and leveraging CDFIs, and panels discussing “Raising in Texas: Funds & Founders,” “Inclusive Entrepreneur Ecosystems,” and “The Rise of Athlete-Investors.” The summit concludes with a Happy Hour at Aloft Love Field, offering ample opportunities to network and engage with industry leaders. Learn more and register at inclusivecapitalsummit.com.

For more of who said what about all things North Texas, check out Every Last Word.

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