Creative Economy
Creative Economy | December 7, 2022
Upstart Co-Lab’s pipeline of creative economy deals is now an investable impact strategy
ImpactAlpha, Dec. 7 – The “creative economy” of fashion, food, film, video games and other art and culture industries has emerged as a …
Photo by MDIF.
Democracy and Peace | September 28, 2022
Nearly a dozen independent news organizations in Nigeria get support from Media Development Investment Fund
ImpactAlpha, September 28 — Last year’s youth-led uprising against police brutality spurred Nigeria’s biggest anti-government protests in a generation. MDIF launched a three-year …
Dealflow | August 29, 2022
Carbon Counts raises $7 million to gamify climate change
ImpactAlpha, Aug. 29 – EverForest, the first game from upstart game company Carbon Counts, aims to help plant 100 million real trees on …
Photo by Shutterstock.
Dealflow | July 15, 2022
ImpactAlpha Deal Spotlight: How we live now
ImpactAlpha, July 15 — Climate news got you down? New media outlets are putting a consumer spin on climate action (complementing ImpactAlpha’s solutions-focused …
Museum of Modern Art in New York City
Creative Economy | July 13, 2022
Impact investments are beginning to show up in the endowments of U.S. art museums
ImpactAlpha, Jul. 13 – Changes to museum investment policy favoring sustainability and diversity are recent. Allocations to impact remain small. But slowly and steadily, …
Photo credit: Honeycomb Credit
Creative Economy | April 27, 2022
Foundations join the crowd to invest in creative startups through Honeycomb Credit
ImpactAlpha, Apr. 27 – More than 80% of the businesses that have raised capital through Honeycomb’s loan crowdfunding platform are local creative businesses such …
Actors Asia Kate Dillon (left) and Damian Lewis (right) of TV show Billions | Photo credit: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
Creative Economy | January 10, 2022
We’ll know impact investing has arrived when it snags its own parody series on Netflix
ImpactAlpha, Jan. 10 – Maybe it’s the brash head of the star-studded social impact fund who went to federal prison for his role in …
Paskho Community- MadeTM pod, New York City (Photo: Paskho)
Impact Voices | November 2, 2021
Reimagining fashion production for a regenerative economy
After 25 years using my creativity to solve problems in the fashion industry, I had developed a reputation for turnarounds – in the …
Photo credit: Lionesses of Africa.
Creative Economy | October 27, 2021
New fund aims to support Africa’s creative entrepreneurs
ImpactAlpha, October 27 — A thriving creative industry can power a robust African economy. “The creativity of young African fashion designers has forced …
Screenshot from Blue Bayou | Image courtesy of Entertainment One Ltd.
Creative Economy | October 19, 2021
New narratives for inclusion and investment at SOCAP21
ImpactAlpha, Oct. 19 – The arrival of Gen Z is upending culture and commerce. “They have very strong values around inclusivity,” said Marcy Ventures’ …
Creative Economy | September 22, 2021
Investment opportunities in expanding access and ownership in the creator economy
The creator economy is a burgeoning new segment for all investors – art-lovers or not – who want to drive impact through quality …
Dealflow | September 22, 2021
Blockchain music streaming service Audius raised $5 million from Nas, Katy Perry and other creators
ImpactAlpha, September 22 – Mainstream streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music are notorious for stiffing the musicians who drive the platforms’ popularity. …
Wynwood Art District, Miami | Photo by Brian Lundquist on Unsplash
Creative Economy | August 24, 2021
Artists are startups and creators CEOs as technology decentralizes the creative economy
ImpactAlpha, Aug. 24 – Musicians, actors, artists and other “creators” are getting creative about reaping the economic gains of their influence and turning their …
Fishermen in Baja California Sur | Photo credit:Pronatura Noroeste
Creative Economy | August 16, 2021
Fund for artisans backs Ilumexico to expand access to solar power for rural business
ImpactAlpha, Aug. 16 – The RISE Artisan Fund of volunteer-based Realize Impact launched a climate investing strategy to help energy-poor artisans transition to …
Photo: Elena Seibert
Dealflow | June 15, 2021
MacKenzie Scott backs ‘teams empowering voices the world needs to hear.’
ImpactAlpha, June 16 – Common Future, Social Finance, Kiva and Souls Grown Deep are among the 286 organizations that received a combined $2.7 …
Creative Economy | June 14, 2021
A Latin American ethical bank as the heart of the economy and the creative industries
Banca Ética Latinoamericana is a banking project led by Fundación Dinero y Conciencia, which seeks to understand the structural challenges in Latin America …
Creative Economy | June 14, 2021
Corporate venture capital: A risk and an opportunity for Latin America’s ‘orange economy’
The dynamic cultural and creative sectors of Latin America – recognized as part of the “orange economy” – are an untapped global resource …
Creative Economy | June 14, 2021
A blended finance solution for sustainable fashion and impact businesses in Brazil
Trê – Investing with cause is a young organisation born in Brazil to foster a new economy, contributing to the healthy flow of …
Photo credit: Thrilling
Dealflow | May 16, 2021
Thrilling raises $8.5 million for secondhand fashion marketplace
ImpactAlpha, May 16 – L.A.-based Thrilling has raised $8.5 million to expand its secondhand fashion marketplace. The Black and Asian-owned startup helps small vintage …
The Reconstruction | April 20, 2021
Reviving a Black cultural corridor in West Oakland – as a community-led cooperative
In another era, Esther’s Orbit Room helped make West Oakland the “Harlem of the West,” hosting the likes of B.B. King, James Brown …
Photo credit: Les Ateliers de Corrine
Dealflow | March 29, 2021
Gender-lens fund WIC Capital backs Senegalese bakery
ImpactAlpha, March 29 – Dakar-based WIC Capital invested in Les Ateliers de Corinne, a woman-led bakery in Dakar that hosts cooking workshops. The investment …
Dealflow | March 11, 2021
Souls Grown Deep Foundation backs Paskho to create quality jobs for Gee’s Bend quilters in Alabama
ImpactAlpha, March 11 — The Souls Grown Deep Foundation is providing a $600,000 convertible note to Paskho, a Black-owned eco-friendly apparel company. Souls …
Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash
News and Information | March 10, 2021
Reliable digital media is fertile ground for Media Development Investment Fund
ImpactAlpha, Mar. 10 – The push: Government-backed media outlets and oligarch-vested interests are pushing down trust in journalism around the world. The pull: The …
Photo credit: Powered by People
Dealflow | March 3, 2021
Powered by People secures $1.5 million to connect artisans to markets
ImpactAlpha, March 3 – Kenya-based Powered by People is a “distributed manufacturer” that enables artists and designers to become suppliers to large companies like …
Dealflow | January 28, 2021
Bank of America places $150 million with minority-led fund managers
ImpactAlpha, January 28 — Bank of America is backing 40 minority-led fund managers to bridge the funding gap for Black, Latinx, women and …
Dealflow | January 28, 2021
Digital workflow platform ServiceNow launches $100 million racial equity fund
ImpactAlpha, January 28 — ServiceNow has launched a $100 million Racial Equity Fund to invest in “homeownership, entrepreneurship and neighborhood revitalization in Black …
Alexander Kühl and Camille Canon of Purpose Ventures | Photo credits: Purpose Foundation
Creative Economy | January 21, 2021
Aligned capital for creative entrepreneurs
Conventional investment approaches are a poor fit for creative entrepreneurs. A model that leads to steward-ownership is a better solution for enterprises with …
Sheoyki Jones of Invest Atlanta | Photo by Berto Horne
Creative Economy | January 21, 2021
The creative industries: Driving economic opportunity in Atlanta
A city development authority committed to supporting the creative industries found that the key ingredients were a supportive state leadership, transparency and trust. …
Heva Fund's George Gachara | Photo by Noel Kasyoka
Creative Economy | January 20, 2021
Safeguarding a creative and cultural moment: The impact of COVID-19 on Africa’s creative sectors
Africa’s cultural renaissance provides huge economic and social benefits that must not be lost in the pandemic. The region’s first dedicated finance and …
Yo-Yo Ma by Jason Bell
Creative Economy | January 19, 2021
Yo-Yo Ma: Culture connects us
Culture and creativity are already having a positive effect on the serious issues facing our society. But with the right support, they can …
Taylor Guitars employees, now owners, at the El Cajon, CA factory prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dealflow | January 14, 2021
Canadian pension fund backs Taylor Guitars’ conversion to employee ownership
ImpactAlpha, January 14 — Cajon, Calif.-based guitar manufacturer Taylor Guitars is now 100% owned by its more than 1,200 employees through an Employee …
Creative Economy | December 10, 2020
Building a personal portfolio of impact investments in the creative economy
ImpactAlpha, Dec. 10 – Artist housing in Michigan and Memphis. Immersive art experiences in New Mexico. And now a film studio in upstate New …
Walters Art Museum | Photo credit: Jill Fannon (pulled from Walters Art Museum's Facebook page)
Creative Economy | December 3, 2020
Cultural institutions start to put their assets to work for mission
ImpactAlpha, Dec. 3 – Universities, private foundations and even large nonprofits have deployed hundreds of billions of dollars into ESG, impact and community-based …
Creative Economy | November 30, 2020
Amicus.io raises $8.7 million to democratize donor-advised funds
ImpactAlpha, November 30 — The Charlotte-based fintech startup is seeking to make it easier for everyday savers to take advantage of the tax …
Creative Economy | November 25, 2020
ZenBusiness raises $55 million to help micro-entrepreneurs grow their businesses
ImpactAlpha, November 25 — The economic shock of the COVID pandemic has devastated small businesses – and driven many others to open one …
Community Finance | November 17, 2020
Micron invests $50 million to reduce U.S. racial wealth gap
ImpactAlpha, November 17 — The Black-white wealth gap today is as wide as it was in the 1960s, published reports show. In fact, …
Creative Economy | November 3, 2020
Equity crowdfunding grows up with new $5 million limit on ‘Reg CF’ offerings
ImpactAlpha, Nov. 3 – Businesses from microbreweries to football clubs to electric vehicle makers and ‘mom & pop’ shops have made use of …
Creative Economy | October 8, 2020
Creative economy fund for underserved communities launches with an investment in Techstars
ImpactAlpha, Oct. 8 – Concord, a music and theatrical publishing and management firm, has created a $10 million impact investment initiative to support …
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Creative Economy | July 16, 2020
Investing in news and media by and for people of color
ImpactAlpha, July 16 – Blavity’s $1.5 million raise from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (and another $9.5 million from earlier investors) helped demonstrate the …
Creative Economy | June 29, 2020
LeBron James signals opportunity for ‘empowerment’ media with $100 million raise
ImpactAlpha, June 29 – NBA megastar LeBron James and his long-time friend and business partner Maverick Carter raised $100 million for SpringHill Co, …
Creative Economy | June 25, 2020
Upstart Co-Lab investor coalition commits to shift capital to creatives
ImpactAlpha, June 25 – Upstart Co-Lab has been a chief evangelist of the power of art, design, culture, heritage, and creativity to drive …
Africa | May 14, 2020
A post-pandemic plan for the creative economy in Kenya
ImpactAlpha, May 14 – Kenya’s musicians, DJs, fashion designers, visual artists, event planners, chefs and other creatives are on the frontlines of COVID’s …
Creative Economy | April 14, 2020
Investments in the creative economy will help drive an inclusive COVID recovery
In the month since SXSW canceled its annual arts and tech festival in Austin, Texas, artists and other creatives have been on the …
Catalytic Capital | March 4, 2020
UK’s Nesta raises £20 million impact fund for the creative arts and culture
ImpactAlpha, March 4 – The creative economy in the U.K. contributes more than $10 billion and generates some 364,000 jobs. Nesta’s new £20 million …
Creative Economy | March 4, 2020
Art for Redemption secures early funding to launch marketplace for prison art
ImpactAlpha, March 4 – More than two million people are incarcerated in the U.S., exacting an economic toll on individuals, families and communities. …