Investing In Companies For Social Impact – Meredith Shields, Citi Impact Fund

“We have an allocated pool of capital that we are investing in early stage startups that are solving some of the world’s most critical challenges. And…we care just as much about the financial success of the company as we do the impact that that company is going to make on the world. When I say… Continue reading Investing In Companies For Social Impact – Meredith Shields, Citi Impact Fund

Start-up Resources – Julie Lenzer, UMD Entrepreneur Program

“It’s easier to change the world with money…Ideas are out there…the trick is in the execution. It’s not always the best technology that works…Be persistent.” Julie Lenzer Having a great idea for a new technology or new business model that you think can change the world is terrific. But it will only make that change… Continue reading Start-up Resources – Julie Lenzer, UMD Entrepreneur Program

Funding For Women Entrepreneurs – Shelly Porges, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Billion Dollar Fund for Women

“Men are presumed to be capable and to have done their homework…questioned about potential… Women…(hear) challenging questions , like ‘Why are you qualified?’…(Yet), women-owned businesses return on average 63% higher rates of return than male-only founded teams.”
Shelly Porges on Green Connections Radio podcast – Listen for tips on what you can do be successful!

Building a Business with Care – Jules Pieri, CEO, The Grommet

Jules Pieri and her company The Grommet have learned so much from launching their own business and over 30,000 products on their e-commerce site that sells hand-picked products made by small “makers” — including the hazards of selling on Amazon — that she decided to write a book about it. In her extensive interview with Green Connections Radio host Joan Michelson, about her book, “How We Make Stuff Now,” Pieri explains key lessons learned (including how to manage Amazon, if you do go to it.

Tech Entrepreneur Funding – Anna Brady-Estevez, NSF, SBIR Grant Program Director, National Science Foundation

Maybe you have a great idea or new app you developed that you’re itching to bring to life. Maybe you have a friend who does… Or, maybe you’re an entrepreneur who is running out of funds and fears not being able to continue. If this rings a bell, listen up. This podcast provides vital information about a federal grant program you can apply for. There’s no guarantee you’ll be approved, but you certainly won’t get it if you do not apply. It’s called the Small Business Innovation Research – or SBIR – grants (or STTRs). About half a dozen federal agencies offer them, all with different criteria. The SBIR program we’re talking about today is from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and has an open agenda, focused on the potential of the technology to make a big positive societal impact if it succeeds.

Clean Energy Innovation – Amy Francetic of Clean Energy Trust

The front lines of the clean energy economy are fascinating, brutal and potentially very lucrative.
Listen to one of the masters at growing clean energy start-ups, Amy Francetic of the Clean Energy Trust, discuss how it all comes together and CET’s $100 million partnership with Argonne National Laboratory. She spoke with GCR host Joan Michelson at the 2013 ARPA-E Summit in Washington, DC recently. Much of her advice is timeless.