Kesha Cash is a trailblazer. Last fall, she and her VC firm Impact America Fund (IAF) successfully raised $55 million aimed at early-stage startups that benefit communities of color. The amount was reportedly the largest ever raised by a solo Black female general partner. In a field where people - especially women - of color are woefully underrepresented, this is a major milestone. Ms. Cash and her team, however, are less interested in milestone recognition and more interested in the moral imperative of closing the wealth gap and challenging the structural inequities that are pervasive in the business community.
Recently Stefanie Thomas, a founding member of the IAF team, spoke with Wharton’s Katherine Klein for her Dollars and Change podcast. Part of the Wharton Social Impact Initiative, the podcast highlights those at the forefront of corporate social responsibility, and is a great resource for those in leadership who would like to expand their impact on progressing corporate culture.
Thomas and Klein discuss IAF’s mission, their stories, and how social responsibility is not mutually exclusive from competitiveness and profitability. Check out the podcast and associated article, and learn a thing or two about how this “small but mighty” firm is creating opportunities for new start-ups that are making a meaningful difference.