Startups and service providers are building innovative, technology-driven products to support the impact investment community. The purpose of this discussion is to showcase leading innovations that are helping the impact investing capital markets grow exponentially through tools such as impact data measurement software. Impact Capital Forum, the Centre for Social Innovation and Convene will host a panel of leaders including startup founders, research professionals, and impact investors to highlight the opportunities created through tech-driven impact innovation.
Agenda:
11:30am-12pm: Registration & Introductions
12pm-1:30pm: Panel Discussion
1:30 - 2:00 pm Networking
Food & Beverages will be provided
Speakers
Michael Chu is a seasoned Engineering Leader and Financial Services Professional with over a decade of experience building Tech products in this space, including 10 years at Bloomberg Engineering. During that time, he was the lead engineer for the original design and launch of Bloomberg’s Portfolio Analytics product, PORT, and later the Product co-lead for Bloomberg Indices which manages the Bloomberg Commodity Indices, Bloomberg AusBond Index and the Bloomberg-Barclays Fixed Income Indices. Mike’s latest venture, recap, a Robo-advisor created with the goal of building better Sustainable Investing strategies and making them accessible for the masses. Mike holds an MBA degree from Wharton and an undergraduate Engineering degree from the University of Toronto. He is also a CFA Charterholder.
Rob Hansen is the Founder of Goodnation. Rob has over 20 years of experience in philanthropy. He is dedicated to the simple idea that if people support what they care deeply about, it will be good for them and for those they are helping. Rob began his own journey into causes as a teenager by founding his high school's Amnesty International group. Since then, he has worked at all levels of nonprofits and has served on numerous nonprofit boards. As a Development Director, Rob raised funds from leading New York City foundations and ultimately joined the Robin Hood Foundation, where he worked for five years. At Robin Hood he came to understand the power of engaged philanthropy and the importance of measurable impact. Prior to launching Goodnation, Rob consulted with high-performing nonprofits on fund development and strategic planning issues. Rob has an MBA from HEC Montréal and a BA in English Literature from McGill University.
Sage Ramadge is an advisor to early stage social enterprises and tech startups in areas of fundraising, impact strategy, and partnerships. Most recently he was Director of Social Impact at an innovation hub called Company (formerly known as Grand Central Tech) where he oversaw impact initiatives for the 150+ startups at their midtown headquarters. While there, Sage formed and led Company Impact, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building a diverse tech workforce, inclusive workplaces, and broader community engagement by the members of the NYC startup sector. Prior to joining Company, Sage was Executive Director of InSITE, a selective fellowship of top-tier graduate students in tech and VC, which he grew from 160 to 350 fellows across the country. Earlier in his career, Sage led the development of urban squash at StreetSquash Harlem and at the Squash and Education Alliance. Urban squash is a youth development model that uses the sport of squash as a vehicle for greater access to education for children in underserved communities. Sage has a BA in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University and is a Coro Leadership New York alumnus. He lives in Harlem with his wife and three children.
Emily Rasmussen is the Founder & CEO of the social enterprise that is democratizing philanthropy, Amplifunds. She brings 10 years of financing for impact and social enterprise leadership experience to the venture. She was the founding Executive Director of NYU’s Center for Ballet and the Arts, launched the Lincoln Center at the Movies global media initiative, and developed innovative financing models for impact at Enterprise Solutions to Poverty. Emily has consulted on event cinema for Disney Theatrical Group, taught Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship at SUNY Purchase, and spent two years developing microfinance and fair trade programs in India. She holds a B.A. from Occidental College in Diplomacy, World Affairs, and Economics and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Jennie Sowers is a Partner at KORE Private Wealth. Making connections – among people, relevant information and ideas, and opportunities – is Jennie's motivator. Building relationships inside and outside Kore Private Wealth, she is in tune with the nuances of personalities and needs, skills and strategies, asking lots of questions and listening to pinpoint relevant solutions. At the start of her career, Jennie was all about bond trading. She served on the taxable fixed income trading desk at Paine Webber (now UBS), then as divisional vice president managing the northeast division. She met Eric Bodner at Paine Webber, then eventually moved to Merrill Lynch with her Bodner Sax colleagues in 2009. Her deep knowledge of bonds and their mechanics enabled her to become a go-to resource for many clients of the team. Those bond discussions eventually evolved into more comprehensive investment discussions, helping her segue easily into client relations. As her team's business grew, she also took on business development and operations. A few years ago, she began concentrating exclusively on building the business and client relationships, especially supporting female clients to empower them in their financial lives. A member of the Endowment Committee of the Presbyterian Church of Upper Montclair, New Jersey, Jennie lives with her husband, JT, and their two children in Verona, New Jersey.