Suggestions
Laurie Felker Jones
Market & Venture Builder | Capital Strategist for Profits & Purpose
Laurie Felker Jones is a dedicated innovator specializing in hybrid ventures, alternative financing, and cross-sector ecosystem-building.
With a background in impact finance, Laurie works with a diverse range of clients, currently serving as an Entrepreneur In Residence for Techstars in their 'Equitech' portfolio in Baltimore, Maryland, and the DC portfolio funded by JPMorgan.
Laurie has co-developed 'Capital Explorer', a diagnostic tool for founders to determine suitable financing instruments, in collaboration with Aunnie Patton Power and Village Capital's innovation team.
Her professional journey includes leadership positions in startups across various sectors, political organizing, and fundraising for prominent organizations like Annie's List, Gloria Steinem's PAC, and Planned Parenthood.
She holds a Master's degree in Social Business and Entrepreneurship from the London School of Economics, a Bachelor's degree in Government and Gender Studies from the University of Texas at Austin, and has completed the Oxford Impact Finance Innovations Programme at the Saïd Business School.
Laurie is also an advocate for gender equality and has received recognitions for her work in advancing women in politics and historically excluded founders in the startup ecosystem.
As a global citizen, Laurie divides her time between Baltimore, Austin, and London, where she enjoys gardening and resides with her family and pets.
Highlights
There might be 90 days until the big US election, but Community Voting is open now for #SXSW 2025 🚀
👉 Alyssa Padron of Village Capital and I are hosting a session*, and we would be honored for your vote: https://lnkd.in/e5kGHMkQ
👇 Also, I want to know what you're excited about! So, comment below with links to other things we should vote for -- including your own panel!
🗣Together, we can use our voices to shape the agenda of one of the biggest #tech conferences in the world. Teamwork makes the dreamwork; so let's gooo!
About our Session Did you know that there are more than 16 different ways to #fund #startups Beyond VC? 👀 🤯 In our practical, interactive workshop, Alyssa Padron and I will put the fun in fundraising helping #startup #founders, #funders, #ecosystembuilders and #allies discover #CapitalExplorer and most importantly, what could be a fit for their models! 💰🔍 ✨
Last night I had the honor & privilege to celebrate & acknowledge 10 incredible teams who just completed the Techstars Equitech Accelerator in partnership with UpSurge Baltimore! ↗️ The teams in this latest class, along with an entire ecosystem in #Baltimore led by Kory Bailey✨ & the #UpSurge team is working hard every day demonstrating 👏🏿what👏🏾it👏🏽 looks👏🏼like👏🏻 to bring outsized value to users, customers, investors & stakeholders. If you're not already familiar with these outstanding founders, and the #Equitech movement to create a culture of belonging in tech, I highly recommend you check it all out!
*** 🥁2024 Techstars Equitech Accelerator Class 🥁***
🎶 Jeremy Da of Acrylic.LA🦎 A unique marketplace democratizing sync licensing, allowing content creators access to ARTIST-branded music royalty-free.
📚 Perry Kalmus & Ori Kalmus of AKALA, Inc.: Leveling the college admissions field with a platform providing expert guidance to those without dedicated counselors.
🔒 Shauna Dillavou of Brightlines: Safeguarding employee data through AI to prevent doxxing and hacks, ensuring a secured and productive workforce.
🌐 CloudnineAI: Revolutionizing data management with AI-powered software that unifies and instantly analyzes disparate data, ensuring sensitive information's security.
👌 Levern Currie of Drivingo: Bridging communication barriers with an automated Drive-Thru system for non-verbal ordering and real-time translation services.
🏠 Terrence Nickelson of Goby Homes, Inc.: A multi-party collaboration platform enhancing the home-buying experience with improved communication and transparency.
💡 Lydia Ofori, CFA, CAIA of Plainr: An intelligence generation platform accelerating decision-making for PE teams and their portfolio companies.
⚖️ Laneisha Roberts & Kristin Bell PRC, CDR, CDP of ReviewTailor (Techstars ‘24): Offering an automated performance management tool that promotes equitable and efficient performance reviews.
🍏 Rich T. & Sean Crenshaw of Secured Health: A platform addressing food insecurity by streamlining access to food as medicine benefits, reducing healthcare costs.
🌐 8LAB: An AI workspace and network empowering solopreneurs with tools, experiences, and community support.
*** Special shout-out to the Techstars Equitech Accelerator #dreamteam: our MD Adam H. Phillips, extra-friggin-ordinary Program Lead Darius Clair, everyone's fave investment associate Russell H., my fellow #EIRs Elisa Sepulveda & McKeever (Mac) Conwell,II, foundational partners in progress Ada Ryland & Mike Lane-Evans, and of course ALL of the #mentors, supporters, and champions of these founders & the ecosystem! 🚀
