Vision Statement

The superpower of the ecological system on this planet is a combination of diversity and interconnection. Taking a cue from nature, we believe that positive change requires a connected system of innovation and enterprise that reflects the variety of humanity around the world. The mission of Global Urban Village is to empower entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds with the knowledge and capital to build successful impact businesses. Our vision is an interconnected global community where all enterprise contributes to advancing wellbeing for people and planet.

The pursuit of an entrepreneur is to create an innovation or enterprise that generates profit; impact entrepreneurs have the additional intention to measure and grow positive social and environmental results. We seek to support entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds with the intention and commitment to contribute to sustainability and improving quality of life.

Global Urban Village supports entrepreneurs by creating connections across borders, deploying capital with purpose, and delivering meaningful knowledge transfer and learning experiences. These elements are delivered through the two functional pillars of our business: a capacity building program and an impact venture fund for seed stage investment. These complimentary business functions embody our mission and drive the growth of successful impact businesses.

We are a husband and wife team based in Seattle, Washington, USA that left our Fortune 500 corporate careers in the commercial real estate and global consulting industries to pursue a more purpose driven life. As we incubated the idea for our project, we identified shared beliefs in having a global mindset and in the power of entrepreneurship to contribute to positive change. To develop our strategy, we deepened our research on key global trends that are shaping the world: the future of work, rapid urbanization, and climate change. These trends are powerful forces that left unchecked have devastating results for both people and planet, while they also provide an indication of where and what has a high potential for positive impact and financial success.

For example, the current model of the modern city is unsustainable and cities are a significant source of carbon emissions. However, urban environments are humanity’s best effort so far to create a sustainable-living model, as population density allows for more efficient resource usage. Increased urbanization leads to increased carbon emissions as well as the opportunity to introduce solutions that will that will make the biggest difference. This example and the implications of all three global trends point toward the opportunity presented by the fast-growing cities of the world.

Based on our research we developed a thesis that entrepreneurs in fast growing cities with innovations that contribute to sustainability and improved quality of life are uniquely positioned for positive impact and financial success. To test this theory and determine how we could best contribute, we set out on an extended trip to connect with entrepreneurs and players in the ecosystem and explore the challenges they face. We chose to begin in Asia, the world’s largest population center.

Over the course of 6 months in Southeast Asia meeting with over 60 members of the entrepreneurship ecosystem including business leaders, accelerator directors, investors, entrepreneurs, bankers, and NGOs we were able to clarify our understanding of the marketplace and the critical challenges that stand in the way of entrepreneurs successfully scaling needed innovations.

Challenges

1. 1. Resource gap in business skills and services
   2. Early stage startup funding gap
   3. Misalignment of philanthropic and for-profit funding sources

In response to these market challenges, Global Urban Village will focus on two business functions launched in succession: a capacity building program and an impact venture fund. These functions will be capitalized through a blended finance approach to align the values of philanthropic and for-profit funding sources.

Solutions

1. 1. Capacity building program
   2. Seed stage impact venture fund
   3. Blended finance

These elements work together to support the growth of impact businesses. The capacity building program provides services and experiences that prepare startups for investment and growth while delivering a de-risked pipeline of opportunities to the fund. The fund, with our capital partners, will evaluate and invest in the most promising startups to come through the program. We will seek philanthropic funding for the program to launch as a pilot and catalyze the venture fund. The venture fund will then absorb the costs of program delivery, which creates alignment of objectives between philanthropic and for-profit investors and a sustainable business model that can be replicated for expansion. With our sourcing network ready, third party partnerships in place, and program content developed, we are positioned to launch the capacity building program immediately and begin working toward our vision.

As a husband and wife team we have chosen to commit to leading a purpose driven business, striving to make a difference in the world. We are driven by our passion and strategic in our approach and have demonstrated resourcefulness, creativity and perseverance throughout our careers. We have thought deeply about how to make a meaningful contribution and how we are best suited to contribute. The design and structure of this company have already been influenced and supported by hundreds of people around the world. We are ready to empower entrepreneurs with the knowledge and capital to build successful impact businesses in Southeast Asia and beyond. We are dedicated to creating shared success and a world where all enterprise contributes to advancing the wellbeing of people and planet. We invite you to join us.