"I want a world where education is an equalizer. Schools in low-income neighborhoods have just as many resources as schools in upper income neighborhoods. Where every child has an opportunity pathway available to them that leads to a sustainable future."

"My vision is that our students experience safety and belongingness. I want my students to have voice and to be able to use what they are learning to influence their community while they are in school, not after they graduate. I also hope that Sledge Institute is a center for professional learning. I love to have fun and enjoy myself while at work. I want the educators and partners in my school as well as the family members to also feel like they are getting something out of the school. They are learning alongside the students, and they are also able to connect their passions to their professional learning. I don't want anyone, students or adults, to feel that they have to "endure" their time at Sledge Institute. I want them to see our school as a place of education, purpose-aligned work, and joy."

"You shouldn't have to force yourself or your venture fit into any particular box that doesn't seem authentic to you or the mission. Be open and receptive to feedback, but be discerning. Especially in the early days, the right people will get it and will support both you and the venture to grow in a way that is true to your strengths and values as well as the venture's."

“It's important to know your why and what you are willing to give up for that. I don't believe in overnight success stories. When you're trying to do something hard, it requires a lot out of you. So, the more clarity you have about your why, the easier it is to have an honest conversation about what sacrifices are needed.”

“My vision for the world through my venture is to lay down the foundation for accessible and ultimately free healthcare for every American… By removing barriers to healthcare access and addressing systemic inequalities, we can create a society where everyone has the opportunity to live a fulfilling and healthy life.”

Introducing the 13th cohort of the Camelback Fellowship of education and conscious tech innovators!

“baseline is completely built around Mission and Vision. For-profit mental health services, especially those for pre-crisis help, aren’t at all aligned with their user’s best interests - and trust me, it shows. As a non-profit, we’re forging a new path in this space by putting intersectionally disadvantaged users at the forefront, instead of creating a service that puts our profits first.”

“Being a founder has given me a sense of purpose. It has given me an opportunity to take all of my past experiences, whether good, bad and/or tragic, and utilize those experiences to now create a mission that creates change for the better and even saves lives.”

“I am creating an ecosystem of creative haymakers - a crew of genius, rogue, boss organizers and activists that are interested in telling a new story based on the joys, pains, hopes, and ambitions of all of us across the world. A new story based on the possibilities of a world we have devised in 10-15 hour improv sessions, art making, quilting, storytelling, music, and dance!”

“The most gratifying aspect of being a founder is the realization that I am actively pursuing my purpose of creating transformative and educational content that empowers numerous lives.”

“As an entrepreneur, I am driven by the desire to innovate and the autonomy to implement solutions that align with my vision of a more inclusive and supportive world. Each venture I undertake is a step towards breaking down barriers and empowering communities, particularly those who are often marginalized.”

“I hope that Inspiring Futures creates a space that is welcoming and embracing of all those who have system-involvement and are trying to move forward in life. I hope Inspiring Futures successfully de-stigmatizes mental health, and that as a result, these incredible youth and young people are able to stay out of future systems that the foster care system is often a pipeline to, disrupting the narrative that foster care is a pipeline to jail, homelessness, and other negative outcomes.“

“My vision for Village Nanny is for our app to be so universally accessible that it creates a paradigm shift in what families view as not only feasible and accessible, but beneficial, in terms of their family's village and needs. I hope to create a more caring, community-centered world in which children and elders are cared for in the ways that serve them best, a world in which more people have embraced the notion that it truly "takes a village,” and to leave a legacy for our own children.“

“Through Erudyte, my vision is to contribute to a world where education is truly inclusive, breaking down language barriers and providing equal opportunities for students regardless of their linguistic backgrounds. Ultimately, I envision a world where language is not a hindrance to academic success, and students can thrive, contribute meaningfully to society, and pursue their aspirations without limitations imposed by language barriers.”

“What I enjoy most about being a founder is the incredible opportunity it provides to champion causes that truly matter, like the taboos and stigmas surrounding women's health. Being a founder gives me a platform to make a meaningful difference, such as ensuring that the information we provide is both accessible and impactful.”

“Through [Southern Nevada Black Educators Initiative], I aspire to establish a realm that provides students of color with representation and opportunities. I envision a world abundant with culturally attuned, highly skilled Black educators passionately advocating for their students.”

“I want to contribute to a world where Black voices and narratives are authentically represented and celebrated, challenging stereotypes and promoting a diverse and inclusive cultural landscape.”

“I want to create a world where everyone has equal access to resources and the ability to pursue their dreams. I hope to help create a world that emphasizes the importance of collaboration, inclusivity, and respect for different perspectives. I want a world where race, age, gender, social class, or background aren’t barriers to opportunity.”

Introducing our first 2024 Camelback Fellowship cohort of education and conscious tech innovators!

“I hope that The Liberation Foundation helps close the door to recidivism and becomes a platform for men and women to highlight what true “Reform” looks like.”

“I spent almost 10 years as a K12 educator, first as a teacher, then an instructional coach, a career academy leader, and a principal-in-training. No matter whether I worked in a private school, public school, or district office, I was constantly confronting systems bound by constraints and bureaucracy. Finally, after years of trying to implement change from within, I realized I could help more students and affect greater systemic change outside of the system.”

Legacy is a strange thing. The word itself (from my experience) can conjure up all kinds of psychological baggage for those lucky enough to have significant wealth. Unfortunately, it’s usually unhelpful baggage, because the word tends to conjure up images around obligation, duty and (yes) guilt.

What sets the Camelback Ventures Fellowship apart isn't just what we do, but how we do it. We create a space of psychological safety, joy, and wellness, all while pushing our Fellows to excel in their ventures. We pour into our Fellows, encouraging them to pour into each other. The result is a vibrant, supportive, engaging community that makes our program truly unique.

Entrepreneurship has become increasingly ubiquitous, with individuals harnessing their talents and passions to launch new ventures. It’s often glamorized, with a strong emphasis on success stories and the allure of being one's own boss. However, this idealized image frequently overshadows the significant toll entrepreneurship takes on the wellness of founders.  Camelback Ventures shares what wellness supports it is leaning into in support of diverse founders as well as lessons learned.

Camelback Ventures’ The Well Founded Retreat was a prime example of communal care in action. This initiative aimed to support the growth and sustainability of founders of color by providing a space for rest, connection, and reflection. The retreat included activities such as group fitness classes, yoga, meditation, and reflective workshops. We share some key takeways and call for other funders to invest in the wellness of diverse founders.

'“Entrepreneurship comes with a burden of responsibility, a burden that easily founders of color take on, because we've seen the repercussions if no action is taken in our communities. We've seen that it can lead to no health care, a lack of insured folks in our family, a lack of equitable education, lack of affordable housing, lack of education opportunity. We have taken on this extra role that, sadly, we did not create our problems, yet we're taking them on, and that's a lot.”

“Since our team set out about 18 months ago to begin learning about systems change in funding governance, our idea that governance structures need to shift has only been affirmed. AND, the difficulty of reaching the top decision makers in order to truly make changes has become apparent. While Camelback Ventures’ work is all grounded in working in community, we have learned that in order to do this systems change work, collaboration with others seeking to make change is absolutely essential.“

In this insightful episode of “It’s Not Your Money,” Stephanie Brobbey from Good Ancestor Movement dives deep into her experience disrupting the private wealth industry through a reparative approach and explores strategies for moving wealthy folks towards racial justice learning and wealth redistribution.

In this dynamic episode of "It's Not Your Money," Efraín Gutierrez delves deep into “the patriarchy,” how it has shaped philanthropy, and what a different way of doing and being might look like.

“Doing away with applications will create a major disruption in the way foundations typically learn about new organizations, but it won’t stop them from learning altogether. In fact, it may draw more philanthropic leaders out of offices and echo chambers, and into relationships and communities where they can gain a better understanding of what is needed and which organizations are leading truly impactful work.”

In this insightful ”It’s Not Your Money” episode, Lisa Flick Wilson and Staci Walker from the Radical Optimist Collective to share their experiences working with philanthropy teams on racial justice learning, how that is different and similar to working with teams in other industries, and how their approach as a collective differs from typical org white supremacy cultural norms. 

“Just as we expect founders to design products and services that meet the needs of their target markets, I contend funders must also put in the effort to design financing instruments that align with the needs of BIPOC, women and nonbinary social entrepreneurs.“

Get to know Camelback Ventures’ first-ever Vice President of Development, Cathy Yi.

“It can be so easy to move through our daily to-dos towards our missions and forget to actually stop and embrace the why. Let our hearts lead. So much of the work is about us. Examine how we choose to show up for ourselves, our people, our mission. Ground ourselves in intention, especially when doing work that moves us towards a liberated future.”

“Co.act Detroit aims to promote a more equitable funding landscape in our region by piloting participatory practices and centering community voices. Our role as a convener also allows us to advocate for change across philanthropy by creating space for honest dialogue, peer learning, and reimagining decision-making.”

Camelback Ventures is proud to welcome our fourth cohort of the Capital Collaborative by Camelback Ventures.

“By making a conscious effort to elevate our own psychological operating system, we can expand our view beyond our own immediate needs and  fears. This more resourceful perspective equips us with the depth required to tackle systemic issues more holistically, thus opening the door for more enduring and equitable solutions in the realm of philanthropy.”

In a time where technological innovation is redefining industries, driving our economy, and reshaping society, Camelback Ventures is committed to elevating the diverse voices and groundbreaking contributions of undervalued entrepreneurs, and highlighting how their innovative spirit is propelling us towards a future that is both inclusive and revolutionary.

Here are a few powerful takeaways from our recent "Entrepreneurship Is...Innovation" panel, powered by longtime supporters CTIA Wireless Foundation and featuring Camelback Fellows and Catalyst Winners. 

Even if you’ve never written a line of code, you still need to understand technology fundamentals, like how a tech product is built, what it can do for your business, and how to hire and communicate with your tech team. These 7 tips from Camelback Fellowship Coach Maxim Cramer will help you on your journey.

As you embark on your entrepreneurial journey, it is always helpful to learn from those who have come before you. Here are seven tips from Camelback Fellows to motivate you to keep pushing forward.

Here we go again! The Camelback Fellowship application is open October 1st - October 18th.

“Here it is - the opening of the 2021 Camelback Fellowship Application. With our search for the next generation of the #CamelbackFam in full swing, we wanted to fill you in on some updates. In the name of continuous evolution, we’re making a few changes (you know we like to keep it fresh!)”

“In 2021, we are looking forward to brighter days, growth, and innovation. We launched a new Capital Collaborative cohort; we are reconfiguring the Camelback Fellowship, and we are investing in our network of past Fellows by building a team to support them.”

In entrepreneurship, we believe you always get better or worse, but you never stay the same. So, we’ve made a program rooted in helping entrepreneurs only get better. We identified five Core Competencies that we make sure every Camelback Fellow grows and excels in.

“There’s a way to fundraise as yourself. Your racial identity, academic pedigree, and physical appearance are not deal-breakers. I know this from experience. I’ve helped founders across all spectrums of race, sexuality, class, and type of venture. They’ve all been able to raise funds. There is no magical formula, but it is possible to raise money while keeping your soul intact.”