Entrepreneur Represents an Impact Trifecta, Self-Driving Tangent and $5M-in-a-Day Substack Offering
This Entrepreneur Represents an Impact Trifecta - s11 ep29
AI Episode Summary
Chef Kenyatta Ashford is launching his first brick-and-mortar restaurant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, called Neutral Ground.
The restaurant concept was born during the pandemic as Chef Kenyatta was furloughed from his previous job and used the opportunity to pursue his dream of owning his own restaurant.
The restaurant is influenced by Chef Kenyatta's upbringing in New Orleans and his African and Creole culture.
Neutral Ground recently collaborated with a local family-run farm called Sequatchie Cove to host a dinner event showcasing their high-quality products, like grass-fed ribeye and lamb meat lollipops.
Chef Kenyatta's vision for the restaurant goes beyond just serving food and aims to become an integral part of the community, supporting local culinary arts programs and offering opportunities for underserved youth.
Neutral Ground is currently raising $450,000 through a crowdfunding campaign on Wefunder to open their own brick-and-mortar restaurant.
This investment represents a trifecta opportunity for impact investors as it supports a local business, social mission, and a diverse founder.
Chef Kenyatta's superpower is his grit and persistence, which has helped him overcome challenges and reach his current level of success.
He advises others to live in the present, stay focused, and take one step at a time to strengthen their mental resilience.
To learn more about Neutral Ground and Chef Kenyatta Ashford, visit their Instagram and Facebook pages, and consider investing in their Wefunder campaign to support their vision and mission.
A Self-Driving Tangent and 2 Upcoming Events
Our Waymo Ride
On Sunday, our Palo Alto-based son Dayton invited us to go for a ride in a Waymo robotaxi in San Francisco. He’s been on the wait list for months and just got invited to join the active membership.
This was our first experience in a self-driving vehicle. It was pretty wild to see the empty driver’s seat even as the steering wheel autonomously guided the car. I’m not sure what it says about me, but I missed chatting with the Lyft driver as I’m accustomed to doing.
Wefunder’s Jonny Price Explains the $5M-in-a-Day Substack Offering - s11 ep30
AI Episode Summary
Devin Thorpe interviews Jonny Price, VP of Wefunder, on the topic of investment crowdfunding.
Jonny has been with Wefunder since 2018 and has witnessed the growth of the company and the industry.
Jonny reflects on the progress made in the industry, citing the increase in the cap, new SEC regulations, and the rise of community rounds.
Although investment volume in the market has decreased, Wefunder has remained steady and continues to grow, contributing to the vision of expanding the market for crowdfunding.
Jonny acknowledges that while the potential for market growth is significant, it may not reach a thousand-fold increase, but a hundred-fold increase is achievable.
Jonny emphasizes the importance of crowdfunding for small businesses and Main Street SMEs, as they often have limited access to capital and can benefit from raising funds from their community.
Substack's success in raising $5 million in 24 hours on Wefunder is attributed to the company's large and passionate user base.
Jonny suggests that building an incredible product and company with a loyal customer base is the key to successful crowdfunding campaigns.
Jonny believes his superpower is his relentless positive energy and resilience, which has helped him overcome challenges in his career and personal life.
He suggests practicing gratitude and focusing on one's zone of genius to maintain a positive mindset and achieve success.
