#blm & search funds

June 04, 2020

by a searcher from Harvard University - Harvard Business School in 1970 Walton Dr, Burlington, WA 98233, USA

I am a cis- white- male. I acknowledge the privilege that I have received.

I acquired an education - and funding - and a target acquisition - because of that privilege.

Entrepreneurship through acquisition is the best risk-adjusted launchpad for generational wealth transition that I know of.

I want to help. It is time to talk about how we use our platform, privilege, and knowledge for the greater good. I would like to start that conversation here.

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Reply by an admin
from Stanford University in Honolulu, HI, USA

Thank you, ^redacted‌, for starting the conversation. In this time of upheaval, it is difficult to know what to say or whether what you say will be heard in the way you intended. So, it means a lot to say publicly: I care and I want to be a part of the change that must happen. Unequal access to capital, information and resources for African Americans and people of color is a signature element of structural racism. While this Tedx talk is 4 years old, Rukaiyah Adams, who is Chief Investment Officer of Meyer Memorial Trust makes as compelling a case as I've ever seen on this issue: Homegirls’ guide to being powerful (video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8b4nHY9AB28. I am proud that we are seeing increasing numbers of people of color and women interested in the search fund concept on Searchfunder. In listening to them, they face enormous challenges in getting investor attention and then actually landing the funds necessary to launch a search fund or acquire a company. We have many members of in our communities who are for the first time recognizing and acknowledging that our socio-economic systems were designed to be oppressive. To crib from Emma Lazarus, none of us is truly free until all of us are truly free. In that spirit, I am sharing some resources on systemic inequality and potential solutions: * Systematic Inequality: https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/race/reports/2018/02/21/447051/systematic-inequality/ * Structural Racism: Promising Solutions: https://next50.urban.org/question/structural-racism#close-the-racial-wealth-gap I have had a heavy heart this week and extend virtual hugs and care to all who have been feeling the same. Here are some resources on understanding racial trauma: * https://diversity.ucdavis.edu/resources-racial-trauma * https://t.e2ma.net/click/jmlp4f/rsr0gdc/fr2yd3 * https://t.e2ma.net/click/jmlp4f/rsr0gdc/vj3yd3 Once the protests end, the hard work will begin. I look forward to the conversation.

Reply by a searcher
from University of Southern California in Roseville, CA, USA

Thanks for starting this conversation, Scott. I am new to the group, and was somewhat surprised to see the topic come up—but it was a pleasant surprise for me. It feels good to know that other people ( regardless of their background) care about these difficult issues that we are all facing together, and that searchfunder is an inclusive community. Like Ali, I have also benefited from enormous privilege and great opportunities throughout my lifetime that have carried me to where I am today, and agree that the important thing to focus on is what we all do with all of our various privileges... to be honest, I’ve also faced some of the challenges that Karen alluded to, and I’d be interested to hear anyone’s experience on how they have been able to overcome those types of challenges to successfully access funding for and close deals. As a new acquisitions entrepreneur, it can be daunting to consider that institutional racism may play a role in making the acquisition process—one that is already complex and full of unique challenges for anybody—even more challenging. I’d love to hear how people have succeeded despite that harsh reality.

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