The Wealth Salons

Foley & Lardner LLP sponsored Musa Capital's "OGs and LPs" event in collaboration with The Wealth Salons and DVRGNT Ventures and it a fabulous gathering of talented and interesting people focused on addressing racial disparity in the world of venture capital. It was a wonderful evening with amazing folks including Allen Smith, B. Pagels-Minor, Yan Chen, MelRose Wild (Bickerstaff), Dawn Dobras, Matthew McTire and so many more. And it was the perfect way to kick off #ArtBasel in Miami. Thank you to my partners James Carlos McFall and Trey McDonald for making the introduction. Wish you had been there too!

This weeks' truth bomb: “I've gone to all the schools, studied all the maths, pursued entrepreneurship as I was told... but that doesn't necessarily guarantee financial freedom, success or generational wealth for all people.” 💥 💥 💥 Stephanie Van Putten, executive director of Visible Figures, joins Cammie Doder and me this week on Aspiriant's Money Tales. Stephanie’s money journey spans from a childhood living below the poverty line to elite universities and from tech companies to startup founder. Listen in as Stephanie pulls back the curtain on her lived experiences facing racial, gender and socioeconomic bias and shares how that’s compelled her to start a movement to pluralize the archetype of genius. 💡 You can find the episode here or wherever you get your podcasts: https://lnkd.in/grmxGuhU Thanks again to B. Pagels-Minor for your continued support of the Money Tales project and introducing us to Stephanie. #SystemicChange #WomenEmpowerment #EntrepreneurshipReality"

I've had the privilege of participating in several pitch contests. Still, TechRise Chicago is next level in terms of experience, founders, community connections, and team commitment. Most folx know it is my second home after Memphis, and I was heartened to see what Desiree Vargas Wrigley is building in the best city on Earth (no need to argue the point because it’s true Their founders, thanks to TechRise Chicago, P33 Chicago, and other partners, have raised nearly $200MM in funding. This is a story that should be shouted from the rooftops, so I’ll get it started. Check them out, folx!!!! #thegreat38 #midwest #VC #VentureCapital #chicago #virtuouscapitalism #incubators #techrise

🌊 Overlooking the Pacific from Cooley LLP’s #Santa #Monica office during #LATechWeek was the perfect setting to dive into a critical conversation: how Canadian-based businesses can strategically position themselves to attract U.S. venture capital, especially here in #LA’s #thriving #ecosystem. It was even better having the convo with Priya D. Patel, the #startuplawgenius 🤓 . Our convo was moderated by the one and only B. Pagels-Minor 🔥 We unpacked essential topics for founders eyeing cross-border expansion: 📜 Delaware C-corps and IP law, case law precedents, the intricate dance of domiciling abroad while raising stateside capital, and the very real balance of risks vs. benefits. It was a powerful reminder that scaling internationally isn’t just about funding—it’s about strategy, structure, and a bold vision for global growth. The founders in attendance? Absolutely brilliant. The energy? Contagious. The takeaways? Indispensable. This wasn’t just about theory; it was about real-world application and leveraging U.S. markets without losing the unique advantages of being Canadian-founded. A huge thank you to B. Pagels-Minor and Rachel Horning (my favorite people! 😊) for creating a dynamic, inclusive space with the Canadian Consulate and The Wealth Salons and The Black Wealth Salons. This partnership spotlighted the opportunities that arise when we bridge global innovation with LA’s fast-paced tech landscape. For non-US based founders contemplating U.S. expansion, here was our takeaway: embrace Delaware’s legal framework and the sheer access to investors here, but do so with eyes wide open to operational impacts, scalability, and jurisdictional risks. The goal? To empower founders to navigate both ecosystems—leveraging the best of #Canadian ingenuity and #U.S. market reach 🌎🚀. I’m thrilled to see where these cross-border conversations take us. Let’s continue connecting, inspiring, and building pathways for founders ready to redefine global success. I loved seeing my favs in the room! D'Angela Proctor, Esquire Evan Boswell Hamilton Rachel Horning Kimberley Nixon moaz ゼ H. Giselle Phelps and meeting new favs Seun Sanni and many others! #LATechWeek #CrossBorderGrowth #VentureCapital #USFounders #GlobalFounders #InvestinCanada #WealthSalons #CanadianFounders #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #BlackWealthSalons #GlobalExpansion #StrategicGrowth #USVenture

We’re beyond excited to be celebrating the 1 year anniversary of The Wealth Salons and the official 501c3 approval for our nonprofit! It’s been an incredible journey. We’ve officially opened up membership applications and, of course, are always happy to take a donation or 3. https://lnkd.in/gbH-pY9m If you're in LA, feel free to apply to join our event in partnership with the Consulate General of Canada in Los Angeles | Consulat général du Canada à Los Angeles, BLCK VC, HubSpot, Cooley LLP, Fabric VC, Build in Tulsa, Rejuvenation: https://lu.ma/798ixa9j

Diversity isn’t just a checkbox—it’s a powerful driver of innovation and success. We believe that by embracing varied perspectives, we’re not only enriching our investment strategies but also paving the way for a more dynamic and representative entrepreneurial ecosystem. Let’s keep pushing for systemic change and celebrate the progress being made. The future of venture capital is inclusive, and we’re proud to be part of that transformation! Thanks to Julie Kratz and Forbes for continuing to support and increasing the visibility of our mission and the paradigm of VC we're shifting. We encourage you to read and share the article with your network to help us spread our message: https://lnkd.in/gUXWUanj #FabricVC #WeaveWithUs #DiversityMatters #ImpactInvesting

I am Tech Bloc! Being involved in this vibrant community has provided me with countless opportunities for growth, learning, and networking. It's incredible to see the impact we are making together in the tech industry. I was connected to Ileana Gonzalez by Brooke Brandes Warren. Brooke saw that the two of us would be very aligned because we are both visionaries and doers. Then, Ileana Gonzalez introduced me to Lina G. Rugova Christine C. Hajar Moshirsadri, ITIL v3, SMC Malissa Runty. These women came together because we hadn't found the support in SATX to grow our business, so we came together, alongside Tech Bloc and formed WINC Founders. If you have not joined us yet, you should.

💡🌟 Think Silicon Valley is the only hotspot for venture investing? Think again! This week on Aspiriant's Money Tales podcast, B. Pagels-Minor, founder of DVRGNT Ventures, reveals how they’re shaking things up by investing in tech startups from "the Great 38" (economically diverse states that don’t always grab the attention they deserve). 🚀✨ B. shares with Cammie Doder and me how they’re shining a spotlight on overlooked innovators, fostering economic growth in Middle America, and bringing a fresh wave of investors to the table. 📈💪 Get inspired by B.'s mission to spotlight hidden innovators and attract a new wave of investors. And don’t miss out on how dynamic networking can supercharge your development, investment journey, and money conversations! 🎙️💼 Click here to listen and find this episode on your favorite podcast platform: https://lnkd.in/g7jQZmve

Season 3 promo and cast announcement is here! Make sure to subscribe to our Youtube to receive each new episode starting next Tuesday. Drumroll for our cast: Natalie Daise Christy Rutherford ♦ Women's Leadership Expert Lauren Ficklin B. Pagels-Minor Angela Dougan Sherrer Camille Stewart Gloster, Esq 🎥Jessica Jawspeaksdigital Walker📲 Idara Otu, OLY Pearlé Nwaezeigwe Joy Ofodu