Revolutionizing the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

by Laurie Griffith

iSelect Fund’s CEO, Carter Williams, explains the innovation that is impacting the ecosystem.

What does every business need? Customers.  

Building a customer base takes time and money, a strong referral network, and collaborative insights from other business owners who have “been there and done that.” Through an innovative business model, iSelect Fund takes these elements and packages them in a way that enables entrepreneurs to help other entrepreneurs focus on what they need most: customers.

Carter Williams, iSelect Fund’s CEO, is on a mission to bring a new aspect of innovation to the much-talked-about entrepreneurial ecosystem. Carter, a successful entrepreneur in the energy industry and previous Boeing executive, brings together esteemed industry experts, proven entrepreneurs, prestigious financial advisory firms, accredited investors and early-stage entrepreneurs into a revolutionary interdependent ecosystem that ultimately builds a deep and wide customer base.

“Quite often, small-business owners in the Midwest find themselves in the dual position of having to spend an enormous amount of time raising capital, leaving little time to grow their customer base,” remarked Williams.

Entrepreneurs located on either the East or West Coast merely have to step out on the street corner and yell, “I need funding!” and dollars fall from the sky.

For entrepreneurs in the Midwest, pennies don’t fall from heaven that easily. Does that mean there are fewer investment dollars available across the Midwest? Not at all. In fact, there are more than 50,000 accredited investors in St. Louis alone.

Does that mean the accredited investors in the heart of America’s heartland don’t love entrepreneurs? Again, not at all. In fact, accredited investors typically own businesses and view themselves as entrepreneurs who worked hard to build their companies. They appreciate the inspired innovation of this new class of entrepreneurs, and they are seeking ways to access information about early-stage venture companies.

Financial advisers, always on the lookout for new ways to bring value to their clients, can confidently create new conversations with investors based on iSelect Fund’s innovative approach to investing.

Williams frames his stance for developing a customer base for Midwest entrepreneurs in this way: “The big problems are best solved by entrepreneurs; just think of the potential for this nation if we found 100 more Steve Jobs. While Silicon Valley is focused on a few narrow industries, iSelect Fund sees opportunities to support entrepreneurs in other industries, like biotech, medical, materials, and energy. As the Midwest unlocks local funding, the next Steve Jobs will emerge, but it won’t be another cell phone; it will be clean, cheap energy; solving cancer; improving education; space travel; and a hundred other profound endeavors.”

iSelect Fund uses industry experts and solid legal teams to provide diligence on the Midwest’s most promising new ventures. Extensively vetted emerging growth companies are placed on iSelect Fund’s dynamic portfolio of diversified companies. Financial advisory firms across the Midwest partner with iSelect Fund to offer their accredited investors an opportunity to customize how they invest in iSelect Fund portfolio companies. Accredited investors now have the confidence to make intelligent investment decisions so that these new entrepreneurs don’t have to spend time fundraising and can focus on attracting new customers.  

Learn more about the entrepreneurial ecosystem and the way iSelect Fund (www.iselectfund.com) is impacting the ecosystem as Carter Williams talks about the opportunity for entrepreneurs and investors in the Midwest at our next Sharp and On Point Speaker Series from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 24, at the Lodge Des Peres. To reserve your seat or for more information, visit www.sharpandonpoint.com or www.lopataflegel.com. n       

Laurie Griffith is a principal at Lopata, Flegel & Co. Accountants and Management Consultants. Join us at the free monthly Sharp and On Point Business Advisory Speaker Series from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. the third Tuesday of every month at the Lodge Des Peres. Learn business strategies you can immediately put in place in your office.  For more information, visit www.sharpandonpoint.com.