Why social impact startups are set up to fail | Clara Brenner | TEDxSanAntonio

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. We all know innovation is crucial to solving our community's toughest social issues-public transportation, urban poverty, and more. But today's urban impact entrepreneurs are faced with a catch-22: investors demand results before deploying capital, yet entrepreneurs lack the funding to produce early results. So how do we change the dynamic? And how can we provide early stage social entrepreneurs the capital they need to fix our cities?
Co-founder and CEO of Tumml, a nonprofit urban ventures accelerator, Clara's mission is to empower entrepreneurs to solve urban problems. In 2014, Forbes listed her as one of its “30 Under 30” for Social Entrepreneurship and The San Francisco Business Times named Tumml “Best Startup” at its Tech & Innovation Awards. Her work energizing urban impact entrepreneurship has been featured in numerous publications, including Forbes and the San Francisco Chronicle. Clara has a background in urban real estate and sustainability. She worked as an Associate with WestMill Capital, a real estate investment start-up focused on alternative financing and merchandising mixes authentic to the local area. Notably, she developed and edited content for two WestMill web platforms (Popularise.com and Fundrise.com) to interact with the community about local real estate projects. Clara earned her MBA from MIT Sloan and her BA from NYU. She sits on the MIT Sloan Alumni Board.
About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[@yoursassyrealtor]

I completely know where she’s coming from. My company I started was formed to help eradicate homelessness. Unfortunately for startups who need funding or capital, many of these pitch companies that offer competitions won’t provide funding. We really don’t need more makeup companies or dating apps, yet these are the companies that are given a leg up. It’s not about blaming investors but it does show where investors’ priorities lie. And the message that’s being put out there is profits are more important than people.

[@hellospacecadet2433]

We wish would have known about this then!

[@theholyrude]

The speaker is blaming investors for not investing enough in impact startups. This is basically like - I am using locally grown organic food in my restaurant, but my restaurant is falling. This is all customers fault! -. What she should have talked about are ways for impact startups to prove their profitability to their potential investors or ways to get funded in different ways such as crowd funding.

[@theholyrude]

Good cause doesn't necessary bring good result. Still, there are successful impact startups as well. Maybe these startups can form an organization and mentor new ones.

[@yeetsdatrollmon9456]

Bang on brother