This October, Rama Chakaki and Quinn Novels had the pleasure of representing Transform VC at VCI’s Include Impact Conference in Washington, DC. It was an intimate gathering of purposeful impact investors, each driven by a shared mission: to uplift underrepresented communities and accelerate social and environmental change through innovative investing. The energy in the room was undeniable, and the insights shared were invaluable. Below are our five key takeaways from the event, along with reflections from the speakers who left a lasting impression on us.

1. DEI Needs a New Narrative – We’re Market Makers
Bahiyah Yasmeen Robinson, founder of VC Include and Founding Partner of Include Ventures, highlighted how the concept of DEI is evolving. She emphasized that we should no longer focus solely on representation but see ourselves as market makers—driving real economic power and influence. At Transform VC, we’re inspired to continue investing in founders who are shaping the future of social equity.

2. The Power of Regional Investing
Marvin Clark of JP Morgan Chase Commercial Banking underscored the importance of regional investing to drive local economic growth and create resilient communities. His efforts have tripled the number of diverse-owned businesses in his network. Melissa Stallings of Capital Impact Partners emphasized providing financial, social, and knowledge capital to local real estate developers of color, while Kate Goodall of Halcyon Venture Partners focused on creating social capital and disrupting networks to ensure diverse entrepreneurs and managers receive the support they need.

3. Family Offices: Building Meaningful, Long-term Relationships
The Family Office panel provided a wealth of insights on aligning impact with investment strategies. Lisa Marrone of Pivotal Ventures shared how gender-lens investing can uplift both women-led and male-led funds when they align with Pivotal’s mission. Leah Hokenson of Baldwin Wealth Partners discussed how intergenerational family offices are positioning wealth for long-term impact, connecting private capital to broader cultural shifts. Natalya Sanghvi of Stardust Equity highlighted how 80% of her portfolio’s managers are first-time fund managers, with 75% being diverse, showing how family offices can de-risk and scale impact-driven investments.

4. Mentorship and Staying Power for Emerging Managers
The Fund Fundamentals panel emphasized the critical role of mentorship and financial sustainability for emerging managers. Jailan Griffiths of Nasdaq spoke about building generational wealth for underserved investors, while La Keisha Landrum Pierre of Emmeline Ventures stressed the need for GPs to have the financial and social capital to sustain themselves through the early stages of fundraising. Charlotte Newman of AWS highlighted the power of personal narrative and storytelling in building social capital and connecting with investors, underscoring the importance of resilience in fund management.

5. Resilience and Risk-Taking: Lessons from Esusu
In a powerful closing fireside chat, Samir Goel of Esusu shared the journey of building a billion-dollar business while breaking barriers in financial inclusion. His reflections on enduring 360 rejections before finally securing a seed round investment were a testament to the resilience and grit required to succeed in impact investing. Samir’s story reinforced our belief that impact investing is about more than returns—it’s about transforming lives.
Moving Forward Together
We left the conference feeling energized, motivated, and incredibly optimistic about the future of impact investing. There is tremendous potential to build a more inclusive and equitable financial ecosystem, and we’re excited to partner with so many incredible leaders from the conference.
We invite all of you to join us in our mission to invest in and nurture 1,000 tech founders, each on a journey to impact a billion lives and generate a billion dollars in returns. Together, we can create systemic change and drive meaningful results for the communities that need it most.
