Aidan: It’s great to be here, Spiffy, thanks for having me! At Verdethos, we are tackling the agricultural supply chain using technology to make it more efficient and transparent. There are several commodities like palm oil and cocoa that sometimes are grown in unsustainable methods using child labor or slash and burn technique (for example).  Consumers are becoming increasingly interested in understanding where their products are coming from and ensuring they are coming from growing areas that produce in sustainable methods. Our technology allows us to track the products across the supply chain and have a view of where the product is coming from.

Mandy: Thanks for having me, Spiffy! I started Official Black Wall Street (OBWS) to support a community in need. Growing up in Brooklyn, New York it was common to see Black-owned businesses on just about every block. Unfortunately this changed drastically with the rise of gentrification. I watched as one Black-owned business after the next closed down, many of them no longer able to keep up with the rising costs of gentrification and compete with the neighborhood's new Targets and Starbucks. I found countless stats illustrating how challenging it was, still is for Black entrepreneurs to gain the funds needed to excel in business. So I launched the OBWS platform and app to become an advocate for Black Business owners and to help our entrepreneurs gain the exposure, support, and resources they need to thrive.

Thanks for having me, Spiffy! I am an investor at GSV Ventures, a global venture capital firm that invests in startups that are transforming the $7 trillion global learning and skills market. We look to back mission-driven founders who are expanding access to education.