Inclusive Creative Economy Strategy
Upstart Co-Lab’s Inclusive Creative Economy Strategy launched with nearly $15 million committed. The first impact investing vehicle for the U.S. creative industries, Upstart’s Strategy provides an opportunity to make money for investors, and achieve positive outcomes for entrepreneurs and workers who are often overlooked and under-estimated in the overall economy but well-represented and able to succeed in the creative industries.
The Strategy’s portfolio investment approach includes both emerging funds and early-stage companies, targets market rate returns, and aims to achieve five impact goals: It will provide access to capital; create quality jobs; foster vibrant communities; support sustainable creative lives and pathways to a creative middle class; and build an inclusive, creative economy anchored in openness and experimentation, diversity and inclusion, and tradition and innovation.
Upstart anticipates its demonstration portfolio will incentivize impact fund managers and wealth advisors to prioritize creative industry investment opportunities.
Upstart Co-Lab’s Inclusive Creative Economy Strategy is supported by ImpactAssets.
Learn about the current portfolio
To learn more about participating in the Inclusive Creative Economy Strategy and to receive access to our data room, please email info@UpstartCo-Lab.org.
Webinar: Investing in an Inclusive Economy
An introduction to Upstart Co-Lab and our new Inclusive Creative Economy Strategy. Learn how — by investing in creative industries like fashion, film &TV, video games and more — you can provide quality jobs, anchor vibrant communities, and enable sustainable creative lives. Hear about how Upstart will partner with ImpactAssets using their multi-funder pooled structure to launch the first impact investing vehicle for the U.S. creative economy.
Upstart Co-Lab Investment Pipeline
The Inclusive Creative Economy Strategy invested in impact funds with 50%-100% creative economy exposure, prioritized emerging funds, investing in second-time funds raising $40-$100 million. We made direct investments in seed stage companies supporting creative people and creative business, and invested in platforms and marketplaces already generating revenue and raising $500K-$1.5M.
If you are a fund manager investing in food, fashion, media and other creative industries or an entrepreneur growing a creative sector business, we would love to hear from you. Learn more about Upstart Co-Lab’s assessment criteria, and share information about your fund or business here.