Upstart Co-Lab Insights

Upstart Co-Lab regularly contributes our perspective and learnings at conferences and on webinars across the U.S. and around the world.


Ethic.TV

Upstart’s founding partner Laura Callanan sits down with Ethic cofounder Jay Lipman and Stephen Satterfield, host of Netflix’s High on the Hog and founder of Whetstone Media, to chat about why investors should be looking to the creative economy as they consider impact investing opportunities.



9th Delphi Economic Forum

Upstart’s founding partner Laura Callanan spoke at the Delphi Economic Forum in Greece on the connection between investments and the creative economy, likening it to building an ecosystem. She stressed the need to educate investors on how the creative economy operates, advocated for building a coalition to support it, and emphasized the benefits of investing in the creative economy, including access to capital for women, opportunities for quality jobs and community development.



Creative Initiatives and Cultural Policies Forum hosted by the British Council Egypt

Upstart’s founding partner Laura Callanan spoke at the Creative Initiatives and Cultural Policies Forum hosted by the British Council in Cairo in 2023 sharing the story of Upriver Studios, lessons learned over the past 10 years, and reasons to be optimistic about the future of impact investing in the creative economy.



International Policy Forum on the Creative Industries hosted by British Council Turkey

Upstart’s founding partner Laura Callanan spoke at the International Policy Forum on the Creative Industries hosted by British Council in Istanbul in November 2022 describing the type of impact investors can achieve in the creative economy.



Impact Investing: Putting Your Museum’s Money Where Your Values Are hosted by the American Alliance of Museums

Upstart’s founding partner Laura Callanan spoke at the American Alliance of Museums 2024 Annual Meeting on how museums can align their money with their mission and values, in particular their commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. From a session recorded during the American Alliance of Museums Annual Meeting & Museum Expo, held May 16-19, 2024.



Climate + Social Impact Week at Columbia University School of Business

Upstart’s founding partner Laura Callanan and senior associate Aparna Bagade spoke at Columbia University School of Business as part of 2024 Climate + Social Impact Week sharing their personal impact investing career journeys, and describing Upstart’s Inclusive Creative Economy Strategy.