Redesigning venture capital: Eric Collins on the overlooked founders beating the odds

Eric Collins co-founded Impact X Capital to back the founders traditional venture capital overlooks. Inspired by the "original investors" in his own life, Eric’s work is driven by his belief that while talent is distributed equally, opportunity is not.In this episode - our season finale - Eric discusses his move from technology executive to investor and why he sees the racial wealth gap as a problem that can be solved through intentional capital. He reflects on the journey of Impact X portfolio company Marshmallow to unicorn status and shares the logic behind investing in the animated series Iyanu.You’ll learn:- Why Impact X invests where other VC firms don't - and the data that backs its strategy- Why good ideas are distributed equally across populations, but venture capital remains stubbornly concentrated- How Marshmallow helped bridge the insurance gap for immigrants, reaching a $1.2B valuation in 18 months.---*** Help us shape the future of Made For Us! Take our 4-minute listener survey for the chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card and get instant access to our curated reading list of every book ever recommended on the show: https://forms.gle/pNyrCooa23oYsaVk7---About Eric CollinsEric Collins is a serial entrepreneur, investor, technology executive, host of award-winning Channel 4 business show, The Money Maker. In 2018 he co-founded Impact X Capital Partners, a UK domiciled VC fund that has closed 2 funds with 49 investments including Europe’s 2nd Black unicorn, insurtech innovator, Marshmallow. In his award-winning book, We Don’t Need Permission: How Black Business Can Change Our World (Penguin), Eric argues investing in Black and underrepresented entrepreneurs is the surest, fastest socio-economic game changer there is.Follow Eric Collins on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericdcollinsba/Learn more about Impact X: www.impactxcapital.comRead We Don’t Need Permission: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/446046/we-dont-need-permission-by-collins-eric/9780552178648Learn more about the Black Literary Club: https://www.theblackliteraryclub.com/---Connect with Made for UsShow notes and transcripts: https://made-for-us.captivate.fm/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/madeforuspodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeforuspodcast/Newsletter: https://madeforuspodcast.beehiiv.com/Season 3 credits:Creator, producer & host: Tosin SulaimanAudio engineering: Justin Orive | Graphic design: Judith RaynaultSocial media: Shilton Freeman | Cover art: Valentin Grimoux