VENTURE CATALYST
Karen Rands believes that we are in a unique place in history-the democratization of investing in innovation and sharing in the wealth created by successful entrepreneurs. She started the Compassionate Capitalist™ Movement to inspire wealthy 'accredited' level investors and 'accredited-adjacent' investors to add a little known asset class to their wealth creation strategies - Investing in Entrepreneurs as Angel or Crowdfund Investing. History has shown angel investing is 3 x more profitable than other traditional assets. The math shows that for young people entering the workforce starting to invest for retirement, crowdfund investing just $500 a month will be 7x more profitable than standard returns on a 401k investing the same amount.
Karen has long recognized the imbalance in entrepreneur/investor ecosystems with the numbers of companies graduating incubators, accelerators, and university entrepreneur programs deemed 'ready for capital' far surpass the number of angel investors. Those that do qualify and get their first round of capital often go flat in their growth because they lack access to follow on investing. Karen knows that Regulation Crowdfunding in all its mechanisms can solve this problem.
With more capital available to qualified entrepreneurs and small business owners, economies grow stronger, with business growing and sustaining; spending money with vendors; creating jobs; and in turn investing back into the community and other businesses---funded innovation solves problems.
Critical to solving this systemic and vast capital abyss for startups, early stage and growth stage companies, and bridging the wealth gap for whole segments that have been left behind is growing a whole new generation of Angel and Crowdfund Investors. The US Treasury and SEC commissioned reports in 2024 to understand why there is such a huge capital gap. They determined it was lack of awareness about investing in entrepreneurs, now legal for anyone since the JOBS Act of 2012, and extremely limited tools and education. Karen has solved the latter part with the The Compassionalist™ Academy, an on demand financial literacy platform designed to guide investors, from novice to advanced, in how to invest in entrepreneurs and share in their success, financially.
COACH & MENTOR
Karen Rands is sought after by CEOs to help them develop a capital strategy that maps to their business growth goals…and execute on that plan to raise capital from their own network and Karen's extensive capital network- The Launch Funding Network.
With her in-depth knowledge and long term relationships in the capital markets, she has helped companies in all stages and industries obtain capital and achieve their growth goals.
AUTHOR
Originally written as a training tool to rebuild her Angel Investor group a decade ago, Karen Rands has meticulously researched and re-written her classic “Learn to be an Angel Investor” as the Inside Secrets to Angel Investing - Step-by-Step Strategies to Leverage Private Equity Investment for Passive Wealth Creation to champion a new generation of investors and the Compassionate Capitalist™ Movement. Her second book is The Inside Secrets to Crowdfund Investing- Follow Jane's Journey: See How a New Generation Builds Wealth with Purpose, Passion, and Profit.
I am a Compassionate Capitalist™. I am a Venture Catalyst.
My MISSION: Inspire & equip more people to want to Invest in Business Private Equity; from Innovative Startup Entrepreneurs to Growing Small Businesses and share in their financial success.
☆ Balance the Entrepreneur & Investor Ecosystem & Fund Innovation ☆
