Happy Tuesday, friends! Just emerged from a research rabbit hole so deep I almost forgot what sunlight looks like ☀️
Click to watch the video or scroll down read the Claude-assisted content below!
First things first: I got schooled (and I'm grateful for it) 📚
A wonderful past client reminded me that calling our current finance systems "traditional" is... well, wrong. Traditional finance includes indigenous and regenerative practices that have existed for millennia. What we have now is CONVENTIONAL finance—a relatively recent invention that's already showing cracks.
Thank you for that perspective shift. Passing it on! 🙏
Speaking of traditional (actual traditional)... 📖
I devoured John Fullerton's work on regenerative economics from Hourbooks-- it's super accessible and engaging. It breaks down why conventional economics (infinite growth on a finite planet) is fundamentally flawed, while regenerative economics focuses on interconnectedness and resource management that's both practical AND abundant.
Great read for those who already know they are interested in this topic, but I'd recommend it even more for folks who are not yet sure if this is interesting or relevant to them.
Now here's where it gets interesting: Cooperative finance models 🤝
Ever heard of a ROSCA? (Rotating Savings and Credit Associations) If not, you've probably heard of the model...
Picture this: Everyone in the neighborhood pools $5 so one person can buy a sewing machine to start offering their services and handmade goods. Now the whole community has access to that resource. This model has spontaneously emerged on every continent where humans live. Some are institutionalized, some stay beautifully informal.
But here's my challenge: I can't find ROSCAs operating in business finance contexts. The closest I've found is high-net-worth investing circles (definitely not what we're after).
Then there's the big leagues: Mondragón Corporation
This Basque cooperative is worth BILLIONS of euros. Tons of businesses operating under one cooperative umbrella with true democratic governance (one person, one vote). They've achieved both wealth AND incredible care for their communities.
I need to read everything about this organization immediately.
Closer to home: Kachuwa Impact Fund
This Colorado-based investing cooperative focuses on impact business investing AND impact real estate. Plot twist: many of their investees are dear friends and collaborators of mine. Small world, big possibilities.
My ask (as always): Send me down more rabbit holes! 🐰
Looking for: → Cooperative finance examples → Scalable community finance models → Business investing co-ops → Anything that breaks the conventional mold in ethical business finance.
AND any advice or connections that might help me get accepted to the Boston Impact Initiative Advancing Regenerative Capital Fellowship. I'm working on my application now, planning to submit it Thursday.
What I'm NOT looking for: CDFIs
Listen, they serve a purpose and I'm glad they exist. But in my understanding, CDFIs are nonprofit banks operating within the same extractive system—trying to make debt slightly less painful rather than reimagining the whole thing.
That's valuable work, but it's not MY work. I want to chase something that remains largely un-institutionalized; something that doesn't use extractive systems with noble intentions.
The bottom line: We can do better than making conventional finance "nicer."
We can build something entirely different.
Who's with me? 🚀
Drop your recommendations, introductions, and rabbit hole suggestions in the comments!
See you next week!
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