About the Book
Seven years ago, I set out to write a book about my experience launching, growing, and eventually shutting down my first company, TrueBody. I thought it would help other women entrepreneurs to learn from my triumphs, my mistakes, and the hard lessons learned. As I worked on the book over the years, I also launched a couple more businesses and helped other women entrepreneurs raise capital for their start-ups. During this time, I discovered a pattern with how the money system works for women…or doesn’t.
I’m not the only who’s seen this pattern either, and it extends beyond women to include people of color, the LGBTQ community, social entrepreneurs, and many others marginalized by the current capital system. Recent blogs and articles show how women-led businesses receive less than 3% of all the venture capital invested in the U.S., and less than 1% for people of color. This has spurred a small but growing movement to get more women and Black investors into the venture capital system. But I say the solution is not more investors in the VC system – I believe we need a new system altogether.
So, the subject matter of my book evolved into a bigger message for a broader audience. And this summer, I completed the manuscript that shares the stories of several women entrepreneurs and describes the new system of community capital that is already beginning to take shape. Now it's time to get the message out into the world and keep momentum building.
Who Is This Book For?
You! If you're supporting women and their businesses through this platform, you've already taken the first step toward a new money system. If you're ready to go further in aligning your money with your values, this book is for you. It's for those who are disenchanted with Wall Street and the current money system that perpetuates the concentration of wealth among the few. It's meant to inspire and shed light on the emerging opportunities for "Main Street" Americans to put their money where their hearts and homes are.
Why Am I Seeking Funding and What Will I Do With It?
I am self-publishing my book through a locally-owned, independent, print-on-demand publisher here in Vermont because it is true to who I am and what I’m trying to accomplish. Just like this iFundWomen campaign which, to me, represents more than just funding to hire an editor and cover designer, and to print and distribute the books. It’s a demonstration of how we can come together to find new ways of sharing information, new ways of doing business, new ways of helping money flow through our economies in a just and equitable way.
How You Can Help
Please pre-buy a copy of my book at whatever dollar level feels good to you. Then read it and share it with others. You can even engage me to come to your community to talk about how to set up a community investment fund like I'm doing with other regions around the country.
This is how -- together -- we can Move Mountains.
Thank you!