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Moving Mountains

A book of real-life stories of the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs and the steps we can all take to change the story.

$2,065
pledged of$7,500 goal
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Project Description

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!

 

Updates

The Campaign FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions:

  • Why should you read this book?

Far from being a dense, technical finance book, I've set out to make my point by sharing stories. The solutions I lay out are fairly simple and within the grasp of all of us, thanks to the work that I and other financial innovators are doing to create more equitable access to capital. The birth of the crowdfunding movement was the start, and now many of us who helped make crowdfunding a reality are pushing the envelope farther so that Main Street Americans can take important steps toward aligning our money with our values, while creating economic justice for all.

  • Who is Janice Shade?

I am a seasoned social entrepreneur and financial innovator who, after 17 years of climbing the corporate ladder, set out to create new models for conscious commerce. In 2006, I co-founded and became first executive director of Local First Vermont, a nonprofit whose mission is to preserve and enhance the economic, human, and natural vitality of Vermont communities by promoting the importance of purchasing from locally-owned independent businesses. In 2008, I launched TrueBody, a natural personal care products company with a social mission to make natural products affordable and accessible to all. Over four years, TrueBody pioneered crowdfunding techniques to raise capital, which led to the creation of Milk Money in 2015, one of the first “invest local” crowdfunding platforms in the U.S.  

 

My most recent venture is The Initiative for Local Capital, a non-profit innovation lab that creates, tests, and shares ideas to promote economic justice for all. I'm also a founding board member and Treasurer of the National Coalition for Community Capital

 

I'm an avid skier and hiker, science fiction enthusiast, and devoted soccer/ballet mom. I live in Jericho, VT, with my husband, two daughters, and dog.

 

Judy Leach
12/08/2019
The Book
$25
Courtney Lightfoot
12/05/2019
Autographed book + Shout out
$250
Ken Linge
11/17/2019
The Book
$25
11/15/2019
The Book
$25
Chris Howell
11/12/2019
The Book
$25
Debbie Casey
11/11/2019
The Book
$25
Karen Freeman
11/06/2019
The Book
$25
Jill
11/05/2019
Autographed book + Shout out
$100
Martin Hahn
11/05/2019
The Book
$25
Stu
11/04/2019
Autographed book
$50
Monetary Contribution

Just Because I Care

4 Supporters
Select this reward
50.00 USD
Autographed book

A copy of the book with a personalized autograph delivered in early 2020

13 Supporters
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100.00 USD
Autographed book + Shout out

Copy of the book with a personalized thank you from Janice PLUS a shout out in the Acknowledgements of the book

7 Supporters
Select this reward
500.00 USD
Book Reading/Signing Party

An autographed copy for you PLUS, I'll come do a book reading & signing at your local bookseller, library, school or other venue within 250 miles of Burlington, VT.

3 Left
0 Supporters
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750.00 USD
Book + Consultation

A copy of the book PLUS two hours of consultation (via Zoom) on either of the following topics:  

  • How to Navigate the Money Map (for entrepreneurs)
  • Community Investment Opportunities (for community organizers)
5 Left
0 Supporters
Select this reward
2,000.00 USD
Community Investment Workshop

Five copies of the book PLUS a 1/2 day workshop on How to Create a Community Investment Fund (contribution will cover travel expenses + workshop)

2 Left
0 Supporters
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About the Entrepreneur

Jericho, VT
Created 1 Campaign
Social Good

Rewards

Monetary Contribution

Just Because I Care

4 Supporters
Select this reward
50.00 USD
Autographed book

A copy of the book with a personalized autograph delivered in early 2020

13 Supporters
Select this reward
100.00 USD
Autographed book + Shout out

Copy of the book with a personalized thank you from Janice PLUS a shout out in the Acknowledgements of the book

7 Supporters
Select this reward
500.00 USD
Book Reading/Signing Party

An autographed copy for you PLUS, I'll come do a book reading & signing at your local bookseller, library, school or other venue within 250 miles of Burlington, VT.

3 Left
0 Supporters
Select this reward
750.00 USD
Book + Consultation

A copy of the book PLUS two hours of consultation (via Zoom) on either of the following topics:  

  • How to Navigate the Money Map (for entrepreneurs)
  • Community Investment Opportunities (for community organizers)
5 Left
0 Supporters
Select this reward
2,000.00 USD
Community Investment Workshop

Five copies of the book PLUS a 1/2 day workshop on How to Create a Community Investment Fund (contribution will cover travel expenses + workshop)

2 Left
0 Supporters
Select this reward