In the season finale of the Smart Inclusion podcast, host Todd Q. Adams welcomes Charletta Lewis, General Partner at Mighty Oaks Capital Partners. Charletta shares her unconventional journey from law enforcement to Silicon Valley, and now back to Houston as an investor. This episode dives into her unique approach to venture capital, how she supports underrepresented founders, and the importance of community-driven investing. They also discuss her portfolio success stories, including Mula Wireless, and the broader need for systemic changes in how venture capital engages with diverse founders. If you’re passionate about social entrepreneurship, conscious capitalism, and the future of investing, you don’t want to miss this insightful conversation. Timestamps: 0:00 – Introduction: Todd welcomes listeners to the season finale and introduces Charletta Lewis. 1:05 – Charletta's Background: Charletta shares her journey from Houston to Silicon Valley, starting as a police officer, then transitioning into entrepreneurship and venture capital. 3:30 – Why She Came Back to Houston: Charletta explains why she returned to Houston and the fragmented nature of the local startup ecosystem. 5:10 – The Role of Mighty Oaks Capital Partners: Charletta discusses how her firm supports founders, the type of companies they fund, and the stage of investment. 7:05 – Investing with Purpose: Why Charletta chose to focus on investing in underserved communities and her mission to educate more people on how to invest. 9:45 – Funding Strategies: Charletta explains how Mighty Oaks uses Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) to fund a wider range of companies. 11:20 – The Importance of Scalability: What venture capitalists look for in startups and the difference between scalable ventures and passion projects. 13:15 – Case Study: Mula Wireless: Charletta shares a success story about Mula Wireless, a company providing affordable mobile devices with built-in internet and rewards for users. 16:00 – Partnerships & Community Impact: How Charletta fosters institutional partnerships and supports local communities through education and retail collaborations. 18:40 – Overcoming Challenges as a Black Woman in VC: Charletta talks about the difficulties of navigating Silicon Valley as a black woman and her motivation to change the landscape for other underrepresented founders. 21:00 – Empowering Underserved Communities: The critical role of education in helping underrepresented groups access capital and investment opportunities. 22:50 – Call to Action: Charletta outlines her vision for building partnerships with Houston-area schools, colleges, and the local ecosystem to foster equity-driven entrepreneurship. 24:00 – Closing Remarks: Todd wraps up the conversation, highlighting the importance of investing in people, capital, and the environment, and thanking Charletta for sharing her journey. Resources: Charletta Jean-Louis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charletta-jean-louis-30022115/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/mighty-oaks-capital-partners/ https://hamptonsgroup.com/blog/venture-capital-global-poverty-solution https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/spv.asp https://www.mumsandco.com.au/news/what-is-scalable-startup-entrepreneurship#:~:text=Scalable%20startup%20entrepreneurship%20focuses%20on,generate%20substantial%20value%20for%20stakeholders. https://atlantatribune.com/2024/07/31/empowering-the-future-of-black-women-entrepreneurs-in-venture-capital/#:~:text=Black%20entrepreneurs%2C%20and%20particularly%20Black,go%20to%20Black%20women%20founders. Are you ready to support a more inclusive and equitable entrepreneurial ecosystem? Join us in amplifying the voices of underrepresented founders and driving real change!

We have been through an EXCITING JOURNEY of SMART Inclusion: Energy Transition, Investing, and Sustainability Podcast! Our host, Todd Q. Adams, starts to wrap up the season by revisiting powerful themes and stories that showcase how investing in community-driven, socially conscious solutions is essential to the energy transition. Todd dives into highlights from the season, discussing the innovative ways small and medium-sized businesses, indigenous-led ventures, and tech-forward training programs are shaping the path forward. Join Todd as he connects the dots between sustainability, economic growth, and equity, setting the stage for an inclusive clean energy future!

Timestamps:

[00:00 - 01:00] – Introduction to SMART Inclusion

[01:00 - 02:00] – Making a Difference and Making Money

[02:00 - 03:00] – Empowering Small and Medium-Sized Businesses in EV Charging [03:00 - 04:00] – Bridging the Skills Gap with Technology [04:00 - 05:00] – Texas Leading in Clean Energy Jobs [05:00 - 06:00] – Investing in Socially-Driven Models for Growth [06:00 - 07:00] – Electrifying Indigenous Lands [07:00 - 08:00] – Scaling Impact through Venture and Government Funding [08:00 - 09:00] – Disruption and Innovation are Key [09:00 - 10:00] – Thanks to Guests and Season Highlights [10:00 - 10:34] – Preview of Next Episode Resources: https://www.mckinsey.com/ https://frlq.co/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/ennuityholdings/ https://www.energy.gov/ https://www.navajopower.com/

How can small and medium-sized businesses thrive in the EV revolution? In this episode of the "SMART Inclusion" podcast, host Todd Q. Adams chats with Kobby Osei-Kusi, CEO of Pirl EV Charging, about innovative ways to join the clean energy movement. From his journey from Ghana to Wall Street and into clean energy, Kobby shares insights on making EV charging smarter, more accessible, and sustainable. Explore topics like democratizing EV infrastructure, grid load management, and the role of small businesses in energy transformation. Whether you're a business owner, entrepreneur, or sustainability advocate, this episode offers practical tips and big-picture inspiration to help shape a cleaner, greener future!

Timestamps:

[00:00] Introduction: Host Todd Q. Adams introduces the episode’s focus on democratizing EV charging and energy access with guest Kobby Osei, CEO of Pirl EV Charging.

[02:15] Kobby’s Journey: Kobby shares his story from growing up in Ghana to becoming a leader in energy infrastructure and EV charging.

[06:10] Transition into Clean Energy: Kobby discusses his work with AES in Africa and his transition from corporate energy to founding his own clean energy company.

[09:45] Founding Pirl EV Charging: Kobby reveals the motivation behind founding Pirl and its mission to democratize EV charging for small and medium-sized businesses.

[14:00] Challenges and Successes in Building Pirl: Kobby talks about bootstrapping Pirl, creating its first product, and raising capital to grow the company.

[18:30] Pirl's Ecosystem Approach: Kobby explains how Pirl creates solutions that benefit the entire energy ecosystem and enable small businesses to easily adopt EV charging.

[21:30] Closing Remarks: Todd and Kobby reflect on the future of EV charging and how Pirl is helping democratize the energy transition.

[22:15] For Small Business Owners: Learn how investing in EV charging infrastructure can benefit small businesses by generating revenue and improving customer engagement.

[23:00] For Entrepreneurs: Kobby shares tips for navigating long sales cycles and bootstrapping in the clean energy sector.

[23:26] End of Episode: Todd thanks Kobby for his insights and encourages listeners to follow the podcast for more episodes on clean energy and sustainability.

Resources:

Kobby - https://www.linkedin.com/in/oseikusi/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/pirl-technology/

https://www.transportation.gov/urban-e-mobility-toolkit/e-mobility-benefits-and-challenges/challenges-and-evolving-solutions

https://www.aes-africa.com/services/greening-renewables/

https://cewd.org/