How we work
At Access Ventures, we believe our impact will reach only as far as the stories we tell.
We view storytelling as a critical amplifier of our work and the work of our partners, without which we cannot realize our mission.
Explore some of these stories below, and let us know what you think.
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We view storytelling as a powerful way to spark change, exchange ideas, and build empathy. We are currently producing two podcasts that serve as a critical amplifier of our work and the work of our partners.
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We continually share learnings and best practices that advance our collective mission of human flourishing.
Impact and Profit: A False Choice
For too long, we’ve been told that you can either invest for financial return or for social good – but not both. This false choice has shaped markets, philanthropy, and even our imagination about what’s possible.
At Access Ventures, we reject that premise. We believe that capital is one of the most powerful tools for human flourishing, and when aligned with values, it can deliver both impact and profit.
We Are Storied People: Why Storytelling Matters
From the earliest days of human community, identity has been shaped by story. Stories define who we are, where we come from, and what kind of future we believe is possible. They help communities make meaning together—and without them, we risk reducing people to statistics, transactions, or outputs.
Beyond Transactions: Rethinking Funder–Nonprofit Partnerships Through Human Ecology
Drawing inspiration from Thriving Cities and Josh Yates’ human ecology framework, we can begin to see cities as more than economic engines or policy arenas. Cities are both beautiful and broken, made up of cultural, structural, and relational “endowments” that form the soil where civic life grows. Funders, then, are not just financiers - they are gardeners, co-stewards of these ecosystems.
The Digital Asset Investment Playbook: A Portfolio Management Approach for 2025
Historically, digital assets were often viewed as speculative, high-risk, high-reward plays. Access Ventures’ approach has now evolved to adopt a portfolio management framework, demonstrating how an investor could construct a portfolio entirely out of digital assets—leveraging blockchain-native instruments for diversification, yield generation, and risk management.
A Flourishing Economy is Resilient
Resilience is the capacity to absorb shock without losing identity. It is the ability to adapt without collapsing. It is strength that does not depend on perfect conditions.
At Access Ventures, we believe a flourishing economy must be resilient — not only financially, but socially and structurally. Flourishing requires durability.
Meet the 2025 Access Ventures Fellows
The Access Ventures Fellowship is much more than a leadership development program; it’s a springboard for young innovators ready to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
A Flourishing Economy is Dynamic
At Access Ventures, we believe a flourishing economy is one that enables people and communities to continually build, adapt, and renew. Flourishing requires movement — the healthy circulation of opportunity, ownership, and imagination across a region.
A flourishing economy is dynamic because people are dynamic.
Announcing the Phase II Winners of the 2025 Reconstruct Challenge
We’re thrilled to announce the five Phase II winners of the 2025 Reconstruct Challenge, who are working to build solutions in Food Justice, Maternal and Child Health, and Healthcare Access.
A Flourishing Economy is Equitable
At Access Ventures, we believe an economy should be evaluated by more than output. It should be measured by whether it enables people to live meaningful lives — lives marked by purpose, dignity, stability, and contribution. When we speak of human flourishing, we are talking about the conditions that allow individuals and communities to thrive: access and agency, opportunity and autonomy, security and freedom.
A flourishing economy is equitable because those conditions cannot exist if they are concentrated in the hands of a few.
What is Human Flourishing?
At Access Ventures, we believe that human flourishing is about living a life of purpose, dignity, and connection—a state where individuals and communities thrive together. This vision is deeply rooted in the insights of philosophers, thinkers, and change-makers throughout history.
Announcing the Access Ventures Fellows of 2024
The Access Ventures Fellowship is much more than a leadership development program; it’s a springboard for young innovators ready to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
Financial Freedom through Social Trust
There’s a real fear of being obsolete for Maurice. “If you become obsolete, you are not providing value. You are no longer needed.” By borrowing using an innovative software platform, Maurice’s integrity as a borrower allowed him to pursue job opportunities, career changes, business ventures, and so much more.
Held Back By The Social Support System
Organizations like Leap Fund advocate for transparency and education, enabling workers to make informed decisions based on their unique circumstances.
A Little Help Goes A Long Way
Through the programs at VOA and the support of Samaritan users in his community, Trenton is able to connect to resources and training to help him explore his options and reach his career goals.
TikTok, Medical Debt, and The Power of Forgiveness
Dollar For is working to educate patients about the policies at non-profit hospitals and aid them through the process of applying for Charity Care.
A Place To Call Home
Timothy Wilkins, once homeless and struggling with addiction, transformed his life through hard work and support from Facility Management Services and the Working Your Way Home program, ultimately achieving the dream of homeownership and providing stability for his family.
Corporate Rest
Drawing from experiences in the military and manufacturing, AV founder Bryce Butler created a "corporate rest" policy, closing the office twice a year for complete disconnection, which has boosted team productivity and morale by allowing everyone to return to work refreshed and ready for new challenges.
Team Trips
Incorporating various types of team trips, including learning, team building, rest, and strategic planning, Access Ventures emphasizes the importance of shared experiences to strengthen team culture, foster unity, and boost overall productivity through well-planned and immersive activities.
Clean Water Through Crypto
Mrs. Fasoro Christina, a dedicated teacher in Lagos, Nigeria, provides safe drinking water to her students through Impact Water, a non-profit supported by blockchain-based funding from Goldfinch, highlighting how decentralized finance can facilitate access to essential resources in underserved communities.
Defining Your Values
This post outlines the process Access Ventures undertook to redefine their core values, emphasizing the importance of collaboratively assessing and refining these values to ensure they reflect the personal principles of the team members and guide the organization’s mission and vision effectively.