The opening to Walt Whitman's Song of the Open Road, a part of his poem Song of Myself, speaks to me as I consider the heady, early days of a new venture fund.
Whitman seeks an open, inclusive society, where "none but are accepted", and he brings a spirit of adventure and curiosity to his journey through the still young Republic, recovering from a Civil War and finding its way in a globalizing economy at the turn of the last century.
As the not so young Republic turns another century, buffeted by civic rancour and a turbulent global economy, we need the same intrepid spirit, the same openness to all comers, the same endurance, courage and health that Whitman summons in 1900.
The inspiration for this blog, Open Road Ventures, is to pay homage to Whitman's spirit while I chronicle the new pioneers of inclusive, high impact innovation who are pushing new boundaries in search for both social impact and financial returns. From the innovations in emerging markets that I have been privileged to know at Acumen Fund, to new ideas transforming the American health, education, finance, philanthropy and energy sectors, there are thousands of Whitman's now traveling the open roads, helping create a more just and sustainable Republic.
This blog will be dedicated to those traveling the Open Road, those starting or leading new hybrid ventures that are looking to combine impact with financial returns, and those looking to join them in a professional journey marked by freedom, innovation, curiosity, inclusion, and impact.
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