Hi there,
At the end of last month, I submitted a statement for the record to the Capital Markets Subcommittee, advocating for greater access to startup capital. I was invited to support modernizing the definition of an accredited investor - a critical change that would allow more Americans to fund and support startups. It would also unlock millions of new angel investors, directly expanding Scroobious’ market opportunity.
I got started in policy work when I co-authored California's SB54, which was signed into law as the first legislation to regulate venture capital by requiring funds to publicly report diversity metrics about their investments. In my testimony, I said that without transparency, the everyday people whose money is in these funds have no idea where it’s going. If they did,
they’d see it being allocated to the same demographic over and over, and maybe they’d want their capital invested differently, like in a diversified founder portfolio for greater returns. The kind of founders we support at Scroobious.
Right now, I’m working to help pass Massachusetts bills S1119/S1118 (Senate) and H1921/H1922 (House), which extend workplace protections and fair lending practices to entrepreneurs. If more women and people of color can access funding, more will start businesses and need what Scroobious offers.
People get excited about my advocacy and policy work. They will congratulate me like I’m doing something noble or charitable. Others question it. Isn’t this a distraction from building your business? Why are you doing so many different things?
I answer both reactions the same way:
I’m not doing this just because it’s the right thing. I’m also doing it because it’s a smart business decision.
You know who else does this? VCs. And men.
When women advocate, it’s labeled charity or social good.
When men advocate, it’s called smart business.
Years ago, I realized that male tech leaders get involved in policy and advocacy early because it helps their companies grow. They influence laws that generate billions of dollars for their industries.
Garry Tan of Y Combinator has organized lobbying efforts to represent the interests of startups, creating more opportunity for their portfolio companies.
Richard Branson has long advocated for sustainability and ethical business practices, work that reinforces the values behind his consumer-facing brands.
Kahlil Byrd of Shur, a fintech company serving student loan borrowers, actively engages in policy work around student loan debt, financial literacy, and economic empowerment, which directly supports his business model.
This isn’t charity. It’s calculated strategy.
These leaders get called to testify because they’ve been involved in relevant policy since the start of their companies.
When I co-authored SB54, I learned that anyone can contribute to writing legislation. It’s not a special club, and the barriers aren’t as big as they seem. But it is a long game. You have to start years before it impacts your market. Relationships, credibility, and outcomes take time. I’m being invited into more policy work now because I’ve been showing up for years.
So, why am I doing “so many different things”? Because they’re not different things.
My work isn’t charity. It’s strategy. I’m not building Scroobious and doing advocacy. I’m doing advocacy for Scroobious. I advocate for regulating venture capital and increasing access to alternative funding for the same reason I advocate for fixing inequities and injustices: it makes financial sense.
You can stand up for your beliefs and grow your market at the same time.
If you’ve ever wondered why a founder is “doing so many things,” you might be unknowingly participating in bias. When you see male tech leaders testifying in D.C., do you assume they’re being strategic? Or do you question if they’re distracted? That difference in perception has real-world consequences. It affects reputations. It affects funding decisions.
So the next time you see a founder engaged in work that doesn’t immediately look like part of their business, don’t ask if they’re distracted. Ask about their strategy.
Have a great weekend!
