The capital access platform connecting early-stage founders, angel investors, and service providers to increase economic growth and innovation.

Hi there,

I've said the Pledge of Allegiance countless times in my life, but this month, every word landed differently.

At my daughter's 5th-grade moving-up ceremony and then my son's 8th-grade one, I stood with my hand over my heart like every other parent, instinctively reciting the pledge. But this time, I heard the words.

"…indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

And I questioned whether they still ring true.

Right now, many of our government officials are actively fueling division, stripping away liberties, and denying justice to millions. Saying the pledge felt hollow. The more I sat with that discomfort, the more I realized something: the Pledge isn’t to one party or politician. It’s a promise to each other. To the ideals we want to be true. We say those words not because they reflect reality, but because they represent what we’re committed to building and protecting.

That’s what keeps me going as a citizen, a parent, an investor, and an entrepreneur.

And it’s that same aspiration that drives our work at Scroobious.

We’re committed to building toward a startup ecosystem that reflects those very ideals: equity, inclusion, and opportunity for all. We believe capital access should reflect the full diversity of our country and global community. 

That kind of progress doesn’t happen in silence. Speaking up - about bias in fundraising, about who’s excluded, about what should change - can be powerful and contagious. Like saying the pledge, it doesn’t have to be loud or confrontational. It can be encouraging and collaborative. Speaking up might look like questioning a fellow investor if a pitch meeting veers into bias, advocating to include diverse voices on a panel, or calling out a microaggression against a peer. 

You just have to be brave enough to name what’s wrong and committed enough to do something about it. That’s how we create a more just and indivisible future together. And that’s the pledge I’ll keep saying and working toward.

With July 4th around the corner, I’ll be thinking about how real freedom means showing up for each other, and how we each have a role to play in making that true.

With spark(ler)s of hope,

reGEN Pioneer Info Session

What if your screen time sparked your next breakthrough? We hold the incredible power of media in our hands, yet most of what we consume leaves us scattered or depleted. reGEN's vision is to deliver a curated content solution that transforms screen time into soul time. Learn more about backing their campaign at their upcoming info session.

Thursday, 6/27, 12pm PT/3pm ET, Online

🌍 The Global Good Fund Fellowship is a 12-month hybrid leadership program for social entrepreneurs around the world. Each leader receives professional executive coaching, c-suite business mentorship, $10,000 to spend on their leadership development, customized tools, resources, training and networking opportunities to scale their social impact.
Applications due 6/30

🧑‍🎓 Angel Capital Association's Bill Payne Memorial Scholarship is an annual award honoring Bill Payne, widely known as the “grandfather of angel investing,” providing the recipient with the opportunity to enroll in the comprehensive suite of Ann and Bill Payne ACA Angel University courses, culminating in the Advanced Angel Investing Certificate. 
Applications due 6/30

💯 America’s Top 100 Small Businesses by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is giving $25,000 each to 100 small businesses doing big things to drive growth and ingenuity, both locally and globally.
Applications due 7/7

🏪 Allstate Main Street Grants Program, with Hello Alice and the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), is designed to close the national wealth gap by investing in local businesses that power Main Streets across America. 63 participants will receive a $20,000 grant to invest in tools, growth strategies, or resources that strengthen their business operations.
Applications due 7/25

🌐 She’s Connected by AT&T Business Contest gives women-owned businesses a chance to win up to $50,000 plus a year of AT&T service with a brand new device, and involvement in feature content with an AT&T #ShesConnected athlete

Applications due 9/30

Tara Ryan is the CEO and Co-Founder of Confidante, an AI companion built specifically for mothers, who make over 35,000 decisions a day while managing the invisible load of family life. Confidante delivers personalized decision-making support and emotional guidance, meeting moms where they are and understanding the unique pressures they face, from navigating pediatric health concerns to planning a return to work. By offering expert-level coaching and self reflection through AI, Confidante helps mothers feel seen, supported, and more confident in trusting their own instincts.

“After four years coaching hundreds of women in high-pressure careers, I noticed the same pattern: the real breakthroughs came when mothers had space to hear themselves again. So we built a prototype to scale that experience—and it took off. With over a decade leading SaaS sales and years advocating for moms on the national stage, I knew we had to build Confidante: AI that doesn’t just answer questions, but understands the lived experience of modern motherhood.”

- Tara

• Anastacia Yefimenko, Co-Founder of Elcove, received the Outstanding Student in Entrepreneurial Studies Award as part of Babson College’s senior awards.
• Melissa Powell, Founder of Pocmi, Inc., received awards from the Jamaica Technology and Digital Alliance for "Women of Impact" and "Women to Watch 2025".
• Sip Herbals, founded by Orleatha Smith, joined LvlUp Ventures portfolio. They were also selected as a finalist for the 2025 Good Soil Seed Capital Pitch Competition, presented by Wells Fargo, and as a 2025 Tory Burch Foundation Fellow.
• Coils to Locs, Co-founded by Dianne Austin, is a finalist in the 2025 Community Choice Awards (Good Soil Forum).

• Joanna Shu, CEO, reports that Feezenit has gone through a rebranding and has a new logo, website and name: Cartwheel.

• Jennifer Johnston, Founder of Elle, MD Biotechnologies, won the NBIF Fueling Female Founder Pitch Competition.
• Pallavi Pande, Founder of Dtocs LLC, was named named a 2025 Tory Burch Foundation Fellow. Dtocs was also selected as a finalist for the Clearco 2025 AAPI Ecommerce Excellence Awards.
• Kimberly Evans, Founder of Just Her Rideshare, Inc., hit a majoy milestone in their fundraising.
• ELEVENO Pickleball, founded by Jodi Cullity, unveiled their indoor courts and entertainment facility opening this Fall at Patriot Place.
• Healp, founded by Elizabeth Tikoyan, presented at the Whale Tank x DIA: DC Pod at the DIA Global Annual Meeting.

F5 Magazine

Thought Leadership: Scroobious Founder Allison Byers

In the latest issue of F5 Magazine, Allison shares the value of storytelling, providing opportunities for under-represented founders, and tips and tools on creating an engaging, eye-catching pitch deck.

Equitable Capital Access Podcast

with guest Allison Byers

Join Allison Byers, founder and CEO of Scroobious, as she delves into the challenges and solutions surrounding equitable access to capital for underrepresented entrepreneurs.

Authority Magazine

Allison Byers Of Scroobious On 5 Things We Need To Do To Close The VC Gender and Racial Gap

An interview with Allison as part of Jilea Hemmings' series about “the five things we need to do to close the VC gender and racial gap”.

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