are you a handsome fine whoa you’re gonna love the next speaker then for now
gonna love the next speaker then for now
gonna love the next speaker then for now you’re stuck with me and we’re gonna
you’re stuck with me and we’re gonna
you’re stuck with me and we’re gonna have an unexpected conversation I’m
have an unexpected conversation I’m
have an unexpected conversation I’m going to ask you to question things you
going to ask you to question things you
going to ask you to question things you know are true see the world in a
know are true see the world in a
know are true see the world in a different way and ultimately I’m going
different way and ultimately I’m going
different way and ultimately I’m going to ask you to cheat let’s start off with
to ask you to cheat let’s start off with
to ask you to cheat let’s start off with some unexpected things about me I’m
some unexpected things about me I’m
some unexpected things about me I’m Latino give it a second he’ll come via
Latino give it a second he’ll come via
Latino give it a second he’ll come via an economist and a recovering banker
an economist and a recovering banker
an economist and a recovering banker basically I could never be on the show
basically I could never be on the show
basically I could never be on the show Portlandia not happening I’m also the
Portlandia not happening I’m also the
Portlandia not happening I’m also the father to a severely Anna feel of phobic
father to a severely Anna feel of phobic
father to a severely Anna feel of phobic daughter say with me Anna
daughter say with me Anna
daughter say with me Anna Fila phobic it means she’s deathly
Fila phobic it means she’s deathly
Fila phobic it means she’s deathly afraid of mosquitos and I often say I
afraid of mosquitos and I often say I
afraid of mosquitos and I often say I was born to live in Portland as I came
was born to live in Portland as I came
was born to live in Portland as I came into this world literally moments after
into this world literally moments after
into this world literally moments after the Portland Trail Blazers won their
the Portland Trail Blazers won their
the Portland Trail Blazers won their first and only championship on June 5th
first and only championship on June 5th
first and only championship on June 5th 1977 my adult life has been spent in
1977 my adult life has been spent in
1977 my adult life has been spent in banking finance and venture capital
banking finance and venture capital
banking finance and venture capital helping people with loans advice and
helping people with loans advice and
helping people with loans advice and sometimes tears who are brave enough to
sometimes tears who are brave enough to
sometimes tears who are brave enough to hang their own shingle and take on the
hang their own shingle and take on the
hang their own shingle and take on the little guy Portland’s a small business
little guy Portland’s a small business
little guy Portland’s a small business town home to a non-profit brew pub a
town home to a non-profit brew pub a
town home to a non-profit brew pub a professional snuggler and where it’s
professional snuggler and where it’s
professional snuggler and where it’s true it’s true and where Berry’s
true it’s true and where Berry’s
true it’s true and where Berry’s barbeque and baked beans are a flavor of
barbeque and baked beans are a flavor of
barbeque and baked beans are a flavor of ice cream
ice cream
ice cream in fact 83% of businesses in Portland
in fact 83% of businesses in Portland
in fact 83% of businesses in Portland have less than 10 employees an emerging
have less than 10 employees an emerging
have less than 10 employees an emerging small companies like wild Fang whose
small companies like wild Fang whose
small companies like wild Fang whose fearless leader you’re going to hear
fearless leader you’re going to hear
fearless leader you’re going to hear shortly that are less than five years
shortly that are less than five years
shortly that are less than five years old account for more than 90% of jobs in
old account for more than 90% of jobs in
old account for more than 90% of jobs in the United States small is who we are
the United States small is who we are
the United States small is who we are now one of the most amazing stats I’ve
now one of the most amazing stats I’ve
now one of the most amazing stats I’ve come across
come across
come across comes to us from the US Census Bureau
comes to us from the US Census Bureau
comes to us from the US Census Bureau who said in 2012 Portland was home to
who said in 2012 Portland was home to
who said in 2012 Portland was home to more than 4,000 black businesses and
more than 4,000 black businesses and
more than 4,000 black businesses and that these businesses had annual
that these businesses had annual
that these businesses had annual revenues of more than 440 million
revenues of more than 440 million
revenues of more than 440 million dollars this isn’t what you read about
dollars this isn’t what you read about
dollars this isn’t what you read about in the Atlantic or what you see at local
in the Atlantic or what you see at local
in the Atlantic or what you see at local area meetups I realize our growing
area meetups I realize our growing
area meetups I realize our growing economic entrepreneurial ecosystem was
economic entrepreneurial ecosystem was
economic entrepreneurial ecosystem was disconnected from this growing group of
disconnected from this growing group of
disconnected from this growing group of black founders and in order to dismiss
black founders and in order to dismiss
black founders and in order to dismiss the generally accepted truth of the
the generally accepted truth of the
the generally accepted truth of the disappearing black business I figured
disappearing black business I figured
disappearing black business I figured how could I be a bridge between the two
how could I be a bridge between the two
how could I be a bridge between the two so in 2015 I created the event pitch
so in 2015 I created the event pitch
so in 2015 I created the event pitch black
black
black it puts black entrepreneurs front and
it puts black entrepreneurs front and
it puts black entrepreneurs front and center while also connecting them to the
center while also connecting them to the
center while also connecting them to the entrepreneurial ecosystem here in
entrepreneurial ecosystem here in
entrepreneurial ecosystem here in Portland we’ve been covered by the
Portland we’ve been covered by the
Portland we’ve been covered by the Portland Business Journal wired and
Portland Business Journal wired and
Portland Business Journal wired and TechCrunch as a way to stimulate
TechCrunch as a way to stimulate
TechCrunch as a way to stimulate innovation and get innovation going in
innovation and get innovation going in
innovation and get innovation going in underserved communities this year we’re
underserved communities this year we’re
underserved communities this year we’re going on the road we’re going to DC
going on the road we’re going to DC
going on the road we’re going to DC Seattle Austin and other cities across
Seattle Austin and other cities across
Seattle Austin and other cities across the country imagine that the country’s
the country imagine that the country’s
the country imagine that the country’s whitest city leading the way and how to
whitest city leading the way and how to
whitest city leading the way and how to support black folks
support black folks
support black folks [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] sometimes small gives you the room to do
sometimes small gives you the room to do
sometimes small gives you the room to do really big things now in all my years
really big things now in all my years
really big things now in all my years doing finance I’m often asked Stephen
doing finance I’m often asked Stephen
doing finance I’m often asked Stephen what’s the what’s the biggest deal
what’s the what’s the biggest deal
what’s the what’s the biggest deal you’ve ever done and though I’ve done
you’ve ever done and though I’ve done
you’ve ever done and though I’ve done mix use projects with tens of millions
mix use projects with tens of millions
mix use projects with tens of millions of dollars in financing my answer is
of dollars in financing my answer is
of dollars in financing my answer is always the same mr. Howard’s $20,000
always the same mr. Howard’s $20,000
always the same mr. Howard’s $20,000 loan see he’s a contractor and when we
loan see he’s a contractor and when we
loan see he’s a contractor and when we met 12 years ago he was homeless living
met 12 years ago he was homeless living
met 12 years ago he was homeless living in his van out of state trying to find a
in his van out of state trying to find a
in his van out of state trying to find a way to get back to his native Portland
way to get back to his native Portland
way to get back to his native Portland with his head held high he had an
with his head held high he had an
with his head held high he had an opportunity to work on one floor of a
opportunity to work on one floor of a
opportunity to work on one floor of a 30-story building here in town and if
30-story building here in town and if
30-story building here in town and if you could get that floor done he had the
you could get that floor done he had the
you could get that floor done he had the opportunity to work on the rest of the
opportunity to work on the rest of the
opportunity to work on the rest of the floors the only thing standing in his
floors the only thing standing in his
floors the only thing standing in his way was the $20,000 he needed to
way was the $20,000 he needed to
way was the $20,000 he needed to complete that first floor mr. Howard’s
complete that first floor mr. Howard’s
complete that first floor mr. Howard’s beaming smile and passion led me to turn
beaming smile and passion led me to turn
beaming smile and passion led me to turn over every rock call in every favor and
over every rock call in every favor and
over every rock call in every favor and in the end over tears and hugs we were
in the end over tears and hugs we were
in the end over tears and hugs we were able to sign the documents to allow him
able to sign the documents to allow him
able to sign the documents to allow him to seize his opportunity mr. Howard’s no
to seize his opportunity mr. Howard’s no
to seize his opportunity mr. Howard’s no longer homeless and his company does
longer homeless and his company does
longer homeless and his company does millions of dollars in projects each
millions of dollars in projects each
millions of dollars in projects each year small was my biggest deal ever now
year small was my biggest deal ever now
year small was my biggest deal ever now I’ve given you a couple cool stats and
I’ve given you a couple cool stats and
I’ve given you a couple cool stats and you may have heard some of those as well
you may have heard some of those as well
you may have heard some of those as well as a heartwarming story or two
as a heartwarming story or two
as a heartwarming story or two but what’s in it for you when it comes
but what’s in it for you when it comes
but what’s in it for you when it comes to small now these cities have become
to small now these cities have become
to small now these cities have become the identities of our these businesses
the identities of our these businesses
the identities of our these businesses have become the identities of our cities
have become the identities of our cities
have become the identities of our cities if you follow me on Instagram or Twitter
if you follow me on Instagram or Twitter
if you follow me on Instagram or Twitter you’ll see I love to take me some
you’ll see I love to take me some
you’ll see I love to take me some selfies at all of my favorite small
selfies at all of my favorite small
selfies at all of my favorite small businesses around town but how weird
businesses around town but how weird
businesses around town but how weird would it be to see a selfie like this
would it be to see a selfie like this
would it be to see a selfie like this one
now this goes beyond getting likes or
now this goes beyond getting likes or followers these are the landmarks we use
followers these are the landmarks we use
followers these are the landmarks we use to describe our neighborhoods these are
to describe our neighborhoods these are
to describe our neighborhoods these are the places that we go to spend our most
the places that we go to spend our most
the places that we go to spend our most precious moments in fact they are the
precious moments in fact they are the
precious moments in fact they are the original social network now I’ve given
original social network now I’ve given
original social network now I’ve given you a few cool stats you may have heard
you a few cool stats you may have heard
you a few cool stats you may have heard those before as well as a heartwarming
those before as well as a heartwarming
those before as well as a heartwarming story or two but what’s in it for you
story or two but what’s in it for you
story or two but what’s in it for you when it comes to small
[Applause]
[Applause] a recent study by Baylor University
a recent study by Baylor University
a recent study by Baylor University looked at over 3,000 counties across the
looked at over 3,000 counties across the
looked at over 3,000 counties across the country they use US census data along
country they use US census data along
country they use US census data along with statistics from the Center for
with statistics from the Center for
with statistics from the Center for Disease Control and they found that the
Disease Control and they found that the
Disease Control and they found that the counties with the most small businesses
counties with the most small businesses
counties with the most small businesses actually had a longer life expectancy
actually had a longer life expectancy
actually had a longer life expectancy and lower rates of diabetes and obesity
and lower rates of diabetes and obesity
and lower rates of diabetes and obesity I don’t think this is a surprise at all
I don’t think this is a surprise at all
I don’t think this is a surprise at all we’re relational beings and living in
we’re relational beings and living in
we’re relational beings and living in proximity to other people where we can
proximity to other people where we can
proximity to other people where we can have authentic relationships means we
have authentic relationships means we
have authentic relationships means we will live longer happier lives you may
will live longer happier lives you may
will live longer happier lives you may think it’s banks that are the ones that
think it’s banks that are the ones that
think it’s banks that are the ones that help these businesses after all
help these businesses after all
help these businesses after all Portland’s home to one of the greatest
Portland’s home to one of the greatest
Portland’s home to one of the greatest banks in the country Umpqua who thinks
banks in the country Umpqua who thinks
banks in the country Umpqua who thinks so highly of small businesses that they
so highly of small businesses that they
so highly of small businesses that they have a website just to put them in the
have a website just to put them in the
have a website just to put them in the spotlight they also do their part when
spotlight they also do their part when
spotlight they also do their part when it comes to lending in 2015 they did
it comes to lending in 2015 they did
it comes to lending in 2015 they did twenty six million dollars in small
twenty six million dollars in small
twenty six million dollars in small business loans alone in one year but I
business loans alone in one year but I
business loans alone in one year but I bet you didn’t know this port lenders do
bet you didn’t know this port lenders do
bet you didn’t know this port lenders do that same dollar amount every two days
that same dollar amount every two days
that same dollar amount every two days on food entertainment and apparel alone
on food entertainment and apparel alone
on food entertainment and apparel alone every two days your small contribution
every two days your small contribution
every two days your small contribution is big now you spending your money it’s
is big now you spending your money it’s
is big now you spending your money it’s really important but where you spend it
really important but where you spend it
really important but where you spend it maybe the biggest thing of all let’s
maybe the biggest thing of all let’s
maybe the biggest thing of all let’s take coffee when you buy your morning
take coffee when you buy your morning
take coffee when you buy your morning mocha Starbucks roughly ten cents of
mocha Starbucks roughly ten cents of
mocha Starbucks roughly ten cents of each dollar stays in town the rest goes
each dollar stays in town the rest goes
each dollar stays in town the rest goes off to other parts of the country and
off to other parts of the country and
off to other parts of the country and world but when you buy that same mocha
world but when you buy that same mocha
world but when you buy that same mocha at a local coffee shop like deadstock
at a local coffee shop like deadstock
at a local coffee shop like deadstock coffee almost fifty cents of each dollar
coffee almost fifty cents of each dollar
coffee almost fifty cents of each dollar stays in town go into a marketing
stays in town go into a marketing
stays in town go into a marketing consultant bookkeeper or architect now
consultant bookkeeper or architect now
consultant bookkeeper or architect now you’re not a douche bag if you shop at
you’re not a douche bag if you shop at
you’re not a douche bag if you shop at Starbucks
Starbucks
Starbucks [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] they’re a great company I just want you
they’re a great company I just want you
they’re a great company I just want you to realize the power that your money has
to realize the power that your money has
to realize the power that your money has and the impact you can have in your own
and the impact you can have in your own
and the impact you can have in your own city just from walking in a different
city just from walking in a different
city just from walking in a different door when you came in here today I bet
door when you came in here today I bet
door when you came in here today I bet you thought it was banks that had the
you thought it was banks that had the
you thought it was banks that had the power to support small businesses
power to support small businesses
power to support small businesses turns out it’s you my kids and I were
turns out it’s you my kids and I were
turns out it’s you my kids and I were watching the Discovery Channel last week
watching the Discovery Channel last week
watching the Discovery Channel last week and on came the show with the 10
and on came the show with the 10
and on came the show with the 10 deadliest animals in the world it had
deadliest animals in the world it had
deadliest animals in the world it had all the usual suspects that you fear the
all the usual suspects that you fear the
all the usual suspects that you fear the most when you’re walking on a forest
most when you’re walking on a forest
most when you’re walking on a forest trail including the grizzly bear who
trail including the grizzly bear who
trail including the grizzly bear who after being described they gave the
after being described they gave the
after being described they gave the disclaimer that it wouldn’t help to run
disclaimer that it wouldn’t help to run
disclaimer that it wouldn’t help to run or climb a tree because they can do that
or climb a tree because they can do that
or climb a tree because they can do that better than you
better than you
better than you and one failed swipe of their claws can
and one failed swipe of their claws can
and one failed swipe of their claws can tear a man in half as I got to number
tear a man in half as I got to number
tear a man in half as I got to number one on the list the narrator said
one on the list the narrator said
one on the list the narrator said responsible for more deaths each year
responsible for more deaths each year
responsible for more deaths each year than animals 2 through 10 combined is
than animals 2 through 10 combined is
than animals 2 through 10 combined is the mosquito the mosquito it turns out
the mosquito the mosquito it turns out
the mosquito the mosquito it turns out my daughter’s not Ana Fila phobic after
my daughter’s not Ana Fila phobic after
my daughter’s not Ana Fila phobic after all she actually understands how small
all she actually understands how small
all she actually understands how small is so big now small is a last word you
is so big now small is a last word you
is so big now small is a last word you wanted to hear today after all Ted’s
wanted to hear today after all Ted’s
wanted to hear today after all Ted’s about great gigantic ideas that have the
about great gigantic ideas that have the
about great gigantic ideas that have the ability to cure cancer and world hunger
ability to cure cancer and world hunger
ability to cure cancer and world hunger or make you laugh and tell you wet your
or make you laugh and tell you wet your
or make you laugh and tell you wet your pants from people with a bunch of
pants from people with a bunch of
pants from people with a bunch of letters after their names I’m not that
letters after their names I’m not that
letters after their names I’m not that speaker and you know what big is
speaker and you know what big is
speaker and you know what big is overrated small is doable
overrated small is doable
overrated small is doable people don’t make small goals they dream
people don’t make small goals they dream
people don’t make small goals they dream big but the work the work is small I’ve
big but the work the work is small I’ve
big but the work the work is small I’ve got some work for you today my buddy
got some work for you today my buddy
got some work for you today my buddy Neil is a body builder he’s a great big
Neil is a body builder he’s a great big
Neil is a body builder he’s a great big guy and every day he loves to post his
guy and every day he loves to post his
guy and every day he loves to post his meals on Instagram and
meals on Instagram and
meals on Instagram and normally they’re bland and nothing you’d
normally they’re bland and nothing you’d
normally they’re bland and nothing you’d write to the Food Network about but
write to the Food Network about but
write to the Food Network about but every so often he has a cheat day and
every so often he has a cheat day and
every so often he has a cheat day and I’m talking two large pizzas with a
I’m talking two large pizzas with a
I’m talking two large pizzas with a milkshake chaser cheat day I want to
milkshake chaser cheat day I want to
milkshake chaser cheat day I want to challenge you to have a cheat day week
challenge you to have a cheat day week
challenge you to have a cheat day week or month cheat on Amazon and buy the
or month cheat on Amazon and buy the
or month cheat on Amazon and buy the bedazzled Snuggie from a locally owned
bedazzled Snuggie from a locally owned
bedazzled Snuggie from a locally owned store cheat on Walmart and buy your
store cheat on Walmart and buy your
store cheat on Walmart and buy your groceries from a local grocer who more
groceries from a local grocer who more
groceries from a local grocer who more than likely knows the name of the person
than likely knows the name of the person
than likely knows the name of the person that grew the carrots that you bought or
that grew the carrots that you bought or
that grew the carrots that you bought or cheat on your Starbucks barista every
cheat on your Starbucks barista every
cheat on your Starbucks barista every Thursday and discover a mind-blowing
Thursday and discover a mind-blowing
Thursday and discover a mind-blowing mocha at a sneaker themed coffee shop
mocha at a sneaker themed coffee shop
mocha at a sneaker themed coffee shop because when you invest small you invest
because when you invest small you invest
because when you invest small you invest in the well-being of the community and
in the well-being of the community and
in the well-being of the community and when you invest in the well-being of the
when you invest in the well-being of the
when you invest in the well-being of the community you ultimately invest in your
community you ultimately invest in your
community you ultimately invest in your own health and strengthening the fabric
own health and strengthening the fabric
own health and strengthening the fabric of your city you have more power than
of your city you have more power than
of your city you have more power than you know imagine how many more mr.
you know imagine how many more mr.
you know imagine how many more mr. Howard’s we could help if we just cheat
Howard’s we could help if we just cheat
Howard’s we could help if we just cheat more
”
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