Diversity

The landscape of the United States capital markets has been and is undergoing a period of significant transition.

The United States public capital markets are the largest and deepest globally, enabling innovation, investment, and growth across the economy

If the battle for civil rights of the 1960s was fought in the streets, parks, buses, and lunch counters of America, today the fight for opportunity may be found in the boardrooms and financial markets. 

When we walked into the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Conference in New Orleans this week, we carried more than presentation slides.

If the battle for civil rights of the 1960s was fought in the streets, parks, buses, and lunch counters of America, today the fight for opportunity may be found in the boardrooms and financial markets. 

For the past 20 years or so, the number of annual IPO’s has seen a significant decline, creating serious concerns with economists, as well as the financial community, our Congressional representatives and the governmental agencies tasked with tracking and improving this environment.

If the battle for civil rights of the 1960s was fought in the streets, parks, buses, and lunch counters of America, today the fight for opportunity may be found in the boardrooms and financial markets. 

We’ve been building the first minority-owned and controlled stock exchange in American history. While we anticipate this venture to be very profitable for our investors and our company, why should this matter to the average person struggling with the challenges of day-to-day life in America today?

In the ever-evolving landscape of business, entrepreneurship shines as a beacon of hope, driving innovation, job creation, and economic prosperity. 

When IPC Systems announced in April 2023 that it was partnering with the Dream Exchange, a timely and ambitious US initiative to launch the first minority-owned (and governed) registered stock exchange in the history of the United States, Mike Smith, Director of IPC Network Services said, “IPC is privileged and excited to be part of Dream Exchange’s vision and mission to increase participation in capital markets across all sectors of society.”

Phil Knight, the co-founder of Nike, and his wife Penny have recently invested $400 million in the Rebuild Albina project, a non-profit aimed at strengthening Portland’s Black community. This new fund has joined a growing number of “Black funds” that seek to address inequality and promote economic and social justice for Black communities[source]. 

Dream Exchange had the honor and privilege of participating in the Black Business Conference which was sponsored by the National Business League, World Conference of Mayors, and the National Black Chamber of Commerce.