Navigating a natural disaster is no easy feat — and our friends in Western North Carolina are still grappling with the lasting effects of Hurricane Helene. In this episode, we are joined by ECOSYSTEM partner Jeffrey Kaplan, CEO of Optimist Ventures and Director of Venture Asheville. With deep experience in the entrepreneurial landscape, Jeffrey and his team are working to revitalize the region through an innovative model of venture philanthropy. Their approach — blending capital infusion with accelerator programming — is helping to rebuild a more resilient entrepreneurial ecosystem. And stick around: Thom and Jeffrey share a celebratory shot in honor of Purim, which happened to coincide with the day of the recording.
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