The New Economy Initiative (NEI) started as a pool from various philanthropic foundations back in 2007. But it’s differed from other entrepreneurship funds: “It wasn’t just focused on economic development, but inclusive economic development,” Pam Lewis, Director of NEI tells me. “Traditionally in the high-tech sectors, there’s not necessarily any intentionality around including women and people of color,” she says. “For us, that was the basis of it.” NEI funds a variety of startup initiatives; from accelerators and business competitions, to co-working spaces and aspiring entrepreneurs.