Economic mobility remains out of reach for both too many Americans, especially in historically underserved communities, and throughout the world. At Sagamore, we are working to close the wealth gap by identifying scalable solutions, supporting inclusive entrepreneurship, and shaping policies that foster long-term financial resilience here and abroad. Through research, partnerships, and community-driven innovation, Sagamore aims to build a more equitable economic future—one where opportunity is accessible to every individual and family.
CLOSING THE WEALTH GAP
Our Projects
Building Entrepreneurs
Sagamore partners Emil Ekiyor and Will Acuff have built entrepreneurial ecosystems and trained literally thousands of low-income residents to become entrepreneurs in Indianapolis and Nashville.
Impact Investing
NFL star Jaylon Smith invested $1.3M in a dozen black-owned businesses via three pitch competitions hosted by Sagamore. He recruited other professional athletes to invest alongside him and the network continues to invest in enterprise solutions to poverty. Related, Sagamore supported Robert F. Smith’s Southern Communities initiative to modernize CDFI technology in support of underserved communities
Africa Rising
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was the first woman elected president on the continent of Africa. She is also a Harvard trained economist. As she toured the Liberian farm built by Sagamore fellows Gina and Travis Sheets, she exclaimed, “I didn’t believe that a farm of this quality was even possible in my country.” Another Sagamore partner, Emil Ekiyor built a $10M factor in Ghana to create 1000+ jobs and a product to advance global health. Read below for other stories ranging from White House policy reform to enterprise solutions to poverty.
RALLY AFRICA
InnoPower Africa is teaming up with Sterling Bank to launch RALLY AFRICA at the 2027 Africa Social Impact Summit in Lagos. The partnership will be announced during the 2026 United Nations General Assembly.
ENTREPREEURSHIP & INNOVATION
Catalyzing Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in Central Indiana
Over the last decade, multiple leaders in Central Indiana have implemented strategies to support Black business ownership and close the wealth gap. Despite their best intentions, these programs were not coordinated between key stakeholders, leading to gaps between what Black founders required and the existing business development ecosystem.
In response, Sagamore teamed up with InnoPower’s Emil Ekiyor, with support from business leaders at JPMorgan Chase, to conduct an ecosystem mapping of Central Indiana’s Black-owned business development environment.
Based on these findings, Sagamore helped Emil develop and launch Indy Biz Pass, which helps entrepreneurs in the Circle City navigate resources, connect with capital and grow their networks.
Key Findings from the Ecosystem Report
Community‑Driven Motivation
Business growth is deeply tied to community impact. Owners are driven by creating jobs, helping others, and giving back—making programs that link business success to community outcomes especially powerful.
Peer Networks as a Growth Engine
Black business owners most often rely on trusted peers, mentors, and personal networks to access resources and contracts. Programs that intentionally strengthen these connections—especially between newer and more experienced entrepreneurs—align with how owners already succeed.
Business Skills Beyond the Craft
Many owners are highly skilled technically, but lack core business infrastructure. Accessible mentorship, coaching, and practical business education can close this gap and unlock sustainable growth.
Regional & Global Partnerships for AI Training
ENTREPRENEURSHIP & INNOVATION
Transforming Lives in Nashville
Sagamore Senior Fellow Will Acuff is transforming lives and communities through entrepreneurship. At his organization Corner to Corner, Will and his team have equipped over 1,400 underestimated entrepreneurs in the local community with the skills they need to plan, start, and grow their own small businesses. Leveraging this ethos, Will has co-founded The River Prosperity Project to use the construction of Nashville’s new NFL stadium as a platform to invest in neighborhoods left behind amid the city’s rapid growth.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP & INNOVATION
Building Wealth in Underinvested Communities
The Southern Communities Initiative (SCI), a Sagamore partner, is a consortium of companies united around a single mission: accelerating opportunity and economic growth in six historically underinvested Southern communities — Atlanta, Birmingham, Charlotte, Greater New Orleans, Houston, and Memphis. By strengthening access to capital, expanding business development support, and connecting entrepreneurs with the networks and resources they need to grow, SCI is building the infrastructure for inclusive economies that work for everyone, with an estimated 5x economic return projected over ten years.
AFRICAN DYNAMISM
Bridge2Rwanda
Founded in 2007, Bridge2Rwanda identifies high-capacity young leaders across Africa and creates opportunities at the most critical transitions in their lives — from high school to university, and from university to career. Through scholarship programs, fellowship development, and agricultural training, B2R fellows have gone on to launch companies, lead organizations, and hold senior roles at institutions ranging from the African Union to Harvard Business School. Rwanda’s remarkable rise — from tragedy to one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa — offers a powerful model for what dedicated investment in human potential can achieve.
Sagamore Institute Senior Fellow Amy Sherman is currently writing a book chronicling this remarkable transformation, from the individual stories of how young Rwandans have flourished in their careers and communities to the system-level lessons that could be applied to other African contexts.
AFRICAN DYNAMISM
World Shoe
Sagamore has teamed up with World Shoe and its founder, Manny Ohonme, to expand the mission of his global Samaritan’s Feet initiative, which provides footwear to underserved communities across the world. With already over 11 million people served in 113 countries, World Shoe’s unique venture philanthropy model aims to create a more efficient and effective manufacturing and transportation model for shoe distribution throughout Africa. In 2023, World Shoe opened its first manufacturing facility on the continent in Ghana, committing to investing in local economies and uplifting communities across the continent.
AFRICAN DYNAMISM
Liberia Rising
Liberia, founded in 1821 as a resettlement for freed Black Americans, is now turning the page from post-war recovery to building a vibrant, modern nation. Sagamore Senior Fellow Donald Cassell leads initiatives that help Liberia unlock its full potential—strengthening governance, fostering economic growth, and creating opportunities for a thriving future.
Chaya Cassel
AFRICAN DYNAMISM
Farm + Flourish
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was the first woman elected president on the continent of Africa. She is also a Harvard trained economist. As she toured the Liberian farm built by Sagamore fellows Gina and Travis Sheets, she exclaimed, “I didn’t believe that a farm of this quality was even possible in my country.” The Sheets created their farm to be an agricultural beacon and training facility to uplift the national economy.
ATHLETES & ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS
Athlete Impact Strategies
Sagamore’s Athlete Impact Strategies help professional athletes turn success on the field into lasting impact off it. Through strategic advising, entrepreneurship support, and philanthropic management, Sagamore and our partners at Rise Family Office work with athletes to build businesses, invest wisely, and create meaningful community change—transforming today’s athletes into long‑term legacy builders.
ATHLETES & ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS
Minority Entrepreneurship Institute
A dime to a dollar. That’s the gap between the median net worth of Black American families ($17,000) and white American families ($170,000). One in five Black families has zero or negative net worth—twice the rate of white families. Despite their innovation and impact, Black entrepreneurs receive less than 2% of venture capital nationwide.
Sagamore helped NFL Pro Bowl linebacker Jaylon Smith start the Minority Entrepreneurship Institute (MEI) to help close this wealth gap by accelerating high‑growth entrepreneurship and expanding access to capital, networks, and impact investing opportunities.