Last week in Philadelphia, something remarkable happened. Together with our friends at Zenith Wealth Partners, the UnTours Foundation co-hosted the Local Capital Markets Showcase, an evening that proved what’s possible when local capital meets local innovation.
The room was alive with energy and purpose! Mission-aligned investors, community leaders, and entrepreneurs all gathered with one shared goal: to keep investment, ownership, and opportunity rooted right here in Philadelphia. It wasn’t just another networking event. It was a glimpse into what our local economy could look like when capital flows intentionally to the people shaping a city’s future.
Throughout the evening, Philadelphia-based founders shared their bold ideas, from innovative social enterprises to neighborhood-based ventures creating good jobs and lasting impact. As one of our co-hosts, Nate Granito, FMVA®, Associate Advisor at Zenith Wealth Partners, put it perfectly: “Local investing isn’t just a feel-good concept; it’s a practical way to strengthen communities and create a more resilient local economy. Events like this help bridge the gap between mission-driven investors and the entrepreneurs who are creating real impact right here in Philadelphia”.
The showcase is part of a growing movement toward place-based investing. Place-based investing directs capital into local communities to achieve both financial returns and measurable social impact, strengthening the economic fabric where people live and work. For us at the UnTours Foundation, this collaboration reflects our deep commitment to aligning capital with values and ensuring that local dollars build local prosperity.
Of course, this idea isn’t new to us. Our founder, Hal Taussig, started lending to local businesses back in the 1990s, long before “impact investing” became a buzzword. Hal believed that investing in entrepreneurs doing good work was simply common sense. And honestly, what was true then holds true today: investing in businesses that are creating impact is never a bad idea.
I left that night feeling both inspired and hopeful. This is what it looks like when capital truly meets community; when people come together not just to talk about impact, but to make it real.
A huge thank you to the Zenith Wealth Partners team for being such thoughtful partners in this work, and to every entrepreneur, investor, and changemaker who showed up ready to collaborate. Stay tuned for our next showcase. And…Philadelphia this is just the beginning.
Light & Love,
Lisa Mitchell — Director of Growth & Engagement at the UnTours Foundation
P.S. – Special shout out to our board members, Laura Corsell and Monica Moran, who joined us for this epic event.
Get to know the incredible Philadelphia businesses that pitched at the showcase:
Naturaz — naturaz.com
Naturaz offers vegan, non-GMO haircare products designed to restore moisture and promote healthy natural hair. The brand focuses on ingredient transparency and self-love for all hair types.
SustainVC — sustainvc.com
An early-stage impact investment firm based in Philadelphia that backs companies creating measurable social and environmental value. SustainVC invests in climate solutions, financial inclusion, and equitable access to opportunity.
JumpButton Studio — jumpbutton.com
A Philadelphia creative studio founded by Nicodemus Madehdou in 2012. JumpButton combines storytelling and technology to produce inclusive games, animations, and digital experiences that center diverse voices.
Smith & Roller (1801 Huntingdon) — smithroller.com
A Philadelphia development firm transforming a former industrial site in East Kensington into a mixed-use space for artists, makers, and residents. The project emphasizes equitable, design-driven urban revitalization.
Triple Bottom Brewing — triplebottombrewing.com
Philadelphia’s first certified B Corp brewery, founded on a “beer, people, planet” model. The brewery employs people overcoming barriers to work, sources locally, and runs on renewable energy.
Black Squirrel — blacksquirrel.co
Black Squirrel developed BizScoreline, which is a business assessment platform developed by Black Squirrel to assess small to mid-sized businesses’ ability to maintain their operations in normal economic as well as turbulent times. BizScoreline is designed to measure key infrastructure areas of a business.
BLA Holdings (4430 Lancaster Ave) — BLA Holdings LinkedIn
A community-focused real estate firm in Philadelphia advancing Black ownership and equitable neighborhood investment through sustainable development and partnerships.
FamFrequency Productions — famfrequencyproductions.org
A multimedia production company amplifying stories from communities of color through film, music, and digital storytelling — fostering creative expression and social change.
Remark Glass — remarkglass.com
A woman-owned glass design studio in South Philadelphia transforming discarded glass into new home goods and art pieces. The company operates from a circular-economy model focused on reuse and local craft.
Le Baobab (Urbane) — https://thisisurbane.com/case-studies/le-baoba
The Baobab is a redevelopment project that will create a community anchor that contributes to the vitality of the Woodland Avenue corridor that connects the neighborhoods of Southwest Philadelphia.
Southwest BIO Cares (Urbane) — thisisurbane.com/case-studies/southwest-bio-cares
This multi-phased development opportunity supports a campus that connects housing, workforce development, education, R&D/innovation economy, and other wealth building pathways to the neighborhoods within Southwest Philadelphia and beyond.
