US healthcare spending overall represents 18% of GDP, and improving healthcare utilization by disadvantaged communities is an enormous opportunity to reduce costs and improve patient outcomes.

The last thing you ever want to do is run out of cash. Surprises put entrepreneurs in a difficult position — with vendors, customers, employees, and investors.

Delivering personalized learning is a challenge, though. Nationwide two-thirds of students are still reading below grade level.

Because Impact Engine is focused on software and data-driven companies, it can be challenging for us to find companies that are a fit, but we have made two investments over the past year and hope to make many more in years to come.

Foundations like the MacArthur Foundation are making impact investments and sharing their lessons learned. There are also a plethora of strategies and advisors who can help foundations with MRIs.

This overview of what we’ve seen in economic empowerment is the first of what will be a four-part monthly series where we will cover each of our focus areas in turn.