VILLAGEx 2022 Founder Friday: Reimagine Fund
Founder Fridays is a series that spotlights VILLAGEx founders and their startups
For the last 20 years, William Bradshaw has dedicated his professional career to tax-incentivized development. An expert in tax equity investment, Bradshaw has become frustrated and concerned about the increasing wealth gap, particularly affecting average Americans who have little or no access to capital that can help build wealth over time. Bradshaw decided to put his passion and expertise for helping people obtain financial freedom to good use and started the Reimagine Fund: a startup that democratizes access to tax equity investments and enables more people to become real estate owners through use of tax credits, helping them to work towards financial freedom.
“We want the average American to use a tax benefit, historically only available to large corporations and the very rich. With us, people can make their taxes work for them, building wealth and adding financial flexibility to their life.” Bradshaw said. “Even better, we make this benefit available in a way that gives community members more control over what projects happen, helping give long-neglected places new life.”
At the core of what the Reimagine Fund seeks to do is to help individuals find financial freedom so that all Americans have an opportunity to build intergenerational wealth.
Reimagine Fund, a 2022 VILLAGEx startup, has spent the last five months structuring and operationalizing his idea, and connecting with thought leaders and experts across the tech and entrepreneurship space. Ahead of Demo Day 2022, Bradshaw has plans to secure its first investment.
Q & A
(Responses have been edited for clarity)
Why startup in New Orleans?
William Bradshaw: “New Orleans is my home. I live with four natives (my wife and kids). There was no other option about where to start because New Orleans is non-negotiable. But that said, this is the perfect place to begin the Reimagine Fund. Per capita, we lead the nation in historic tax credit investments, which is the tax-advantaged program we’re starting with. And we are a close-knit, hardscrabble place, filled with enormously creative people who mostly do not have intergenerational wealth. In other words, it’s a town filled with our target customers.”
In what ways has VILLAGEx inspired you and or helped so far?
William Bradshaw: “[The Idea Village] has provided support, [especially by being] part of a cohort engaged in a similar process. Throughout my career, I have found that no one really understands the entrepreneurial journey except other entrepreneurs. By bringing us together in cohorts, [The Idea Village] has provided us with a built-in support network who knows exactly the challenges we’re facing, because they are facing them too. This is the most valuable part of the process.”
What does it take to be an entrepreneur?
William Bradshaw: “Mostly, you have to be a little bit crazy. You have to be willing to walk away from more secure opportunities where your time and talents could provide a more stable living. You have to be able to continue to believe in your idea when dozens of people have told you it doesn’t make sense or it will never work or they’re not interested. And not only do you have to continue to believe in it, but you have to maintain an energy and enthusiasm about selling it, because the next person you talk to may be the one that gives you that yes.”
Top 3 advice for someone pitching their startup for the VILLAGEx judges?
William Bradshaw:
“Bring your energy. There is no substitute for enthusiasm.”
“Your story is important. Lean into it. Help people connect to your idea through your experience with it.”
“Believe in yourself. Your idea just might be the thing you were put here to do.”