Episode #149: Drew Koven on Impact Investing, Diversity and Inclusion

This instalment of Future Squared is a little bit different. I had two big name guests lined up this week but both had to reschedule their interviews to a later date. So I was left scrambling with only 4 days to go until our normal go live every Sunday. I left an update on my Linkedin seeking anybody doing cool things in the corporate innovation, entrepreneurship or personal development space and woke up to find over 40 nominations waiting for me.

After much deliberation, I decided to interview someone doing awesome things in the space of venture investing, diversity, impact, inclusion and female led businesses.

Drew Koven is the Managing Director of LDR Ventures. He has successfully incubated, operated, turned around, advised and invested in Fashion & Consumer Lifestyle brands worldwide for over twenty years.

His investments include the likes of Thrive Market, Pledgling and Australian fashion startup, Fame & Partners.

He is widely regarded as a pioneering force in E-commerce, M-commerce, Omnichannel Retail and a thought leader for Innovative Technologies which support fashion and retail.

He is recognized as a: Top 25 Retailer by Apparel Magazine, Top 3 Mobile Marketer by Mobile Marketer Magazine, Boston Business Hall of Fame Inductee, Virgin Atlantic Entrepreneur of the Year, 40 under 40 Recipient, YEO charter member & 2 Chapter President and Advisory Board Apparel Magazine.

Given the tight timelines, I had little time to prepare for Drew but got to know him very quickly in what was a fun episode to record so here we go, from Los Angeles, California, I bring you Drew Koven.

Topics Discussed:

• Introducing Drew
• LDR Ventures
• The state of retail
• What Drew looks for in entrepreneurs
• Common pitfalls entrepreneurs make
• Thrive Market, Pledgeling and Fame & Partners
• Impact investing
• Diversity and inclusion
• The future of e-commerce and how the big boys can keep up

Show Notes:

1. LDR Ventures: Ldrventures.com
2. Drew on Twitter: @andrewdrewkoven
3. Thebizfix.com (iTunes)

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