Dear Camelback Community,
We were built for this moment!
A major opportunity is before us. So many systems we know are going away. While it’s easy to focus on what we’re losing, there is much more value in seeing the opportunities we are gaining. I have to remind myself (often) that the systems that are going away were not built for us, and I am inspired that the holes they are leaving are already being filled by entrepreneurs with stronger visions of our future.
During this disruptive moment, I’ve been thinking about what it means to be ready for it!
We know that Camelback Ventures has to be ready to play a leading role in the creation of new educational systems and technologies centered on building up our communities.
This summer, our team gathered at Lone Rock in Colorado to reflect and plan for 2026 and spent meaningful time with partners in Martha’s Vineyard to build deeper collaborations. From all of the conversations and engagements I encountered, we were clear in our mindsets and assessments of what is needed immediately: alignment and action. Our ancestors knew this day was coming, and we are ready. We can take moments to reflect, strategize and plan, but this is not a resting moment. Our entrepreneurs and innovators are ready to go and have one job. Support them!
This approach is baked into Cameback’s mission of increasing access to opportunity and capital for underinvested founders. When we invest in ventures, support leadership, and advocate for fairness in the funding ecosystem, we’re actively constructing the pathways to a more equitable future.
The path forward requires us to be both strategic and action-oriented. Right now we’re living this out by cultivating a bigger, more connected community. We’re reaching out to more investors and funders, more entrepreneurs, and more leaders who share our commitment to social impact. Each new relationship isn’t just networking—it’s community building in the truest sense. With every connection we forge, we’re discovering new investment opportunities, identifying mentors who can guide the next generation of founders, and finding innovative ways to keep our mission strategically funded.
As our community expands, so does our capacity to pour back into the early-stage ventures that need us most. We’ll be ready to welcome more leaders into the Camelback Fellowship, breaking the records we just set. We’ll have a deeper set of resources to provide the comprehensive support that underinvested entrepreneurs deserve: coaching, capital, connections, community, and curriculum. These aren’t separate elements—they’re interconnected pieces that make our entire ecosystem stronger.
So as we work to expand the Camelback universe, I invite you to consider: What are you pouring into to create pathways to our shared future? And who might you bring along on this journey?
I genuinely want to hear from you — this conversation matters most when we’re all part of it. Please share your thoughts with me on LinkedIn or Instagram, and let’s keep this dialogue growing. Even better, Iet’s connect in real life. You’ll find me at several upcoming events this month — Destination Impact, the MIT Solve Challenge Finals, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference, and the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting — where I’m excited to dive deeper into these conversations with our community.
When we approach this work together—when we combine our resources, our networks, our vision, and our determination—we’re not just hoping for the future we want — we’re actively, intentionally creating it.
The moment is here. We are ready. And together, we’re building what comes next.
In community,
Shawna Young
This blog is the first in a new series from our CEO, sharing reflections and insights into our ecosystem and how we’re navigating today’s shifting landscape. Interested in learning more about how Camelback has invested over $8 million into more than 200 underresourced entrepreneurs over the past decade.
