By: Michaela Ceja, Senior Associate, Selection at Camelback Ventures
To kick off the start of April, I had the privilege of attending the ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, an event dedicated to a mission closely aligned with Camelback Ventures’ work: creating a world where all people have equal access to opportunities through education and workforce innovation.
After reflecting on the sessions I attended and the conversations in between, one word stood out to me as both the heart of this work and the antidote to today’s societal and economic uncertainty: community. A living ecosystem deeply rooted in psychological safety, intentional collaboration, and courageous imagination.
This is the kind of community that Camelback Ventures invests in and works to create through our Fellowship and networking events like ASU+GSV where Camelback Fellows and Staff were inspired by sessions, workshops, and keynote speakers. Two sessions that stood out at this year’s Summit featured Camelback Fellows Sage Salvo (2017), Tiffany Green (2022).
From Idea to Impact
An example of this was the panel “From Idea to Impact: Entrepreneurs Share Their Journey,” moderated by Sage Salvo, founder of WordsLiive (2017 Camelback Fellow). He led a conversation between Chris Motley (Mentor Spaces), Abi Olukeye (Smart Girls HQ), and Jessica Ochoa Hendrix (Killer Snails). These leaders shared what it can look like to lead through adversity—whether that’s reimagining their business model to ensure survival, having to pivot during an unexpected pandemic, or making the courageous initial decision to bet on themselves.
The room was packed with people eager not just to learn, but to feel seen, validated, and inspired. As the panelists shared their journeys with vulnerability, the energy was undeniable. From seasoned founders to college students with entrepreneurial aspirations, the audience felt a deep sense of resonance and camaraderie. That session was a reminder of how deeply affirming it is to hear from people who come from communities like yours—people who are not only doing the work, but doing it in ways that reflect your values and bold vision for change.
Sage closed the session with a call to action for the edtech founders in the room: it’s time to move beyond our silos and partner with each other to expand our collective impact. In times like this, we must be rooted in collaboration, not competition. Real transformation happens when we build together.
Designing for Equity: AI, Access, and Agency
Another important conversation featured Tiffany Green, founder of Uprooted Academy (Camelback Fellow 2022), who spoke on the panel “Realizing AI’s Promise: Ensuring AI Democratizes Education Rather than Deepens Divides.” As AI becomes the star of both classrooms and boardrooms alike, it’s clear that tools alone aren’t the solution – intention is. Tiffany and other panelists reminded us that equity doesn’t happen by accident; it happens by design.
She offered an insightful reframing when talking about her venture, Uprooted Academy: we must design AI tools not just for students, but for their villages—families, caregivers, and other supportive adults. And while we may not be able to shift our policies quickly enough, we can shift our culture. Even in under-resourced environments, we can create conditions that nurture creativity, curiosity, and critical thinking. And just as our students need this, funders must also create psychologically safe communities – spaces that allow for experimentation and failure – for the founders building these tools. Psychological safety is a prerequisite for innovation.
Families at the Center
I was especially moved by the panel “Families as Force Multipliers,” featuring Antoinette Banks, founder of Expert IEP Incorporate (2025 Camelback Fellow). Antoinette shared how her venture centers families as experts in achieving student success, particularly in special education. She spoke about creating space for parents to dream beyond their child’s diagnosis, to feel truly seen, and to know they don’t have to navigate these complex systems alone.
When families are well-informed and empowered, everything changes. Parents become confident advocates and know the right questions to ask. Most importantly, they are treated as trusted partners, not afterthoughts. The systems we build must reflect that trust and honor the wisdom that families bring.
Antoinette reminded us that collaboration doesn’t only happen between entrepreneurs or institutions—it begins at home. It begins when we recognize families not as passive players, but as co-creators of educational success. When we build those kinds of partnerships, we spark ripple effects that strengthen entire ecosystems of support.
What We Owe Each Other
This week was a powerful reminder that we’re not just investing in founders for their ideas. We’re also backing the communities that fuel their vision. We’re investing in the truth of their lived experiences, the obstacles they’ve overcome, and the futures they are ruthlessly dreaming into reality.
Each panel reminded me that when we create the conditions for people to feel seen and supported—not just as individuals, but as part of something larger—they build differently. They lead with compassion and care. They collaborate instead of compete. And most importantly, they create their own spaces where others can thrive too.
We cannot afford for the future to be something we wait for; it is something we must co-create here and now. And if we want our future to be just, bold, and inclusive, we must build it together.
At Camelback, we recognize the importance of supporting underinvested entrepreneurs with capital, coaching, connections, curriculum and community. We recently launched the eshub.org, a new shared resource designed to make the startup ecosystem easier to understand, access, and navigate. It’s a tool built by those who believe in what’s possible when we work collectively.
If this resonated with you, continue the conversation with us in person at Guardian Summit! At Camelback’s annual convening of visionaries and community builders, we’ll honor the progress that has been made, share stories of transformation, and collaborate across the ecosystem to co-create lasting social impact.
