Description
At the root of so many of the social issues in our world is the vulnerable state of the family, from formation to longevity. Dating has undergone a radical transformation due to technology, with the most successful platforms monetizing desire rather than cultivating commitment. While divorce rates are thankfully in decline, marriage rates are declining even faster. Weddings have shifted to center more on the experience of a singular, grand event than a celebration of a serious commitment to something long-lasting. And should individuals successfully establish a marriage and begin raising children, they enter a uniquely stressful season of life, trying to help their children navigate technology, social media, and achievement culture. Of course, they frequently do this without the presence of grandparents, who often live at a geographic and cultural distance, fearful of “being a burden” and less and less seen as sources of wisdom. Toward the end of life both elders and their children may wonder if old age is simply an inconvenience rather than an opportunity for the next generation to care, learn, and honor, affecting our approaches to everything from family leave to caregiving to the development of housing communities.
We're interested in ventures that advance the possibilities of forming and sustaining healthy marriages, deepen individuals’ connections to extended family and community, advocate and prioritize in-home caregiving, and develop covenantal practices of communication, wisdom, and courage as spouses, parents, and caregivers.
In today’s commercially-driven world people are more likely to be seen and referred to as 'consumers' than anything else. Instead of being met with resistance, this shift has often meant that individuals have formed their identity through a composite of brands, and product purchasing can be guided more by the desire to make a statement about one’s identity and values than strict utility. As a result, the lines between social movement, capitalism, and community are increasingly blurry (see: Nike, Whole Foods, and Patagonia).
Given this reality (which is with us for both better and worse), we’d like to support entrepreneurs with a vision for building brands with a counter-culturally virtuous and optimistic view of the world, spreading hope and beauty, eliminating stigma, and most fundamentally, redirecting our identity away from materialistic consumption and toward lasting contentment.
