The Ghetto VC: How to Invest Like a Venture Capitalist with Limited Resources
All 12 chapters of "The Ghetto VC" are now available here on Substack
Dear Community,
I’m happy to share that all 12 chapters of The Ghetto VC are now available right here on Substack! I've chosen this platform to offer a dynamic experience, including audio podcasts & community engagement. Stay tuned for audio readings accompanying each chapter in the coming weeks. Plus, get ready to join me for weekly live-streamed book readings & book club meetings. A huge THANK YOU to all of our subscribers who’ve given me the courage to continue — your pre-orders & paid subscriptions help me work towards publishing a hard copy later this year. Through this publication, my goal is to educate 10,000 new investors. So, what are you waiting for?
Dive into The Ghetto VC & join our community of learners!
About The Ghetto VC
The Ghetto VC is a step-by-step guide on building an abundance mindset, and investing like a venture capitalist. Author, Garry Johnson III, is an award-winning entrepreneur, adjunct professor, angel investor, and startup advisor. He supports a global community of underrepresented founders through his nonprofit, and is building pathways to wealth for all through his company, Bison Venture Partners. To date, Garry has mentored hundreds of entrepreneurs, raised capital from 100+ investors, and built an investment portfolio of more than a dozen private companies. Through The Ghetto VC, Garry outlines his thought process & investment strategy, while sharing accessible resources to help everyday people build wealth for themselves.
Chapter List
Introduction: The Enlightenment
Understand Your “Why”
Know the Rules & Regulations
Form C's & "Testing The Waters"
Set a Measurable Goal
Find New Opportunities
Analyze Interesting Deals
Do Your Due Diligence
Create Your Own Opportunities
Manage Your Expectations
Build Your Portfolio
Support Your Investments
Track Your Performance
Get Others to Join You!
I hope you enjoy…
Garry Johnson III
The Ghetto VC
Introduction | The Enlightenment
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. Nothing contained in this publication constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer to buy or sell any securities or other financial instruments.
“You can use this sound as a guide to improve the quality of your life… To take control of the circumstances surrounding your existence…”
Intro - Westside Gunn
As I sit in my apartment in West Philadelphia, I look out the window and see rowhomes and townhouses spanning towards the horizon. The weather is cool, as fall has officially begun, and my neighbors are still adjusting to daylight savings time.
My section of this City of Brotherly Love is uniquely diverse as my neighbors include an eclectic mix of Ivy League college students attending a top university, and across the street, my neighbors in subsidized housing are actively fighting the ongoing threat of displacement due to rapid gentrification. Just around the corner is a burgeoning Life Science district where technicians, inventors, and entrepreneurs work diligently to develop breakthrough technologies and medical treatments.
The funny thing about my little pocket of the city is that it reminds me of the TV show Portlandia. I’ve only been to Portland once, but I can assure you it owns its proclivity for weirdness…
In West Philly, we have a similarly diverse and eclectic mix of humans, pets, music, food, and of course, net worth. In fact, the further west you travel, the closer you get to what most consider “The Hood.”
Out West, the streets begin to narrow and buildings become more compact. The same beautiful humans live there, but their community is changing just the same; rowhomes are being renovated, rent is increasing, and a more affluent demographic is settling out west in search of a less chaotic city life. What were once corner stores and daycares are being replaced with university offices, as educational institutions see the value of investing in westward expansion.
Let me not be mistaken — I do believe that economic development is a good and necessary thing. The problem, however, becomes when community members get priced-out, displaced, and perpetually set back as they strive to improve their economic status.
The remedy is to build and retain wealth in our communities, which is only achieved through ownership.
The question we must ask ourselves is, “What do we own?”
As I write this in 2022, I can't help but to reflect on where our country was just 100 years ago. In the “Roaring ‘20s,” the Black community was at the helm of a cultural renaissance in Harlem, New York.
Sometimes, in the most repressive times, we create the most extraordinary art.”
Today, we have a burgeoning class of creators, entrepreneurs, and investors leading a new kind of Renaissance, fueled by Beyoncé’s latest album, of course. This new renaissance, however, is an economic one. Our current era is one where historically disenfranchised communities are beginning to reverse generations of inequities by creating equity in geographies and industries previously reserved for elites.
In this technological age, we’re experiencing the rapid acceleration of new business creation and wealth generation. I believe there are three classes of people contributing to this mix. First, there are the consumers/customers with problems, needs, and desires. Second, there are producers/entrepreneurs who create products and services to satisfy consumers. Third, there are the investors/owners who provide the financial resources required by the entrepreneurs to create and deliver value to consumers. Now, if you study any wealthy person in the entire world, you'll find they're either an entrepreneur or an investor. They're on the ownership side of the equation. However, if you find someone who’s achieved success simply through being a consumer, please let me know!
Ownership is wealth because it's an asset that can grow and appreciate over time.
Those who are simply consumers do not grow their wealth, they squander it by purchasing products and services provided by entrepreneurs. I believe investors are the ultimate wealth builders because they know these things to be true: