Halcyon is the home of big risks and bold ideas and in 2023 we embodied that ethos. We introduced new fellowship programs to support under-resourced entrepreneurs, launched our first issue area-specific program in climate, and embarked on a leadership transition. We pushed ourselves to dream bigger, and I’m proud of what that dream is shaping up to be.
In this year characterized by change, Halcyon expanded our global reach. We introduced two new programs, one supporting climate resilience in Latin America and the Caribbean and one supporting food security and Ag-Tech in Nairobi. We also launched the Nairobi Climate Hub in partnership with the Office of Global Partnerships of the U.S. Department of State, SNDBX International, and the Chandaria Business Innovation and Incubation Center at Kenyatta University. Finally, we travelled to Abu Dhabi for our second cohort of our Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Fellowship.
Several of Halcyon’s signature programs continued in 2023, including the eighteenth cohort of our Residential Fellowship. We also welcomed founders from the Greater Washington area for two cohorts of the Opportunity Intensive, and women founders of color from across the U.S. for our Future Builders Fellowship.
In all, our 2023 programming supported 75 ventures and 101 fellows from 26 countries across the world, providing critical resources to ventures tackling pressing challenges from climate adaptation, food security, access to education, responsible waste management, and more. Support for these fellows came directly from you, the Halcyon community. Together we facilitated 285 hours of skills training, 240 hours of leadership coaching and consulting, and hosted 74 pitch practice sessions.
Our partner and donor communities were able to provide $380,000 in non-dilutive stipend support to help under-resourced entrepreneurs, building a more equitable future for us all. We are expanding our reach and continuing to build on our established work to help bring even more climate, health, and equity-driven solutions to market.
We also saw some great progress from our financing vehicles. Halcyon Fund I invested a total of $3,220,377 in investments across seventeen companies, including three first-time investments. The Halcyon Angels issued five new investments totaling $1.7M invested over the lifetime of the network in eleven companies, which also included three first-time investments. We also issued $20,000 in microloans to one local startup who needed an early boost.
Since our inception in 2014, we have now proudly supported 477 entrepreneurs with 335 startups – 68% of those companies have a female founder or co-founder, and 93% have a founder of color. Halcyon fellows have collectively raised more than $500 million in support of their ventures and impacted more than 10.6 million lives globally, spanning every sector and every Sustainable Development Goal.
Of course, one of the biggest things to happen at Halcyon in 2023 was a change in leadership. On January 1st, 2013, Kate Goodall and Dr. Sachiko Kuno joined forces, and started work on the idea that would become Halcyon. Kate not only grew and evolved the incubator program, and myriad ways to help capitalize Halcyon’s ventures, she also stood up the 501c3 in 2017 and attracting a world-class Board and grew our budget from under $1M in the first year to over $6M today. Goodall stepped down as CEO at the end of the year, and I’m honored to have her trust, and that of Halcyon’s Board to lead us forward into our next decade/chapter. She and Dahna Goldstein, ex-Halcyon CIO, now sit alongside us – they’re standing up Halcyon Venture Partners to continue to invest in Halcyon companies in climate, health and EquityTech at the seed-stage through Halcyon Fund II, while managing Halcyon Fund I and the Halcyon Angels on behalf of the 501c3.
All of this work could not have happened without Kate Goodall’s decade of leadership at Halcyon. I’m excited to have the opportunity to build on the strong foundation Kate and Dr. Kuno built and take Halcyon into its second decade.
Halcyon’s work has never been more necessary. We know that the status quo isn’t working and that too many founders with bold innovations are overlooked. We also know that there has never been a better time to lean in and support leaders who can reshape the future of business and make our world more sustainable, equitable, and prosperous. We are incredibly grateful to have the Halcyon community as partners in this important work. As we look to our 10th anniversary celebrations in September 2024, we know there is much to celebrate and still much work to do. I’m honored to have you as a partner in building a better future.
Dan Barker,
Halcyon CEO
THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2023
Halcyon’s fellows are nothing if not resilient, growing and evolving in the face of many challenges.
We are grateful for all the members of our Halcyon family and the ways in which they fuel impact year after year. The following groups of donors come together to make Halcyon’s work possible.
