Curated Circle Insights: The Future of Inclusive and Accessible Funding
Last night at the Ontario Brain Institute, we gathered founders, funders, and ecosystem partners for a Curated Circle on the future of inclusive and accessible funding. The room was engaged from the moment we started. People spoke openly about the gaps, the lived realities, and the collective frustration with a system that has not kept pace with the needs of today’s innovators.
This was not a panel. It was a working session. A space where people could name what is broken, what is missing, and what needs to change.
Below is a synthesis of the themes that surfaced, the patterns we heard, and the insights that will directly guide how we build the next phase of InclusifAI.
1. The system gathers data but rarely turns it into action
Many founders shared that they are constantly asked to disclose sensitive demographic information during applications, yet there is little clarity on how that data is used. It often feels extractive rather than empowering.
Participants emphasized:
There is a gap between data collection and meaningful action
Representation on its own is not enough
Without transparency, communities lose trust
Demographic data becomes performative when not tied to measurable outcomes
This theme reinforces why the InclusifAI Passport uses reusable, plain-language fields and avoids unnecessary identity extraction. Founders want clarity, not checkboxes.
2. There is a lack of diversity and alignment among the people who control capital
Several attendees pointed to the importance of looking beyond optics and interrogating the actual structure:
Who owns the funds
Who manages them
Who benefits
How aligned GPs are with the communities they fund
Some expressed that “unbiased” funding only works if evaluators are not influenced by identity, network familiarity, or perception bias. Others emphasized the need for funds owned by underrepresented communities themselves.
There was also a clear call for intentional, specific programs rather than broad strategies that dilute impact.
3. The ecosystem needs clearer pathways, better collaboration, and shared infrastructure
Across the room, people stressed the importance of:
public-private partnerships
community involvement
patient advocacy
multi-sector collaboration
universal design
empathy-driven program design
Founders want consistency.
Funders want aligned deal flow.
Universities want clearer pipelines.
Accelerators want transparency.
What everyone agreed on: The current system is fragmented, duplicative, and time-intensive.
A first look at what we’re building
As part of the night’s conversation, attendees received a sneak peek of the InclusifAI platform — a visual walkthrough of the core features we are preparing for pilot release. This preview grounded the discussion in something tangible and helped people see how the platform is designed to address the very challenges raised in the room.
4. Founders face structural barriers that have nothing to do with talent
Themes that surfaced included:
Canadian investors are perceived as risk-averse
Many founders travel to the US because capital is limited here
Incubators and accelerators help attract investors, but support is inconsistent
The traction-before-funding loop remains a major barrier
Founders spend hours piecing together information across programs, funds, academic accelerators, and government agencies
A CRM for funding activity is often missing
CAC pressures make early-stage decisions harder
This affirmed the need for an integrated platform where founders can see their entire funding journey in one place, track their activity, and reduce guesswork.
5. Funders also struggle without consistency, clarity, and shared tools
Funders shared their own challenges:
mismatched deal flow
difficulty assessing companies without standardized information
long due diligence cycles
pressure to make decisions faster
limited visibility into pipeline quality
opaque success data that relies on self-reporting
This is why aligned pathways, consistent profiles, and clear evaluation tools are so important. These tools support founders and strengthen the ecosystem.
6. Everyone wants a better, more connected system
Nov 18 The Future of Inclusive Funding Event Recap Video
Across all groups, we heard a desire for:
more transparency
more opportunity
clearer rules
stronger alignment
better tracking
a global network of capital
intentional pipelines
technology that simplifies and supports
design that includes community from the start
This is the work we are committed to at InclusifAI. Not through quick fixes or surface-level solutions, but by building infrastructure that supports the entire ecosystem.
Final Thoughts and Next Steps
Last night was powerful. It validated the depth of the problem and the urgency for a better approach. It also reminded us that meaningful change does not happen in isolation. It happens in circles, in conversation, and in community.
There is an African proverb that captures the spirit of the night:
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” African Proverb
Last night validated that InclusifAI’s solution is needed, and our aim is to provide platform access by December and continue refining features based on the insights that our community continuously share.
Thank you to everyone who contributed your honesty, your lived experience, and your ideas. You are shaping what comes next.
Funding that is inclusive and accessible is possible. We build it together.
