Due to Covid-19, we have been on hiatus since February 2020. We have been eager to have an event but we did not feel a virtual event was best for our community. Since then we have been trying to come up with the best solution to still inspire and entertain our community. With that, we are introducing our “Where Are They Now?” series. We are going back to interview past presenters and share how their life, careers, and opinions have changed since their last CWG talk. These events will start with an introduction from our community leaders, then we will do a premiere of our pre-recorded interview, and end with live questions & answers with the interviewee. We hope you enjoy this new content and format. We can’t wait to see you in person, our community is strongest when we are together.

===== WHERE ARE THEY NOW? =====
=== FEATURING CALVIN COOPER ===
For some the ultimate “American Dream” is to work hard, climb the ladder, and fight for power and wealth as a CEO…right? Wrong. Instead, imagine a CEO focused on creating all of these things for other people; where Leadership is more than wanting to have followers. Where power and wealth are insignificant without a good vision and plan for positive change.

Join Calvin as he “flips the script” on the CEO stereotype and reflects on his non-traditional journey that has occurred since his last talk with Columbus Web Group. We will explore what motivated him to embody these traits, expand access and opportunity for people in Real Estate, and the advice he has for others looking to do the same.

===== ABOUT CALVIN COOPER =====
Calvin Cooper is the co-founder and CEO of Rhove, a fintech company founded on the belief that our democracy is stronger when everyone has ownership. Rhove’s mission is to empower 10 million new investors to own $10 billion in real estate equity. The Rhove app expands access and opportunity for everyone to invest in real estate and join the owner class through a community-centered social experience.

Prior to founding Rhove, Calvin spent nearly a decade helping entrepreneurs build companies. He is a former Director and Venture Partner at NCT Ventures, an early stage venture capital firm located in the Midwest. During his time at NCT, he led deal sourcing efforts to evaluate new technology investment opportunities, raised capital for the fund and portfolio companies, and served on private company boards of directors. Calvin also led efforts to launch the Smart City Accelerator with American Electric Power and Singularity University. Additionally, he has experience in supplier diversity and business development, connecting diverse-owned companies to Fortune 1000 corporations. During his time at the Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council, he co-founded and launched the MBE Academy in partnership with the City of Columbus to provide resources to emerging minority businesses. Calvin is also a researcher that enjoys turning data into actionable insights. He co-authored the OMSDC Connections Magazine and Economic Impact Report, the NMSDC National Survey on Access to Capital Among Minority Business Enterprises, the 2016 and 2017 VentureOhio Venture Reports, and the 2018 Smart City Startup Landscape.

Calvin is active in community and entrepreneur support organizations. He taught a course on entrepreneurship at The Ohio State University and currently serves on the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center Advisory Board. He received a Visionary Award from the Columbus City Council and the Create Columbus Commission, was listed in the 40 Under 40 Class of 2017 by Columbus Business First, and was selected to participate in the YALP Young American Leaders Program at the Harvard Business School.

Calvin earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Capital University in Financial Economics.

• Past Presentation: “VC Firms and Startups in Cbus – What this Means for You” by Calvin Cooper from 10/02/2015 https://youtu.be/waXsvP80bwA