Financing the Creative Economy: A Fireside Chat

​FourthWave Forums is a founder‑focused series bringing conversations beyond the accelerator to the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem. Come for signal‑dense insights; stay for a community that’s building venture‑backable, impact‑driven companies.

​Title: Financing the Creative Economy: A Fireside Chat

Date/Time: Wednesday, November 5, 2025 • 4:00–5:00 PM PT
Speaker: Alice Loy — General Partner, Relevance Ventures; Co‑Founder, Creative Startups

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Moderator: Mariah Lichtenstern
Hosted by: FourthWave (see “About FourthWave”), in partnership with the Carlsen Center for Entrepreneurship, DiverseCity Ventures, and the City of Sacramento

​Description 
Creative founders face a unique challenge: translating audience love into investable, scalable businesses. In this FourthWave Forum, investor and advisor Alice Loy (General Partner, Relevance Ventures; Co‑Founder, Creative Startups) shares practical frameworks for financing the creative economy—across equity, earned revenue, grants, and partnerships. We’ll cover how investors assess creative‑tech, how to package traction beyond vanity metrics, and what makes a compelling raise in today’s market. Expect a campfire‑style conversation moderated by Mariah Lichtenstern, founder Q&A, and concrete next steps you can apply to film, media, and creative‑tech ventures.

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​Alice Loy

​Alice Loy is General Partner at Relevance Ventures and Co‑Founder of Creative Startups. She invests in and advises founders at the intersection of technology and the creative economy, helping them turn audience traction and intellectual property into scalable businesses. Alice has partnered with accelerators, funds, and institutions worldwide to advance creative‑tech entrepreneurship and inclusive innovation.