Where Capital Creates Impact - Light Dao Salon (NYC)
Fireside Chat with Abeera Saeed, Plug and Play.
Moderated by Prince Rumi, Excelsior Edge Ventures, Madeline & Co.
The next wave of innovation won't be built by technology alone. It will also be shaped by how capital is deployed.
Join us for an intimate fireside conversation with Abeera Saeed, whose career has taken her from Goldman Sachs to impact investing and now institutional venture capital at Plug and Play Tech Center. Having worked across all three worlds, Abeera brings a unique perspective on one of the biggest questions facing founders and investors today:
Can impact investing create greater long-term impact than institutional capital, or does the scale of institutional investing ultimately create the greatest change?
Together, we'll explore how traditional finance, institutional venture capital, and impact investing each approach the deployment of capital, where these worlds diverge, where they overlap, and whether financial returns and meaningful impact truly need to be at odds.
Moderating the conversation is Prince Rumi, founder of Madeline & Co., the first strategy execution platform powered by Madeline-s1, and Excelsior Edge Ventures, an emerging fund and one of New York's fastest-growing founder and investor communities. Over the past three years, Prince has convened more than 55 curated gatherings for thousands of founders, investors, executives, and innovators, earning a reputation for thoughtful conversations at the intersection of AI, entrepreneurship, strategy, and community. His experience as a founder, strategist, and community builder makes him an ideal guide for this fireside conversation.
Together we'll explore:
• Traditional finance, institutional venture capital, and impact investing: what each optimizes for
• Can capital deployed at scale create more impact than capital deployed with explicit intention?
• What founders are really looking for in investors today
• How investors define impact, and whether it is measured by intention, outcome, or both
• Why impact investing is often misunderstood by traditional venture investors
• How values influence investment decisions in an increasingly AI-driven world
As always, expect a highly curated evening of founders, investors, operators, and executives who value meaningful relationships, thoughtful dialogue, and long-term collaboration.
SALON AGENDA:
7:00-7:30pm - Welcome, light snacks & drinks served
7:30-7:40pm - Introductions
7:40-8:05pm - Group connection experience
8:05-8:45pm - Fireside Q&A
8:45-9:00pm - Business connect
9:00-9:30pm - Deepen connections
Members often connect for dinner or drinks after the salon.
VENUE DETAILS: The gathering is in Manhattan. The exact address will be sent to confirmed guests.
DRESS: We encourage authentic self-expression! Shoes off because in private residence.
GUEST POLICY: We are a members only (known as Dao Owners) community. All Dao Guests must be approved and can receive one in-person gathering for free. Dao Guests are eligible to become a Dao Owner Member. Otherwise, one must become a Dao Owner to continue attending gatherings. Please note that invitations are not a guarantee for entry, and we invite you to thoroughly answer the approval questions. Friends or +1s must RSVP individually. Unapproved show-ups will not be granted entry.
JOIN US: Light Dao is a fast-growing trusted global community of over 5000 conscious investors and entrepreneurs with curated in-person and online gatherings and experiences, having hosted in 16 cities across North and South America, Middle East, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Our heartfelt mission is to bring abundance for all by expanding the collective consciousness, enlightening society, and empowering values-aligned relationships. Together, we co-create a thriving regenerative future for humanity. We are excited to welcome you to our global community! http://wearelight.one/