CONNECTING CREATIVITY, CULTURE AND CAPITAL
We connect impact investing
with the creative economy
to transform how creativity gets funded.
WHAT WE DO
THE OX KOI & TEAL (OKT) FOUNDATION ignites social and environmental change,
commercial viability, and innovation by channeling impact investing into the creative economy
(fashion, food, film & TV, video games, etc.). We empower investors to champion BIPOC
and women entrepreneurs, build economic opportunities in underserved communities,
create quality jobs, connect ethical supply chains, and share diverse, authentic stories globally.
OUR VISION
To cultivate a global creative economy where purpose-driven artists, designers, and cultural innovators thrive—powered by capital that values both profit and profound impact.
OUR MISSION
To mobilize $50 million by 2030
to fuel impact investing in art, design, culture, heritage, and creativity—
empowering visionary creatives through original research, thought leadership,
and strategic investor alignment.
CONNECTING CREATIVITY, CULTURE AND CAPITAL
Creative individuals are now using business acumen to expand their vision, building companies that uniquely balance financial viability with social and environmental responsibility. Despite their commitment to workers, communities, and the planet, these enterprises often face challenges finding and connecting with impact investors who share their values.
The U.S. creative economy, as valued by the National Endowment for the Arts, is a $1.2 trillion sector (over 4.2% of U.S. GDP). However, this figure significantly undercounts key creative industries like fashion ($564B in 2023), beauty ($104.74B in 2024), video games ($113B in 2024), and the creator economy ($250B in 2023). When combined with the nonprofit arts and culture sector, these industries represent nearly 10% of the U.S. GDP, highlighting a substantial opportunity for investors to generate both profit and impact
Our conviction is strong: discerning consumers will increasingly gravitate towards sustainable, ethically produced, and authentic fashion, beauty brands, and culinary experiences. Similarly, audiences will persistently seek out stories that offer diverse perspectives on vital topics. Furthermore, having already reached trillions, we believe impact investing's trajectory of growth is secure and irreversible.
MAKING ENTREPRENEURIAL EDUCATION ACCESSIBLE TO ALL
Looking to improve your entrepreneurial acumen?
Enroll in Intro to Entrepreneurship Strategy: From Ideation to Exit, an online learning program taught by Ambroise Huret (co-founder of three start-ups, all with successful exits), covering in chronological order each defining step of an entrepreneurial project.
DEFINING THE CREATIVE ECONOMY
To better serve impact investors, we've categorized 145 diverse industries—reflecting how states and regions define their local creative economies—into five overarching groups, illustrating the breadth of the inclusive creative economy
- Ethical Fashion Companies producing clothes, shoes, jewelry and accessories that proactively address industry challenges related to labor, environmental impact, governance and/or preservation of cultural heritage.
- Sustainable Food Producers and providers of food and beverage products and experiences that proactively address and raise consumer awareness of resource conservation, preservation of cultural heritage and/or access to healthy food.
- Social Impact Media Companies that leverage the power of communication, storytelling and technology to drive positive social outcomes at scale, give a platform to underrepresented voices and/or build a diverse workforce.
- Other Creative Businesses includes online creator platforms and creative software tools, disruptive visual art platforms, immersive experiences, inclusive toy and game designers, and other businesses in art, design, culture and heritage industries that drive social impact.
- Creative Places includes real estate projects that are affordable, target creatives or businesses in the creative economy, and benefit their neighbors, such as affordable workspace for artists and creative economy businesses.
STRATEGY FOR AN INCLUSIVE CREATIVE ECONOMY
THE OX KOI & TEAL (OKT) FOUNDATION is launching its Creative Economy Strategy in 2026, creating microfinance and impact investing vehicles for global creative industries. This strategy provides a compelling proposition: generate strong returns while delivering tangible benefits to creative entrepreneurs and workers—individuals often underestimated elsewhere but who flourish in this sector. Our strategic portfolio will offer micro-lending and invest in emerging funds and early-stage companies, seeking market-rate returns and driving five core impact goals:
- Enhanced capital access
- Job growth and quality
- Community revitalization
- Sustainable creative livelihoods and middle-class pathways
- An inclusive, creative economy defined by openness, diversity, and innovation
We believe our demonstration portfolio will catalyze a shift, leading impact fund managers and wealth advisors to prioritize creative industry investments. The global creative economy, a dynamic interplay of art, culture, design, and innovation, uniquely reflects the cultural and historical fabric of each geographic region it inhabits.
If you are a fund manager investing in food, fashion, media and other creative industries or an entrepreneur growing a creative sector
business, we would love to hear from you.
Contact Us Today!
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THE OX KOI & TEAL FOUNDATION
Copyright © 2025 OX KOI & TEAL FOUNDATION, INC. - All Rights Reserved.
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