Generation Titans is a now-defunct crowdfunding platform that exclusively served businesses owned by ethnic minorities. It solicited investors to donate to the businesses without receiving equity, presenting the fundraising as contributing to “social impact.” ¹

Generation Titans co-founder Max Skolnik claimed that in its five years in operation, it raised over $300,000 for over 100 businesses. ²

Background

Generation Titans is a now-defunct crowdfunding platform that was founded by a group of Obama Foundation employees that hosted a website for businesses owned by ethnic minorities. It solicited investors to donate to the businesses in support of a “social impact.” ^{3 4} It was founded in November 2017 and operated until December 2022. ⁵

Generation Titans hosted networking events for funders and investors of left-of-center causes, nonprofits, and businesses to discover ethnic minority-owned businesses to potentially fund. Partners to help host the events have included Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, Google Austin, Envolve, and DivInc. ^{6 7} It was also reported that it was advised by Color Of Change, International Indigenous Youth Council, March for Our Lives, and United We Dream while organizing certain events. ⁸

Activities

In March 2019, in partnership with the RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights, Generation Titans held an “immersive event” titled Titan Generator at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas with the help of Google Austin. The event hosted over 100 ethnic-minority owned businesses and speakers from Color Of Change, International Indigenous Youth Council, March for Our Lives, and United We Dream who advocated for funding businesses owned by ethnic minorities as a means of causing a so-called “social impact.” Participating businesses were invited to apply for funding and Generation Titans selected 20 “Titan Awards,” consisting of what it describes as a “micro-grant” which came from donations. ⁹

REUNION

In July 2020, Generation Titans merged with its partner organization Envolve Entrepreneurship, a charitable nonprofit, to form a group named REUNION. Like Generation Titans, REUNION has also gone defunct and served as a crowdfunding platform for businesses owned by ethnic minorities. REUNION was designed for people to give to “early-stage” businesses without receiving equity in the business. It was founded with funding from Kapor Center for Social Impact and in partnership with Blnded Media, DivInc, and Native Women Lead. ¹⁰

Leadership

Generation Titans was founded by Jessica Lynch, Raymar Hampshire, and Max Skolnik, all of whom were working for the Obama Foundation under its MBK Alliance program when they founded Generation Titans. Hampshire and Lynch also worked together prior to joining MBK Alliance while working for the consulting agency Deloitte. ^{11 12} Prior to working for the Obama Foundation, Skolnik worked as the D.C. director for Taproot. ¹³

1. University, Carnegie Mellon. “Building Bridges for the Greater.” Carnegie Mellon University. Accessed November 20, 2023. https://www.cmu.edu/engage/about-us/news/alumni/generation-titans.html.
2. “Max Skolnik.” LinkedIn. Accessed November 20, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxskolnik.
3. Duncan, Pier. Blackwomenwork, October 1, 2020. https://www.blackwomen.work/stories/category/Social+Impact.
4. University, Carnegie Mellon. “Building Bridges for the Greater.” Carnegie Mellon University. Accessed November 20, 2023. https://www.cmu.edu/engage/about-us/news/alumni/generation-titans.html.
5. “Max Skolnik.” LinkedIn. Accessed November 20, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxskolnik.
6. Apostolou, Angeline. “Announcing Reunion! A New Way to Support Black, Latinx, and Indigenous Entrepreneurs.” Founder Forward, April 29, 2022. https://founderforward.org/stories-and-news/announcing-reunion-a-new-way-to-support-black-latinx-and-indigenous-entrepreneurs-9zanh-46aj4.
7. “Building Bridges for the Greater Good.” Carnegie Mellon University. Accessed November 20, 2023. https://www.cmu.edu/engage/about-us/news/alumni/generation-titans.html.
8. Generation Titans. “Coalition of Partners Announces the Titan Generator – a Dynamic Start-up Micro Accelerator Powered by National Social Movements to Support Entrepreneurs of Color.” PR Newswire, February 19, 2019. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/coalition-of-partners-announces-the-titan-generator—a-dynamic-start-up-micro-accelerator-powered-by-national-social-movements-to-support-entrepreneurs-of-color-300797838.html.
9. University, Carnegie Mellon. “Building Bridges for the Greater.” Carnegie Mellon University. Accessed November 20, 2023. https://www.cmu.edu/engage/about-us/news/alumni/generation-titans.html.
10. Apostolou, Angeline. “Announcing Reunion! A New Way to Support Black, Latinx, and Indigenous Entrepreneurs.” Founder Forward, April 29, 2022. https://founderforward.org/stories-and-news/announcing-reunion-a-new-way-to-support-black-latinx-and-indigenous-entrepreneurs-9zanh-46aj4.
11. University, Carnegie Mellon. “Building Bridges for the Greater.” Carnegie Mellon University. Accessed November 20, 2023. https://www.cmu.edu/engage/about-us/news/alumni/generation-titans.html.
12. Duncan, Pier. Blackwomenwork, October 1, 2020. https://www.blackwomen.work/stories/category/Social+Impact.
13. “Max Skolnik.” LinkedIn. Accessed November 20, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxskolnik.