Most small business owners consider two paths when in need of capital: a) traditional loans, or b) “Shark Tank” style investing. However, heavy hitter Rodney Sampson, cofounder and CEO of the Opportunity Hub—an Atlanta-based co-working space and accelerator for startups—visited GMSDC Radio to discuss a middle-of-the-road option of using angel investing for small business growth. The interview is part of an ongoing financial literacy series on the Let’s Talk Small Business radio show. Part II of the interview will delve deeper into how angel investing relates to a larger discussion of wealth disparity in minority communities. Learn more about the Opportunity Hub and Sampson’s investing-related initiatives at http://www.rodneysampson.com/.
Rodney Sampson / Opportunity Hub 
Rodney Sampson is a social innovator, serial entrepreneur, angel investor, published author, and consecrated bishop. Via his Episcopal affiliations with the Old Holy Catholic Church and International Bishops Conference, Sampson shapes innovative economic policy and opportunities throughout society and culture. As a serial entrepreneur, Sampson co-founded Multicast Media Networks (Streamingfaith.com) in 2000 (sold in 2010), a live and on-demand streaming platform that laid the foundation for companies like YouTube and Ustream. Not stopping there, Sampson co-founded Intellectual Currency (an integrated marketing and business development firm) in 2002, Intellect Inspire (a digital publishing imprint of Audible) in 2006, and Legacy Opportunity Fund in 2007 with private equity investments in technology, energy, consumer products and the entrepreneurial ecosystem. He also serves on the advisory boards of a learning company (a Pearson Education Alliance Partner), a production company and multiple startup and early stage companies throughout the world.
Sampson is passionate about reducing our nation’s poverty and wealth gap by advancing the cause of innovation, coding, entrepreneurship, investment and Crowdfunding as a way of life for all communities. To advance this definitive cause, Sampson created Opportunity Ecosystem (OE). Opportunity Ecosystem includes opportunity.UP // unleashing private equity, the nation’s leading conference and learning platform learning for minorities and under-served communities to learn, navigate and master investment ecosystem. opportunity.UP conferences attract over 1,000 entrepreneurs, 500 teenagers and 100 accredited investors and mentors. Opportunity Ecosystem also includes opportunity.HUB a coworking space, knowledge hub, coding school and accelerator located in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. opportunity.HUB is home to opportunity.VENTURES, a new seed and early stage fund focused on making investments in early stage consumer facing, technology and disruptive social enterprise based companies that impact culture and beyond.
Sampson is also an advocate and respected expert on the JOBS Act (debt and equity based crowdfunding) and State of Georgia’s “Invest Georgia Exemption” legislation. Always meditating, thinking, networking and connecting to disrupt economic culture, Sampson is innovating what he has branded as an “ecosystem crowdfunding platform” -designed to integrate the capital markets of the African American owned banks, churches, business associations and historical black colleges and universities. The platform will allow underserved and under-represented communities to learn, engage and invest in the investment ecosystem by providing access to relevant investment opportunities traditionally reserved for accredited and institutional investors. The long-term outcome will result in job creation, wealth creation and a better society for all.
