2023 Letter from the CEO

Halcyon is the home of big risks and bold ideas and in 2023 we embodied that ethos. We introduced new fellowship programs to support under-resourced entrepreneurs, launched our first issue area-specific program in climate, and embarked on a leadership transition. We pushed ourselves to dream bigger, and I’m proud of what that dream is shaping up to be.

In this year characterized by change, Halcyon expanded our global reach. We introduced two new programs, one supporting climate resilience in Latin America and the Caribbean and one supporting food security and Ag-Tech in Nairobi. We also launched the Nairobi Climate Hub in partnership with the Office of Global Partnerships of the U.S. Department of State, SNDBX International, and the Chandaria Business Innovation and Incubation Center at Kenyatta University. Finally, we travelled to Abu Dhabi for our second cohort of our Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Fellowship.

Several of Halcyon’s signature programs continued in 2023, including the eighteenth cohort of our Residential Fellowship. We also welcomed founders from the Greater Washington area for two cohorts of the Opportunity Intensive, and women founders of color from across the U.S. for our Future Builders Fellowship.

In all, our 2023 programming supported 75 ventures and 101 fellows from 26 countries across the world, providing critical resources to ventures tackling pressing challenges from climate adaptation, food security, access to education, responsible waste management, and more. Support for these fellows came directly from you, the Halcyon community. Together we facilitated 285 hours of skills training, 240 hours of leadership coaching and consulting, and hosted 74 pitch practice sessions.

Our partner and donor communities were able to provide $380,000 in non-dilutive stipend support to help under-resourced entrepreneurs, building a more equitable future for us all. We are expanding our reach and continuing to build on our established work to help bring even more climate, health, and equity-driven solutions to market.

We also saw some great progress from our financing vehicles. Halcyon Fund I invested a total of $3,220,377 in investments across seventeen companies, including three first-time investments. The Halcyon Angels issued five new investments totaling $1.7M invested over the lifetime of the network in eleven companies, which also included three first-time investments. We also issued $20,000 in microloans to one local startup who needed an early boost.

Since our inception in 2014, we have now proudly supported 477 entrepreneurs with 335 startups – 68% of those companies have a female founder or co-founder, and 93% have a founder of color. Halcyon fellows have collectively raised more than $500 million in support of their ventures and impacted more than 10.6 million lives globally, spanning every sector and every Sustainable Development Goal.

Of course, one of the biggest things to happen at Halcyon in 2023 was a change in leadership. On January 1st, 2013, Kate Goodall and Dr. Sachiko Kuno joined forces, and started work on the idea that would become Halcyon. Kate not only grew and evolved the incubator program, and myriad ways to help capitalize Halcyon’s ventures, she also stood up the 501c3 in 2017 and attracting a world-class Board and grew our budget from under $1M in the first year to over $6M today. Goodall stepped down as CEO at the end of the year, and I’m honored to have her trust, and that of Halcyon’s Board to lead us forward into our next decade/chapter. She and Dahna Goldstein, ex-Halcyon CIO, now sit alongside us – they’re standing up Halcyon Venture Partners to continue to invest in Halcyon companies in climate, health and EquityTech at the seed-stage through Halcyon Fund II, while managing Halcyon Fund I and the Halcyon Angels on behalf of the 501c3.

All of this work could not have happened without Kate Goodall’s decade of leadership at Halcyon. I’m excited to have the opportunity to build on the strong foundation Kate and Dr. Kuno built and take Halcyon into its second decade.

Halcyon’s work has never been more necessary. We know that the status quo isn’t working and that too many founders with bold innovations are overlooked. We also know that there has never been a better time to lean in and support leaders who can reshape the future of business and make our world more sustainable, equitable, and prosperous. We are incredibly grateful to have the Halcyon community as partners in this important work. As we look to our 10th anniversary celebrations in September 2024, we know there is much to celebrate and still much work to do. I’m honored to have you as a partner in building a better future.

Dan Barker,
Halcyon CEO

Financial Overview

Expenses and Changes in Net  Assets

PROGRAM EXPENSES
SUPPORTING SERVICES
Social Enterprise:
$2,838,481
Fundraising expenses:
$1,248,795
Other Programs:
$402,873
Administrative expenses:
$303,533
Total Programing Expenses:
$3,241,354
Total Supporting Services:
$1,552,328
Total Expenses: $4,793,682
Change in Net Assets: -$116146
Beginning Net Assets: $1,486,686
Ending Net Assets: $1,373,540

Revenue and Support

Grants and contributions: $31,44,155
In-kind contributions: $1,239,760
Other income: $163,342
Investment loss, net: $133,279
Total Income: $4,680,536

Fellow Locations in 2023

All-Time Fellow Locations

Halcyon MENA Fellowship

The MENA Intensive served impact-driven startup founders across the Middle East and North Africa who harnessed the power of cross-regional collaboration to further the impact-driven future of business. Fellows received a stipend, a one-week residency in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and leadership programing. This fellowship was supported by the U.S. Department of State, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Lex Mundi, and Marc and Leana Katz.
VIEW ALL THE FELLOWS ON OUR WEBSITE
The time for businesses that work only to earn money is over. Having a structure like Halcyon that’s helping impactful startups is so important because impactful startups are feeling alone, for whatever reason, in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. We need to find each other.
—Khadija Jallouli

Halcyon Africa Food and Ag-Tech Fellowship

The Africa Food and Ag-Tech Fellowship served entrepreneurs across the continent with innovative solutions that can improve the livelihoods of farmers while increasing access to quality food for the most vulnerable. Fellows received a stipend, five months of virtual leadership and business programing, a one week in-person residency at Halcyon, and a one week in-person residency in Nairobi. This fellowship was supported by Amazon Web Services, S&R Evermay, and Covington.
VIEW ALL THE FELLOWS ON OUR WEBSITE
Halcyon provides a very important blend of innovation and network. You receive knowledge and information about the resources out there that support you to grow and scale your business. It’s great for pushing your business beyond the borders of wherever you’re working from to go global.
—Anaporka Adazabra

Halcyon Climate Resilience in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Fellowship

The Climate Resilience in LAC Fellowship served entrepreneurs in the region that sought to build climate resilience in their communities to combat the compounding effects of climate change on poverty, food insecurity, health disparities, and displacement. Fellows received a stiped, three months of business and leadership training, a one week in-person residency at Halcyon, and a one week in-person residency in Mexico City. This fellowship was supported by Amazon Web Services (AWS), S&R Evermay, The Henry Luce Foundation, and Arnold and Porter.
VIEW ALL THE FELLOWS ON OUR WEBSITE
The Halcyon program has helped me become a better founder and a more resilient founder while also learning the importance of building a team, networking, and being part of a community.
—Sian Cuffy-Young

Future Builders Fellowship

The Future Builders Fellowship served U.S.-based Black, Hispanic/Latine, and Afro-Latina women and nonbinary entrepreneurs solving 21st century challenges such as equitable employment, accessible modest athletic dress, education equity, peaceful conflict resolution, reformed police training, and more. Fellows received a stipend, three months of business and leadership training, and a one week in-person residency at Halcyon. This fellowship was supported by Amazon Web Services (AWS), Bank of America, MetLife Foundation, The Henry Luce Foundation and Goodwin.
VIEW ALL THE FELLOWS ON OUR WEBSITE
Halcyon was a literal accelerator in helping me fulfill what I feel is my life’s mission. I knew that it was a fantastic program when I applied, but I had no idea the reach the program had and the impact that it would have on me and my career. On top of that, the fact that I’ve been able to gain a lifelong global network of impact-driven peers is just a game changer.
—Precious Price

Opportunity Intensive Fellowship

The Opportunity Intensive served two cohorts—one in the spring and one in the fall—of impact-driven business founders in the DMV whose ventures are based in or primarily serve government-designated Opportunity Zones. Ventures from this program spanned multiple sectors and implemented social impact innovations that directly address inequity in their industries and communities. Fellows received a stipend, a two-week-long residency at Halcyon, monthly programming, and leadership coaching. This fellowship was supported by the US Economic Development Administration, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Capital One, S&R Evermay, HR Sage, Goodwin, and Deloitte, and included a microloan program in partnership with the Kimsey Foundation.
VIEW ALL THE FELLOWS ON OUR WEBSITE
Halcyon really provides a safe space for social entrepreneurs like me who want to grow as leaders, who want to be part of this dynamic community, and who are ready to make possible these big, bold ideas that will change the world.
—EMILY YU

Residential Fellowship

Fellows in the 2023 Residential Fellowship tackled issues such as preparing for the next pandemic, supporting farmers who feed the world, and making safe drinking water accessible for all. Our original fourteen-week residential program provided skill training, consulting and legal support, leadership coaching, mentorship, a stipend, and rent-free housing to early-stage impact-driven business founders. This Fellowship was supported by S&R Evermay, Deloitte, Baker Botts, Capital One, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and HR Sage.
VIEW ALL THE FELLOWS ON OUR WEBSITE
The access we got through Halcyon and the Halcyon community was genuinely unparalleled. In addition, the day-to-day support you get while living at Halcyon is so rare. As a founder, you’re often on your own, but at Halcyon, you have the space to think with other people and try out your ideas.
—OLIVER GEFFEN

By the Numbers

THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2023

Halcyon’s fellows are nothing if not resilient, growing and evolving in the face of many challenges.

10.6M
lives impacted
68%
Total Ventures with
a Woman or Nonbinary Fellow
93%
Total Ventures with a
Founder of Color
335
Total Ventures
477
Number of Fellows
$500M+
Funds Raised by Halcyon Ventures
to Scale their Business

Gratitude

We are grateful for all the members of our Halcyon family and the ways in which they fuel impact year after year. The following groups of donors come together to make Halcyon’s work possible.

Board of Directors

BOARD CHAIR
Martha Metz
Metz Investments, LP
Byron Barnes
Bank of America
Patrice King Brickman
Inspire Capital, LLC
Petrocelli Brooks
Glen Echo Capital
Howard Eisenberg
Crux Solutions
Michelle DiFebo Freeman
Carl M. Freeman Companies
W. Matthew Kelly
JBG Smith
HALCYON CO-FOUNDER
Dr. Sachiko Kuno
S&R Evermay
Micky Pant
Beyond Meat
Max Peterson
Amazon Web Services
Karyn Smith
Snyk
Kerone Vatel
Capital One

2023 Honorary Board

Mary Ann Best
Bernstein Private WealthManagement
Debbie Driesman
Frank Islam and DebbieDriesman Foundation
Elizabeth Duggal
Duggal Advisory LLC
Matthew Indre
Total Wine & More
Isabelle Johnson
S&R Evermay
Mark C. Lowham
TTR/Sotheby’s InternationalRealty
Sandra Masur
David T. Menachery
Goldman Sachs
Pattie Money
Pinnacle Leadership
Rynthia Rost
IBM Foundation
Wolf Ruzicka
EastBanc Technologies
Jayne Sandman
The Brand Guild
Andrew Seested
Truist

In Kind

Amazon Web Services
Artium AI
Arnold & Porter
Baker Botts
Bever PR
Covington & Burling
Deloitte
Goodwin & Procter
Harvest Accounting Solutions
Open Lines Marketing
Pinnacle Leadership LLC
SNDBX International
Total Wine & More
Washington Area Community Investment Fund

$10K+

Robert Dwyer and Erika Zetty
Invariant LLC
Jodi Macklin
David and Courtney Straus
TTR Sotheby’s
VentureWell

$25K+

Bernstein Private Wealth Management
Petrocelli Brooks
Elizabeth Duggal
JBG Smith
The Kahlert Foundation
The Kimsey Foundation
Sandra Masur
The Mulberry Essence Foundation
The Nathan Cummings Foundation
The Schaufeld Family Foundation
Truist

$50K+

Patrice King Brickman
Howard and Ellen Eisenberg
Martha Metz
Karyn Smith

$100K+

Amazon Web Services
Bank of America
Capital One
The Henry Luce Foundation
Leana and Marc Katz
S&R Evermay
U.S. Department of State Office of Global Partnerships
U.S. Economic DevelopmentAdministration

Additional Donors

Christopher Andrade
Daniel Barker
Connie Carter
Kobi Carter
Samar Chatterjee
Kathy Chamberlain
John Chrysostom Kamoga
Manuel Contreras
Cynthia Corcoran
Anne De Santis
Madison Dias
Kitty Eisele
Enact Mortgage Insurance
John Fisk
Nancy Folger
Mark Frey
Lucero Gonzalez
Seth Goldman and Julie Farkas
Kate Goodall
Fred Gumbinner
Jill Herscot
Laura Hornbuckle
Erin Janklow
Mary Jermann
Mike Malloy
Annette Mason
MDP 1351 Wisconsin LLC
Lindsay Moilanen
Pattie Money
Kiyoshi Nakasaka
Opalack Foundation
Scott Rechler
Thomas Reckford
Kristin Sargent
Yehee Son
Manuel Stoilov
Flo Stone
Karen Thiel
Mark and Masae Uyeda
Ilyse Veron
Alfred Watkins
Burton White III
Wendee Wolfson
Catherine Wyler
Francis Xavier Asiimwe
Prashanthi Yeruva
Kenny Zhang

Halcyon Mentors, Advisors & Skill Series Instructors

Marion Adeney
Eloine Barry
Melisa Chavez
Tamy Chayo
Florencia Colunga
Sandhya Dayal
Ellen Eisenberg
Howard Eisenberg
Madeline Fetterly
Rachel Fry
Chad Gallinat
Antonio Guiterrez
Jermaine Henry
Keith Howard
Karen Johns
Iman Kennerly
Amanda Kosty
Lindsay LaShell
Paul Leamon
Michelle Levister
Wendy Luke
Naseem Malik
Helen Manich
Rashad Moore
Carson Morell
Alida Newton
Ross Nover
Cathy Nyce
Robin Olsen
Erik Olsen
Micky Pant
Rashida Petersen
Ben Pincus
Alicia Plerhoples
Derek Popple
David Porteus
Nafisa Rawji
Mary Robinson
Amanda Russo
Rodolfo Sagahon
Fefe Silvia
Cara Simpson
Bob Smith
Michael Stern
Lekan Wang
Eziel Wedemeyer
Andrea Wilk
Wendee Wolfson
Jamil Wyne

If you are interested in donating to or partnering with Halcyon, please contact Kim Johnson Roberts, Chief Development Officer by sending an email to k.roberts@halcyonhouse.org or calling (202) 374-8385.