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Why Billionaires, All-Star Athletes And Wall Street Leaders Are Joining The Forbes Opportunity Zones Summit

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On May 21, we're launching our new Forbes Opportunity Zones Summit in Newark, New Jersey. The theme is Investing for Impact and Forbes is gathering the top money managers, investors, family offices, government leaders, policy experts, OZ fund founders and entrepreneurs for the can't-miss investment summit of the year. Convening at the historic Newark Museum, it will be an amazing day of must-hear experts, enlightening round tables, deep dive workshops, and unmatched networking with the top leaders driving the OZ ecosystem and forging a new era of responsible capitalism. Please apply here to reserve your spot.

Forbes thrilled to be creating the summit with our Policy Partner the Economic Innovation Group (EIG), led by Co-Founder & Chairman, Sean Parker and Co-Founder & CEO, John Lettieri. It's the first time that EIG, the chief architects of the Opportunity Zones policy, has teamed with a national media partner to build an expert event around Opportunity Zones. The result? A dynamic summit of unmatched authority, influence and bold community impact. Much misinformation and uncertainty surrounds Opportunity Zones—Forbes is assembling all the experts to give you clarity on policy and strategy.

We are going well beyond Opportunity Zone 101. Far from dull and wonky, the Forbes OZ Summit will deliver must-hear updates on new OZ regulations, compelling strategies and game-changing stories from the brightest minds in finance, policy and government. It's an investment conference that will deliver the key players, exclusive content and top-level networking needed to drive life-changing gains and bold, lasting impact on America's long overlooked communities.

The Forbes Opportunity Zones Summit was born out of a feature I wrote in June about the powerful, bipartisan law and the unlikely group behind it. Dubbing it "The Most Unbelievable Tax Break Ever" the story profiled the motley bunch of billionaire entrepreneurs and bold politicians who created, pushed and passed the innovative policy. Entrepreneurs like Facebook's first president and Napster founder Sean Parker, AOL founder Steve Case, impact investor Jim Sorenson and creative politicians like Senator (and presidential candidate) Cory Booker, Senator Tim Scott and Stockton, California's dynamic, young mayor Michael Tubbs.

Most media headlines focus on the potential tax savings for the rich. As Parker told me: "If Facebook could have chosen to locate itself in an Opportunity Zone, like the Tenderloin in San Francisco, the investors would've paid no capital gains on their equity." But the Forbes story also uncovered the true value and spirit of Opportunity Zones. It is a powerful policy tool that, if used responsibly, can dramatically fight economic inequality and poverty by fueling transformative investments, diversity and inclusion, and economic mobility in America's long overlooked communities. As Senator Booker refers to Opportunity Zones as "domestic emerging markets."

The piece drew so much interest, and provoked anxious questions, about Opportunity Zones that we decided to create the inaugural Forbes summit. The aim is to fill the void in the marketplace for an independent, high integrity summit gathering the top minds across government, investing, industry and philanthropy needed to make the new tax policy attain its full promise.

Ambitious and bold, Opportunity Zones have the potential to unlock $6.1 trillion of capital to help revitalize America’s left behind communities. But much uncertainty remains about the final regulations, ways different industries can best partner, which types of projects will thrive and how to ensure long-term, sustainable community impact. Forbes, EIG and our expert Advisory Board (see below) will tackle those concerns, set the national OZ agenda and unleash a new era in impact investing—will you be there?

Must-know updates on latest regulations and policy: Be the first to get the breaking news and advice from Washington policy experts, government leaders and top accounting and legal experts.

World-class speakers: We are gathering a diverse group of industry experts from investing, finance, technology, venture, government and philanthropy share stories and build strategies on how to maximize returns and impact—for both investors and OZ communities.

Entrepreneur spotlights: Get access to actionable deals and shovel-ready projects from entrepreneurs, developers and civic leaders launching game-changing companies and projects inside Opportunity Zones communities.

Immersive industry-focused breakouts and workshops: Convene with your fellow industry leaders as our experts lead sessions tailored to fund managers, real estate developers, impact investors and entrepreneurs.

Meet top investors, money managers and family offices: Looking for funding? You'll get unparalleled access to the top wealth advisors, investors, family offices, venture capitalists and private equity investors to take your projects to the next level.

Unparalleled networking: It will take a diverse group of leaders from finance, government, real estate and industry to transform OZ communities. Meet them all at our exclusive breakout sessions, round tables and VIP cocktail party.

Expert Advisory Board and Speakers include:

  • Sean Parker, Founder, Parker Foundation and Chairman & Founder, Economic Innovation Group
  • John Lettieri, Cofounder, President & CEO, Economic Innovation Group (EIG)
  • Margaret Anadu, Managing Director & Head of the Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group
  • Van Jones, CEO, REFORM Alliance and Political Contributor & Host, The Van Jones Show, CNN
  • David Robinson, NBA Hall of Famer and Cofounder, Admiral Capital Group
  • J.D. Vance, Author, #1 NYT Bestselling Hillbilly Elegy and Managing Partner, Rise of the Rest Seed Fund, Revolution, LLC
  • Ray Chambers, Ambassador for Global Strategy, World Health Organization
  • Jim Sorenson, President, Sorenson Impact Foundation
  • Anne Driscoll, President & COO, Launch Pad
  • Jennifer Collins, Fellow-in-Residence, Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation, Georgetown University
  • Patrick McKenna, Managing Partner, Catalyst Opportunity Funds and Founder, HighRidge Venture Partners
  • Stephanie Copeland, CEO, The Governance Project and Managing Partner, Four Points Funding
  • Jeremy Keele, Cofounder & Managing Partner, Catalyst Opportunity Funds
  • Ommeed Sathe, Head of Impact & Responsible Investing, Prudential Financial
  • Ross Baird, Founder, Blueprint Local
  • Jonathan Tower, Founder & Managing Partner, Arctaris Principal-Protected Opportunity Zone Fund, LP

Please join Forbes on May 21 to help write the next chapter in responsible and inclusive investing. The stakes have never been greater; neither have the opportunities.


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