Today on the Invest In Her podcast, host Catherine Gray talks with Anne Richie, Managing Director and Founder of The Mezzanine Fund. With a distinguished career spanning over two decades, Anne has helped reshape how capital flows to overlooked entrepreneurs by providing flexible debt capital through her fund. She also leads ACR Capital and has extensive experience across the capital spectrum, including roles in distressed lending, private equity, and venture capital. Anne has served as a CFO and CRO, advised more than 100 businesses annually through the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Initiative, and is a respected speaker and educator on capital access. Her impressive resume includes board memberships, awards from Crain's Cleveland, and an MBA from the University of Michigan.

In this episode, Anne breaks down the importance of flexible debt and why traditional funding mechanisms often fail to support small and underserved businesses. She shares how The Mezzanine Fund fills this gap by offering non-dilutive capital to help entrepreneurs achieve sustainable growth without giving up equity. Catherine and Anne explore the nuances of debt versus equity, how capital should serve the business owner—not the other way around—and Anne's mission to ensure more women and minority-owned businesses gain fair access to growth capital. Her insights are both inspiring and actionable for founders looking to scale on their own terms.

Website Mentioned:
https://www.themezzaninefund.com

• https://www.showherthemoneymovie.com

• https://svwomenfoundersfund.vc

• www.sheangelinvestors.com 

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