“Investing” usually conjures up images of bonds, stock trading, or a financial advisor seated across a desk.
But soon, Westchester investors — and entrepreneurs seeking investors — will have a new alternative.
Maxine Attobrah and Asees Islam, two Yonkers natives, have launched InvestinKin, a new investment club based in downtown White Plains. “People apply to pitch their company, project, or real estate deal that needs funding, and investors come physically or virtually to the event to see these deals,” Attobrah explains.
Attobrah and Islam are welcoming a wide variety of players — from across industries and with different resumes — to participate. They envision traditional businesses, but also “films, or music,” Attobrah says. “We don’t want to restrict someone from being able to present something that may have potential to be the next Amazon or Starbucks.” Endeavors that are both profitable and pre-revenue are welcome, Attobrah adds.
Similarly, a range of investors are welcome, too: “Angel investors, venture capitalists, hedge funds, people in private equity, family offices, aspiring investors,” Attobrah says.
InvestinKin will be held after working hours to maximize attendance, the duo explains, and scheduled at least once per month.
Founders Asees Islam and Maxine Attobrah
Photo courtesy of Maxine Attobrah
The club is already off to a bullish start — their first event, at White Plains’ Serendipity Labs on December 11, saw more than 40 applications, from which seven presenters were chosen to pitch their business. The entrepreneurs, coming from various areas including the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Long Island, spanned a number of industries like pet, music, financial technology, and automotive. A second event was held on January 15, also seeing more than 40 applications, from which four were picked to present. A third event is slated for February 19.
Members of InvestinKin, from the “Co-Pilot” level and above, have access to recordings of these presentations, while the lower-tier memberships offer live-stream access.
“The applicants are looking for investments as small as $100,000 to $5 million for percentages less than 2% to 55%,” explains Attobrah. “Of course, investors that come to our event are not expected to invest the full amount of what presenters ask for.”
While presenters may not get the investments they are asking for, Attobrah believes the opportunity to network with like-minded entrepreneurs and investors and form partnerships is valuable in its own right.
“We’re creating a space where people can increase their potential of gaining not only money but knowledge which would lead them on the path to generational wealth,” says Attobrah.
The inspiration behind InvestinKin? Attobrah says it’s her own roots and experience in southern Westchester.
“Not many people made it out of south Yonkers or had a positive influence to help them out,” she recalls. “That’s why we felt that we should do something positive near Yonkers, instead of in the city — to make it easier for people from our backyard to come, pitch, and invest. There is so much potential here.”
