Making a Living While Making a Life: The Power of Microbusinesses with Etsy and GoDaddy

Microbusinesses are becoming a way of life for more and more people; these very small businesses are often sole proprietorships or have just a few employees, yet can provide meaningful household income for millions of people. Digital platforms make many of these businesses possible, and companies like Etsy and GoDaddy have been an essential backbone for microbusinesses, especially during the pandemic (Etsy sellers contributed $13 billion and almost 3 million jobs to the economy last year).  For this NOW episode, Brown Advisory technology analyst and portfolio manager Emmy Wachtmeister sat down with Althea Erickson, VP of Global Public Policy & Impact at Etsy, and Alex Rosen, Director of GoDaddy's Venture Forward project, to discuss the evolution of microbusinesses, and what they mean for the growth and resilience of our communities. Later, David Powell, co-portfolio manager of Brown Advisory's Large-Cap Sustainable Growth strategy, joined Emmy to discuss takeaways for investors (36:18).  Guests:Althea EricksonVice President, Global Public Policy & Impact, EtsyAlex RosenVenture Forward Director, GoDaddyHost:Emmy Wachtmeister, CFAEquity Research Analyst, Brown AdvisoryInvestment Commentary:David Powell, CFAPortfolio Manager, Brown AdvisoryBackground Reading
Venture Forward Report, Fall 2020
How Microbusinesses Have Blunted the Impact of COVID-19, GoDaddy, July 28, 2020
Fabric of Their Lives, Smithsonian Magazine, October 2006
Gee's Bend Quiltmakers, Souls Grown Deep
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