501(c)(3) Nonprofit · 3,000+ People Educated

Learn to Invest Like the Top 1%

Discover how everyday people are building generational wealth through early-stage investing. This class teaches you what Wall Street doesn’t want you to know.

Houston · Tulsa · Virtual

For Many Generations The Innovation Economy has been the key to building wealth, but it’s always been elusive and inaccessible to you

LONG WAVES OF INNOVATION

The theory of innovation cycles was developed by economist Joseph Schumpeter who coined the term “creative destruction” in 1942.

Schumpeter examined the role of innovation in relation to long-wave business cycles.

Source: MIT Economics

Wave 6 is projected to create $1.5 to $3 trillion in value over the next 10 years.

Premium Investment Access Has Been Limited to the Few

In a world where only the very wealthy, well-connected, and major institutions have access to proprietary investment opportunities—investments that have created massive wealth for a small portion of the population—the team at iCUE believes the key to closing income and wealth gaps globally is to democratize access across the investment ecosystem.
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78% of wealth in venture-backed companies accrues to investors—not founders.

The next decade of technological innovation – AI, clean tech, robotics—is projected to create $1.5 to $3 trillion in new value. Will you participate?

Equity Distribution: Startup → IPO

As companies raise funding, investors accumulate ownership. By IPO, founders often hold less than 25% while investors hold the majority.

Expanding Access to Alternative Investments

A 2025 White House Executive Order signals a shift toward expanding access to alternative investments, including potential 401(k) exposure to private markets like venture capital. As access evolves, this program focuses on building the knowledge needed to understand how these investments work.

Educational nonprofit content only. Not investment or ERISA fiduciary advice. No investment recommendations or guarantees.

You Weren’t Left Behind —
But It’s Not Your Fault

Building generational wealth shouldn’t require a trust fund or country club membership. But until now, the deck was stacked against everyday investors like you.

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Hidden Opportunities

The best deals never hit public markets

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Invitation Only

The best deals go the those who are in the network
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Missing Playbook

No one showed you the strategies the wealthy use

Why Venture Capital

The Case for Alternative
Investments

Venture Has Historically
Outperformed Traditional Assets

Over the past 20 years, seed-stage venture funds have delivered returns that significantly outpace traditional market indices and other alternative investments.

Early-Stage Returns: 20%-25% IRR

2.6X multiple of capital in 3.5 years

Source: Willamette University, Venture Economics, Angel Capital Education Foundation

Historical 20-Year Returns

Portfolio Risk/Return with Alternatives

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Alts produce higher returns at lower volatility

Alternatives Improve Portfolio Risk/Return

Adding a 20% allocation to alternatives (hedge funds, real estate, private equity) can improve returns while managing overall portfolio volatility.

Portfolios with 20% in alternatives have historically achieved better risk-adjusted returns than traditional 60/40 portfolios.

Source: Bloomberg, Burgiss, FactSet, J.P. Morgan Asset Management

Expanding Access to Alternative Investments

A 2025 White House Executive Order signals a shift toward expanding access to alternative investments, including potential 401(k) exposure to private markets like venture capital. As access evolves, this program focuses on building the knowledge needed to understand how these investments work.

Educational nonprofit content only. Not investment or ERISA fiduciary advice. No investment recommendations or guarantees.

Curriculum Overview

Private Markets Wealth Blueprint:
Your Playbook for Early-Stage Investing

Our introductory session gives you a foundational understanding of venture investing—from basic concepts to actionable next steps.

1

Align Your Goals & Capacity to Invest
  • Define investment asset classes
  • Risk/reward vs public markets
  • Portfolio construction basics

2

Understand the Innovation Economy

  • Angel investing vs VC
  • Different ways to participate
  • Pros and cons

3

Identify How the Private Capital Markets Work

  • How to find deal flow
  • Leverage personal expertise
  • Filter and screen deals

4

Understand Why Venture Capital Produces Outsized Returns

  • Process and principles
  • Risk assessments
  • Key focus areas

5

Discover the Secrets to Access Proprietary VC Deal Flow

  • Valuation terminology
  • Key valuation factors
  • Methods and examples

6

Investor Accelerator Program

  • Key terms and clauses
  • Understanding SAFEs
  • Convertible notes

📚 Content delivered through live sessions, on-demand resources, and networking events.

Your Roadmap

Moving UPWARD Is 

Easy as 1-2-3

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Get Access

Reserve your seat in minutes

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Get the Playbook

Learn what was never taught to you

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Move Upward

Take your first step with confidence

Testimonials

What Participants Say

Video Testimonial Coming Soon

“UPWARD Wealth Blueprint made complex investment concepts clear and actionable. I left the program feeling informed, confident, and prepared to take the next step.”

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John Doe Product Manager

UPWARD Wealth Blueprint

Is This For You?

This Session Is Ideal for

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Corporate
Professionals

Learn how you can invest passively to reach your retirement goals
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Successful
Entrepreneurs

Learn how to diversify your wealth beyond your successful business
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Tech Startup
Founders

Learn how angel investors and VCs will look at your business
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Future
Entrepreneurs

Learn how investors assess and invest in new innovation

Reserve Your Seat

Pick the Session That Works for You

Seats fill up fast—over 3,000 people have already attended. All sessions cover the same curriculum.

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The lon

Houston, TX

In Person

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Mar 17, 2026

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5:30 PM – 6:30 PM

Limited Seats available

Most Popular

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Tulsa

Tulsa, OK

In Person

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Mar 28, 2026

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5:30 PM – 7:00 PM

Limited Seats available

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Virtual

Online via Zoom

Virtual

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Multiple Dates

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5:30 PM – 7:00 PM

Unlimited Capacity

Begin Your Wealth Building Journey

The Investment Process

Understanding the investment lifecycle helps you make informed decisions. Here’s the typical journey from deal discovery to investment.

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02
03
04
05
06
07
08
Deal Flow
Screening
Due Diligence
Deal Memo
Valuation
Term Sheet
Aggregate
Close
📈 This process will be explored in depth during the Investor Accelerator Program.

Ready to Start Your Wealth Building Journey?

Join thousands who have taken the first step toward understanding venture capital and building generational wealth.

Who We Are

Fostering Self-Sustaining
Urban Communities

iCUE—the Innovation Center for Urban Entrepreneurship—is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2019 with a mission to educate, empower and enable investors and entrepreneurs to build generational wealth and transform their communities.
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Educate

Educational resources and access to experienced advisors to accelerate learning

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Empower

Simulated and live scenarios for entrepreneurs to pitch and investors to evaluate

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Enable

Partnerships with investment firms to increase successful investors within communities

About iCUE Video

Make Your Instructors

Learn From Experienced
Investors

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Lenny Saizan, GP

Fund Manager

Tulane University MBA | LSU B.S. Electrical Engineering

Co-founder and Managing Director of Urban Capital Network (UCN), dedicated to democratizing premium investment opportunities. Certified M&A Professional, Six Sigma Gray Belt, PMP. 2023 Houston Business Journal Outstanding Diversity Champion.

$10M AUM

6 Funds

5 Exits

30+ Investment

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Eric Tait, GP

Investor Relations

Tulane University MBA | LSU B.S. Electrical Engineering

Expertise in engineering & technology, exit planning, and valuations. Focused on investor relations and building pathways for diverse communities to participate in the innovation economy.

$10M AUM

6 Funds

5 Exits

30+ Investment

Impact by the Numbers

Our education efforts have helped activate a new generation of diverse investors across the country
$ 0 M
Several hundred $15k investments aggregated into proprietary deal flow
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Investors and entrepreneurs are educated members of our community
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Active investors in our community

Questions?

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need investment experience to attend?

No! The UPWARD Wealth Blueprint is designed for beginners. We start with foundational concepts and build from there. Whether you’re completely new to investing or have some experience with public markets, you’ll find value in this session.

No! The UPWARD Wealth Blueprint is designed for beginners. We start with foundational concepts and build from there. Whether you’re completely new to investing or have some experience with public markets, you’ll find value in this session.

No! The UPWARD Wealth Blueprint is designed for beginners. We start with foundational concepts and build from there. Whether you’re completely new to investing or have some experience with public markets, you’ll find value in this session.

No! The UPWARD Wealth Blueprint is designed for beginners. We start with foundational concepts and build from there. Whether you’re completely new to investing or have some experience with public markets, you’ll find value in this session.

No! The UPWARD Wealth Blueprint is designed for beginners. We start with foundational concepts and build from there. Whether you’re completely new to investing or have some experience with public markets, you’ll find value in this session.

Is This For You?

Pick the Session That Works for You

Seats fill up fast—over 3,000 people have already attended. All sessions cover the same curriculum.

pin-1-1.png

The lon

Houston, TX

In Person

calender-1-1.png

Mar 17, 2026

Clock-1-1.png

5:30 PM – 6:30 PM

Limited Seats available

Shape-1-1.png

Most Popular

pin-1-1.png

Tulsa

Tulsa, OK

In Person

calender-1-1.png

Mar 28, 2026

Clock-1-1.png

5:30 PM – 7:00 PM

Limited Seats available

laptopbc-1-1.png

Virtual

Online via Zoom

Virtual

calender-1-1.png

Multiple Dates

Clock-1-1.png

5:30 PM – 7:00 PM

Unlimited Capacity