Kelvin Beachum is an accomplished athlete, investor, and philanthropist who has always prioritized the importance of giving back to his community. His passion, grit, and commitment to excellence sets him apart, which is why we asked Kelvin to share thoughts on his volunteer experiences, the alternative investing industry, and the best advice he’s ever received.

‍

Q: Tell us about your first volunteer experience.

‍

A: My first volunteer experience was serving plates after church on Sunday morning at my grandfather’s church as a kid. Serving food at the church is my first memory of volunteering.

‍

‍

Q: What are a few of your favorite volunteer experiences?

‍

A: I always enjoy working with kids, whether it be providing STEAM programming, speaking to them about the importance of education and leadership, or hosting my football camp. There is so much excitement and energy that comes from teaching and inspiring the next generation. As a dad, it’s meaningful to provide opportunities to make a difference when it comes to education and equity. I also enjoy volunteering at food banks. Wherever I’m playing, I make the commitment to volunteer monthly serving meals or packing boxes in the warehouse. Hunger is personal to me and I have met some incredible people working with food banks across the country.

‍

‍

Q: What is the most valuable lesson that your volunteer experience has taught you?

‍

A: I could be in those same shoes. The coin could be flipped, and I could be the one needing help. Instead of volunteering, I could be receiving. I feel gratitude for my blessings and a desire to do all that I can.

‍

‍

Q: What advice do you have for young philanthropists?

‍

A: My advice is to find something you are passionate about – think about the problems facing this world that you care the most about and work to find solutions or collaborate with those already working toward solutions. Use your talents to make a difference.

‍

‍

Q: How did you first become interested in alternative investing?

‍

A: I saw that money could be put to work in a more creative way than just putting it in the market. I explored, became more curious and stumbled upon the VC ecosystem and it’s been an amazing journey.

‍

‍

Q: Do you think alternative investing is now more accessible for everyone?

‍

A: It’s becoming more accessible. The minimum thresholds provide more access and the language used is becoming more digestible for everyone. New companies and the elevation of all things crypto are giving power to people to make decisions about investing that they haven’t had before.

‍

‍

Q: How does your background in sports give you a better understanding of alternative investing?

‍

A: Sports really help with understanding how to bring people together, consensus vs non consensus, the ability to garner the attention of a group of people, and execution of a common goal. Sports provide the intangibles that one needs to make decisions, the dynamics of dealing with failure and success, teamwork, and leadership. It allows you to apply real world, game-like decisions in other environments like investing.

‍

‍

Q: What advice do you have for young/novice investors?

‍

A: Be willing to find mentors. Find people who have been in the ecosystem longer than you have and be willing to listen. There have been so many cycles over the last 50-60 years, and you can learn from the successes and failures of people who have been through multiple cycles. Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you are.

‍

‍

Q: How do you feel about being a part of the sports hobbyist community?

‍

A: It’s great to be a participant. It’s one thing to talk about what’s going on, but it’s another thing to be a participant. It’s great to discuss what you see, what you want to see, what exists, and how you view the ecosystem.

‍

‍

Q: You changed your name on Twitter to Beachum.eth, what does the .eth mean and why did you change it to that?

‍

A: It’s about being a participant. It’s one thing to talk about crypto, but it’s another to dive in. It’s all about experimentation, learning, exploring. It’s important to participate. The crypto ecosystem is phenomenal and to be a part of it, you have to really be a part of it. It’s all about learning at the end of the day. I’m showing people I’m still growing and learning as an individual and can spark new conversations and open the door for new learning in that particular arena.

‍

‍

Q: What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?

‍

A: The best piece of advice I ever received was from my father. He said to always take pride in everything you do. I’ve carried that with me in everything throughout my career and life.

‍

‍

Q: Going into 2022, do you have any New Year’s resolutions that you are hoping to fulfill?

‍

A: I want to learn how to code.

‍