Joshua Nelson on startup funding
From Joshua Nelson Talks Creating a New Sport, Being a Black Memphian in Tech + MORE · · See The Good
“I maxed out my credit cards, refinanced my home, and raised angel funding close to around $300,000. I used all of that to kind of push the business, but we have not received any institutional funding yet.”
On , Joshua Nelson, Head of Global Equity at T. Rowe Price, spoke about startup funding during Joshua Nelson Talks Creating a New Sport, Being a Black Memphian in Tech + MORE on See The Good.
About Joshua Nelson
Joshua Nelson, founder of Emotional Ideas, has been developing a new motorsport called Battle Racing, which he described as a game combining driving with strategy. In a September 2024 interview, he explained that participants race custom vehicles while managing a "battle gauge" representing health and speed, using power items and landmines to affect opponents. Nelson stated that his goal is to create an entertainment venue similar to Top Golf, with a recreational league for the public, and eventually expand to major cities across the U.S. and globally. He noted that Emotional Ideas is raising $10 million for the first facility, which would include a food court, bleachers, and a commentary booth. Nelson also discussed his experiences as a Black founder from Memphis, saying he has faced skepticism due to his Southern accent and that some potential partners lost interest after learning he is African-American. He criticized what he described as a system that "keeps the poor poor and the rich rich," citing red tape that limits public investment. Nelson expressed a desire to change media narratives by highlighting positive Black news, stating that "the media capitalizes off of our struggles" and that negative news sells more readily. He funded the venture through personal credit cards, refinancing his home, and angel funding totaling around $300,000, and said the company has not yet received institutional funding.