An initiative of Principled Business

Breakthrough
Builders.

A community of social venture founders, visionary philanthropists, mentors, and advisors dedicated to advancing human freedom and flourishing by supporting breakthrough ideas.

Explore the Program

Invite Only

A private dinner with Kelsey Grammer.

Join us for an intimate dinner conversation with actor Kelsey Grammer in Austin on October 27 — a first look at Breakthrough Builders, and a conversation about The American Revelation, the first project to come through the program.

This curated evening brings together philanthropists who take moonshot swings on bold, early-stage ventures with the potential to move the culture. The dinner kicks off a Breakthrough Builders presence at the Principled Business Summit (October 28–30).

Invitations are extended privately. If you received an invite, follow the RSVP details in your message.

Event

Breakthrough Builders Dinner Conversation with Kelsey Grammer

When

Tuesday, October 27 · 7:00 p.m.

Where

Austin

Dress

Business casual

01 — The Problem

Bold ideas die when capital arrives too slowly.

The seed capital required to launch and scale bold new social initiatives is often insufficient and arrives too slowly. The dominant model of "strategic philanthropy" strongly favors multi-year plans, theories of change, KPIs, long-standing relationships — the domain of established institutions. New social ventures require venture philanthropy that embraces risk and focuses on founders who demonstrate they can produce breakthrough results.

02 — Our Solution

A new path for ventures that advance freedom.

Breakthrough Builders creates a new path for social ventures and venture philanthropy — identifying and investing in early-stage, breakthrough ideas that advance human freedom and flourishing.

What is Breakthrough Builders?

A national community building the institutions of a freer, more flourishing future.

Principled Business, a 501(c)(3) organization, in partnership with The Athos Group, is building a national community of social venture founders, visionary philanthropists, and experienced advisors.

Breakthrough Builders identifies projects with transformative potential, provides the seed grants needed to launch them, and — through a cadre of mentors and a syndicate of philanthropists — helps turn bold ideas into real-world initiatives.

First Breakthrough Builder Project

The American Revelation by Kelsey Grammer.

The American Revelation Foundation is dedicated to celebrating and advancing the understanding of American history through daily exploration of the nation’s past—its triumphs and its trials—while inspiring a renewed appreciation for liberty, self-determination, and civic responsibility.

Founded by the award-winning actor, Kelsey Grammer, we are proud to be working with Kelsey to bring this vision to life.

Learn more Make a donation

The American Revelation — Day One: 1776 with Kelsey Grammer

The American Revelation educational guidebook

Our Approach

Three roles. One movement.

For Founders

Social Venture Founders

We help entrepreneurs, innovators, and institution-builders pursue breakthrough ideas by providing seed grants ($10k–$50k per idea), strategic advice, and a network of philanthropists to help launch and scale their initiatives.

Submit Your Idea

For Funders

Visionary Philanthropists

Join a syndicate of philanthropists working together to support bold social venture founders with breakthrough ideas — aimed at building the institutions of a freer, more flourishing future.

Fund Breakthrough Ideas

For Advisors

Mentors

Our cadre of experienced mentors play a vital role by providing strategic guidance to founders and emerging ventures.

Become a Mentor

Leadership

The people behind the work.

Dr. Pano Kanelos

Founding and former president of the University of Austin (UATX), former president of St. John's College, founding partner of the Athos Group.

Chad Thevenot

Former executive director of the Institute for Humane Studies (IHS), former senior vice president for advancement at UATX, and founding partner of the Athos Group.

Alexander McCobin

Founder and president of Liberty Ventures, Principled Business, Conscious Capitalism, and Students for Liberty.

Advisory Board

Counsel from builders who've done it.

David Kirby

Entrepreneur, developer, school founder, and scholar. Founder of Acton Academy of Washington, DC, executive director of the Acton Academy Foundation, and adjunct scholar at the Cato Institute.

Tony Woodlief

Senior Fellow in State Policy Network's Center for Practical Federalism and President of Federalism in Action. Author of "I, Citizen."

David Scrymgeour

Executive in Residence at Saïd Business School and Business Fellow at the Smith School of Enterprise and Environment, Oxford University.

Jamie Jones

Oil and gas investor and entrepreneur passionate about free markets and private enterprise as engines of broad-based prosperity.

John Chisholm

John Chisholm Ventures advises and invests in entrepreneurs working to make the world a better place, and helps create market environments conducive to entrepreneurship worldwide.

Casey Given

Executive director of Young Voices and president of its Board of Directors; former director of communications at Students For Liberty.

In the Field

Examples of breakthrough ideas.

VELA Education Fund

Powering a bottom-up K–12 revolution that has supported 5,000+ micro-school founders in all 50 states, collectively reaching 5.5 million learners.

Learn more

Reach University

Scaling the Apprenticeship Degree to help millions of working adults earn accredited B.A.s through their jobs, creating mass economic mobility.

Learn more

Global Accreditation Project (GAP)

Unlocking innovation in higher education by addressing the primary choke point: accreditation. GAP is building the "Bitcoin of accreditation": a borderless, outcomes-based alternative to the Carnegie Unit.

Launch Event