Brian Sheth is a noted philanthropist in Austin, Texas, known for concentrating his efforts on the benefit of his neighbors. This successful investor recently decided to tackle homelessness in collaboration with the Cicero Institute, and his help can’t come soon enough. Despite laws in the city banning overnight camping, encampments continue to pop up all over Austin.
“We’re committed to the long-term support of our neighbors, many of whom aren’t supported by traditional means,” Sheth says.
Between his assistance and the backing of other influential philanthropists, there’s an opportunity to give those in crisis a leg up and prevent others from landing in a similar situation.
Joe Lonsdale and Brian Sheth Partner With Cicero
Joe Lonsdale is a businessperson known for his successful investments in the technology industry, making him a natural partner for Sheth. The anti-homelessness initiatives developing at the Cicero Institute are being designed to fix broken systems and advance freedom for all Americans, and the staff wouldn’t be able to do so without the right people in their corner. By teaming up with, and leveraging the assets of, leading entrepreneurs, the institute can do a world of good for a struggling public sector.
Ending Homelessness in Austin
Homelessness has various causes, and current measures in place aren’t enough to keep people off the streets. Regardless of how a person ends up there, leaving them, there isn’t an option. Sheth isn’t just giving money to the cause; he’s also investing his exceptionally valuable time in the Entrepreneur in Residence Program.
How Fundamental Business Principles Will Help
Innovation often means going off the beaten path, which is how the Entrepreneur program came to be. Lonsdale and Sheth are seeking an “entrepreneurial-minded, mission-driven MBA” who will consult with a homeless-policy expert at Cicero to implement ideas to serve a population in desperate need of viable solutions. The institute will also confer with officials in Austin and in the greater state of Texas to ensure everyone is on the same page.
The program starts with a comprehensive analysis of the problem. The report will include numbers and historical events that illustrate the extent of the issue and how homelessness evolved to where it is today. If the problem is really going to end, there needs to be less rhetoric and more concrete solutions for the people at the heart of the discussions. Too often, people who mean well end up causing more harm than good, which is often why ideas from nonprofits or government organizations don’t have the intended effects.
The Cicero Institute wants to think outside the box, which is why tech leaders have been invited to do more than just pledge their financial support. The entrepreneur chosen will work with local homeless groups to determine what kind of influence they have over the unhoused and whether they can get individuals or families off the street. The Cicero Institute believes what’s needed now is a unique perspective, one that won’t mirror those of the agencies or charitable organizations that have largely failed to protect the population.
Brian Sheth in Austin
Sheth has long been mission-driven, whether that applies to his job, family, or charitable causes. This is his opportunity to bring that mindset to his city and potentially other cities across the nation. When it comes down to it, Brian Sheth has always been interested in how to protect the vulnerable, which is why he co-founded the Global Wildlife Conservation (now Re: Wild) and founded the Sheth Sangreal Foundation.
Sheth was also heavily involved in helping during the pandemic, giving $1 million to local organizations to ensure people had what they needed to get by. Unsurprisingly, he and his wife, Adria, were also instrumental during the Texas winter freeze of 2021.
The couple said, “2021 has seen a number of challenges to our Austin community. Watching our community support one another throughout the year, matching each challenge with renewed support for our neighbors, has been the most uplifting inspiration for our family.”
At the heart of his efforts, Sheth wants to create a level playing field for the entire world, so both people and the planet can get a fair shake at life. However, he recognizes that acting locally can sometimes have the best results.
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