From the Founders Deck:

I want to take a moment to catch you up on where I am and where SHIFT stands. I am currently back in the United States, grounded again in familiar soil, reflecting deeply on the road behind us and the road ahead.

I have to be totally honest with you here.

Toward the end of this last phase, I was tired. I felt spent.

But what the numbers below make clear is that even when I felt low on gas (and money), the work was still moving lives forward.

This journey did not begin in East Africa in 2021. It began 15 years ago with a commitment to help ambitious young minds access education and opportunity. That same thread runs through everything we have built.

Now our focus is shifting toward macro-level growth and bridge building between nations. The next phase is becoming clearer.

What follows is a reflection of what we just did.

Peace and blessings,

Ethan J. Brisby

SHIFT by the Numbers

October 2021 – July 2025

A numerical overview of SHIFT Enterprise Academy’s expansion and impact across education, enterprise development, diaspora engagement, and the built environment.

Education

Education is what started it all. A simple desire to teach. What began as small Zoom sessions with me in the United States and students in East Africa grew into a learning community of more than 100 members and over 120 hours of live instruction. Education remains our foundation. As we move forward, SHIFT will continue translating learning into lived experience, ensuring knowledge is not only shared, but applied in ways that change lives and communities.

4 University Guest Lectures

• Jomo Kenyatta University (3)

• African Nazarene University (1)

120+ hours of live virtual training sessions

100+ active members

1 Youth Innovation Challenge

SME Support & Venture Development

As education took shape during our East Africa expansion, it became clear that ambitious minds needed more than theory. They needed support, tools, and capital. SHIFT responded by piloting a venture studio model designed to meet ventures where they were. We provided seed resources, structured cohorts, and platforms for visibility. Looking ahead, SHIFT will deepen its role in venture formation, helping ideas become sustainable and investable enterprises.

3 years of SHIFT Launch Pad (2023, 2024, 2025)

1 SHIFT Ventures Cohort

1 Venture Showcase Event

5 Cohorts Delivered

• Launching into E-Commerce (4)

• Capacity Building (1)

80+ refugees served

3 Pitch Competitions hosted

15+ seed grants provided

• Laptops

• Housing support

• Startup costs

• Connectivity & data access

Diaspora Support & Relationship Development

This work has never been meant for one person alone. As opportunities in East Africa became clearer, we knew the story had to be shared with our people back home. SHIFT stepped into a new role as a bridge builder, supporting families traveling to the continent and strengthening relationships with partners on the ground. Moving forward, we will continue connecting the diaspora through trust, shared experience, and long-term collaboration.

6 families supported with travel and transition to East Africa

5 Investment Summits presentations

4 Partnership MOUs executed

Real Estate & Built Environment

Every system eventually leads to land and place. To create lasting impact for the greatest number of people, SHIFT expanded into real estate and the built environment. We traveled, assessed sites, and identified opportunities both in the United States and across East Africa. Our two-pillar investment approach combines stable U.S. cash flow with high-growth African development opportunities. This work lays the groundwork for generational impact through projects like SHIFT Forward Centers.

200 developable acres identified (Uganda)

5-acre turnkey wellness development accessible (Northern Kenya)

50 acres identified for future tourism development (Mombasa region – in progress)

6 SFC sites identified across the broader portfolio

36 vacant lots available along the MLK Corridor (Texas)

3 countries served across the real estate portfolio

Capital Outlook

SHIFT remains active in East Africa, but our present assignment is clear. We are positioning ourselves for aligned capital partnerships. The groundwork has been laid through years of execution, discipline, and personal investment. Now we are preparing for the next growth cycle with intention and readiness. The future of SHIFT depends on partners who understand both the vision and the responsibility that comes with building something meant to last.

$60,000+ in personal cash invested

10,000+ hours of sweat equity contributed

$15.2M projected capital required for next phase

$250,000 minimum investment target per strategic partner

Join the SHIFT Community

If you feel aligned with where this work is going, I invite you to join the SHIFT community. We are intentionally gathering builders, partners, and collaborators as we plan the next phase of growth across the U.S. and East Africa.

Join the SHIFT Community : https://forms.gle/rnjcuwiH2VsgoXGU6

This season has required patience, clarity, and faith. What we have built together proves that consistent effort, even when quiet or exhausting, still creates real movement.

SHIFT is not ending a chapter.

We are refining our focus and preparing for the next level of responsibility. If this work resonates with you, I invite you to stay close. Join the SHIFT community and help shape what comes next as we continue building bridges, systems, and opportunities that last.

Peace and blessings,

Ethan