gener8tor Appoints David Beasley, Former Governor and Head of Nobel-Winning UN World Food Programme, as Advisory Board Chair
Milwaukee, WI – gener8tor, a globally recognized accelerator and venture capital firm dedicated to supporting communities by investing in their best and brightest, proudly announces the formation of its Advisory Board, with former South Carolina Governor and Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme David Beasley serving as its chair.
Beasley, who served as the Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) from 2017 to 2023, has devoted his career to tackling humanitarian challenges, fostering economic development, and driving systemic change in communities worldwide. Under his leadership, WFP raised over $55 billion, expanding critical food assistance to vulnerable populations across more than 80 nations and addressing food insecurity in some of the world’s most underserved regions. His work in mobilizing resources and global partnerships to combat hunger has been instrumental in promoting stability and economic empowerment, for which WFP received the Nobel Peace Prize during his tenure.
While Governor of the U.S. State of South Carolina from 1995 to 1999, Beasley guided the state during years of economic transformation, helping to reshape the state’s economy into a healthy, diverse and robust market. The work led to one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, with a dramatic increase in private sector capital investment. Beasley was the first Governor in South Carolina to make a public push for the removal of the Confederate battle flag from the state capitol dome, a move that earned him the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award.
"As someone who has spent decades investing in people, communities, and solutions that drive real impact, I am honored to serve as Chair of gener8tor’s Advisory Board," said David Beasley. "Innovation and entrepreneurship are key to creating sustainable economic opportunities, and gener8tor has built a world-class platform that empowers visionaries to transform industries and change lives. I look forward to leveraging my experience to help gener8tor expand its reach, particularly in regions where entrepreneurship can serve as a catalyst for stability and prosperity."
As Advisory Board Chair, Beasley will play a pivotal role in guiding gener8tor as it expands its global presence. Currently, gener8tor operates accelerators or venture funds in 49 markets, 26 states and 5 countries. Beasley’s expertise in building cross-sector partnerships, unlocking new funding sources, and mobilizing resources for high-impact initiatives will be instrumental as gener8tor scales its platform of accelerators and venture capital funds supporting entrepreneurs.
"As gener8tor continues to grow, we could not be more excited to welcome Governor Beasley as our first Advisory Board Chair," said Joe Kirgues, co-founder of gener8tor. "Governor Beasley’s unparalleled leadership, global network, and deep experience in economic and humanitarian development will help gener8tor expand its mission to support entrepreneurs in regions that need it most. With his guidance, we aim to break down barriers for innovators globally and accelerate the next generation of world-changing ventures."
The formation of gener8tor’s Advisory Board marks a significant milestone in the organization’s journey to foster impactful and scalable innovation worldwide.
About gener8tor
gener8tor fosters innovation ecosystems through its accelerator programs, venture funds, and skills-based workforce initiatives. With a strong track record of supporting high-growth companies, gener8tor has expanded across the U.S. and internationally, building partnerships with governments, corporations, and economic development organizations to drive entrepreneurship and economic impact. To date, gener8tor has supported 1,630 startups in raising $2.5B USD in follow-on financing and creating 12,000 jobs
For more information, visit www.gener8tor.com.
