Morgan Stanley Inclusive & Sustainable Ventures (MSISV) provides early-stage innovators with access to capital and resources to help them develop and scale. MSISV includes two in-house accelerator programmes – a Lab designed for startup founders and a Collaborative to support emerging nonprofits. MSISV builds on the success of the Inclusive Ventures Lab and the Sustainable Solutions Collaborative, which together have distributed more than $30 million in capital to more than 100 startups and organizations in the last eight years. It leverages Morgan Stanley’s integrated firm approach and deep expertise to better serve the needs of early-stage founders, startups and organizations.
Applications for the 2025 cohort of the Morgan Stanley Inclusive & Sustainable Ventures Lab are now open until March 31. In a brief interview, Lyndsay Mason, Founder & CEO of For The Creators (FTC) and a member of the 2024 cohort, shared her experience and insights from last year.
Tell us about the business – what problem does it solve, and how has it evolved since launching?
For The Creators (FTC) is transforming the way women experience motherhood by providing a single destination for curated clothing, beauty, and wellbeing products tailored to their pregnancy and postpartum journey. We solve the challenges of affordability, sustainability, and accessibility by offering a seamless rental and retail model—allowing women to invest in essentials and rent the rest, reducing waste and unnecessary spending.
Since launching, FTC has evolved from a niche rental platform to a comprehensive ecosystem that supports women from pregnancy through early motherhood. We’ve expanded our offering to include a clothing membership and marketplace, a health and wellness component, and a growing B2B strategy that enables businesses to support working mothers through maternity perks. We’re now focused on scaling this vision and solidifying FTC as the global category leader in motherhood.
How did you first hear about the Morgan Stanley Inclusive & Sustainable Ventures Lab and what made you decide to apply?
I first heard about the programme through LinkedIn where I had seen female founders from previous cohorts share their involvement in the programme. It immediately stood out as a rare opportunity to gain both strategic support and investment from a world-class institution. Morgan Stanley’s focus on businesses that drive impact aligned perfectly with our mission at FTC.
I decided to apply because I saw it as a pivotal moment to refine our strategy, access invaluable mentorship, and connect with a global network of investors and partners who could help us scale. The programme was the perfect fit for our stage of growth, providing not just funding but the knowledge and resources to take FTC to the next level. It’s surpassed my expectations in every way.
Can you tell us a bit more about what the programme offers and describe your experience?
The Morgan Stanley Inclusive & Sustainable Ventures Lab is a highly immersive programme designed to help early-stage businesses accelerate growth. It provides founders with access to dedicated mentors, investment, masterclasses, and a powerful network of industry experts and investors. Most meaningfully it’s connected me to fellow founders who are at a similar level of growth and enabled me to forge strong connections with some incredible entrepreneurs and a network that I know will be around for years to come.
For me, the experience has been transformative. From deep dives into financial strategy and customer research to refining our investor narrative, every session has been highly tailored to ensure that we’re building a scalable and sustainable business. The level of support and insight from Morgan Stanley’s team has been invaluable, and the connections I’ve made through the cohort have opened doors I wouldn’t have accessed otherwise.
What has the impact of going through this programme been for FTC?
The impact has been huge—both strategically and operationally. The programme enabled us to sharpen our focus, double down on what’s working, and refine our long-term vision. It’s helped us clarify our monetisation strategy, improve our fundraising approach, and fine-tune our go-to-market execution.
Most importantly, it’s accelerated our ability to build FTC into a global category leader. We now have a clearer roadmap, stronger investor relationships, and the confidence to scale more aggressively.
What are you most excited about as you look ahead towards the future for FTC?
I’m most excited about cementing For The Creators as the market leader for motherhood in the UK while expanding our B2B proposition into new international markets, including the Middle East. We’ve built strong traction with our rental and retail model, and now our focus is on scaling our customer base, increasing brand awareness, and growing our corporate partnerships to support working mothers through maternity perks.
Expanding into B2B presents a huge opportunity to drive sustainable growth while making a meaningful impact on how businesses support their female employees. We’re also focused on continuously refining our product offering, optimizing the customer experience, and ensuring FTC becomes the go-to destination for modern mothers. The momentum we’re building now is just the beginning of what’s possible.
What is one piece of advice you wish you had known before starting your company?
“If you want to go fast, go alone—if you want to go far, go together.”
Building a business can be incredibly lonely, and I’ve learned that surrounding yourself with the right people is everything. Whether it’s a strong team, mentors, or a community of fellow founders, having a support system not only helps you navigate the challenges but also pushes you to think bigger and go further than you ever could alone.
About Morgan Stanley Inclusive & Sustainable Ventures Lab
Morgan Stanley will provide participating Lab companies with an equity investment, a five-month curated programme, mentorship, networking, office space for the duration of the programme and access to certain external advisors. The equity investment is $250,000 for each company participating in our New York-based programme and £250,000 for each company participating in our London-based programme.
Similarly, each participating Collaborative nonprofit will receive a $250,000 grant if based in the Americas, £250,000 for all other regions and access to the same programme content as the Lab.
The application deadline for the 2025 cohort of the Morgan Stanley Inclusive & Sustainable Ventures Lab is March 31.
To learn more about MSISV and apply please visit: www.morganstanley.com/ventures.
