Dream Exchange announced that veteran consumer packaged goods executive Elwood Blackwell has made a strategic investment in the company, marking another milestone for the minority-controlled exchange initiative. The Chicago-based platform is working toward becoming the first minority-controlled licensed stock exchange in U.S. history, pending SEC approval.
Blackwell brings over thirty years of experience advising and leading consumer packaged goods companies, guiding them through growth strategy, market expansion, and operational optimization. His background in consulting and entrepreneurship has provided him with a deep understanding of the barriers businesses face when seeking growth capital, particularly those outside traditional venture capital networks.
The investment represents more than a financial commitment. It aligns with Blackwell’s desire to channel his professional experience into solutions that expand access to capital for underrepresented entrepreneurs. His decision to invest follows a long career advising companies of all sizes and building his own businesses within the consumer goods sector.
Dream Exchange Founder and CEO Joe Cecala welcomed the partnership, noting that Blackwell’s confidence validates the company’s broader mission to create more inclusive financial infrastructure. Dwain Kyles, Managing Member of DX Capital Partners, also emphasized the importance of attracting investors who share a long-term vision for systemic change in capital markets.
Dream Exchange continues to advance its efforts to launch a platform that provides alternative market infrastructure for early-stage and smaller companies, which are often excluded from existing public markets. The company will host a webinar on November 6, 2025, at 5 PM Central Time to provide updates on its progress.
KEY QUOTES:
“I learned about Dream Exchange through a conversation with a colleague at Procter & Gamble. The more I learned about what they were building, the more it aligned with where I wanted to focus my resources as an individual investor.”
“I have spent years watching companies with strong fundamentals struggle to access the capital they needed to scale. I reached a point where I wanted to be part of building solutions rather than just observing the problems.”
“Success brings responsibility. I have been fortunate in my career, and now I want to use that experience and those resources to support infrastructure that can open doors for others. Dream Exchange is working to build that infrastructure.”
Elwood Blackwell, Investor
“We are grateful for Elwood’s confidence in what we are building. His investment reflects a growing recognition that the current market structure is not serving everyone it should. We need investors who understand that fixing this is not charity. It is good business.”
Joe Cecala, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dream Exchange
“This is about building something that has never existed before. That takes capital, it takes time, and it takes people who believe the work is worth doing. Elwood is one of those people, and we are proud to have his support.”
Dwain Kyles, Managing Member, DX Capital Partners
