Our Insights
Our Insights
STAY UP TO DATE
- Sign Up For Our Newsletter
- Listen To Our Podcasts
- At Morgan Stanley, we lead with exceptional ideas. Across all our businesses, we offer keen insight on today's most critical issues.
  
  Personal Finance
  
  Learn from our industry leaders about how to manage your wealth and help meet your personal financial goals.
- At Morgan Stanley, we lead with exceptional ideas. Across all our businesses, we offer keen insight on today's most critical issues.
  
  Market Trends
  
  From volatility and geopolitics to economic trends and investment outlooks, stay informed on the key developments shaping today's markets.
- At Morgan Stanley, we lead with exceptional ideas. Across all our businesses, we offer keen insight on today's most critical issues.
  
  Technology & Disruption
  
  Whether it’s hardware, software or age-old businesses, everything today is ripe for disruption. Stay abreast of the latest trends and developments.
- At Morgan Stanley, we lead with exceptional ideas. Across all our businesses, we offer keen insight on today's most critical issues.
  
  Sustainability
  
  Our insightful research, advisory and investing capabilities give us unique and broad perspective on sustainability topics.
- At Morgan Stanley, we lead with exceptional ideas. Across all our businesses, we offer keen insight on today's most critical issues.
  
  Diversity & Inclusion
  
  Multicultural and women entrepreneurs are the cutting-edge leaders of businesses that power markets. Hear their stories and learn about how they are redefining the terms of success.
Featured

Ideas Coronavirus: Economic Risk and Recovery

Sustainability The Scale of Sustainable Investing

Wealth Management Keeping Market Volatility in Perspective
What We Do
What We Do
- Morgan Stanley helps people, institutions and governments raise, manage and distribute the capital they need to achieve their goals.
  
  Wealth Management
  
  We help people, businesses and institutions build, preserve and manage wealth so they can pursue their financial goals.
- Morgan Stanley helps people, institutions and governments raise, manage and distribute the capital they need to achieve their goals.
  
  Investment Banking & Capital Markets
  
  We have global expertise in market analysis and in advisory and capital-raising services for corporations, institutions and governments.
- Morgan Stanley helps people, institutions and governments raise, manage and distribute the capital they need to achieve their goals.
  
  Sales & Trading
  
  Global institutions, leading hedge funds and industry innovators turn to Morgan Stanley for sales, trading and market-making services.
- Morgan Stanley helps people, institutions and governments raise, manage and distribute the capital they need to achieve their goals.
  
  Research
  
  We offer timely, integrated analysis of companies, sectors, markets and economies, helping clients with their most critical decisions.
- Morgan Stanley helps people, institutions and governments raise, manage and distribute the capital they need to achieve their goals.
  
  Investment Management
  
  We deliver active investment strategies across public and private markets and custom solutions to institutional and individual investors.
- Morgan Stanley helps people, institutions and governments raise, manage and distribute the capital they need to achieve their goals.
  
  Morgan Stanley at Work
  
  We provide comprehensive workplace financial solutions for organizations and their employees, combining personalized advice with modern technology.
- Morgan Stanley helps people, institutions and governments raise, manage and distribute the capital they need to achieve their goals.
  
  Sustainable Investing
  
  We offer scalable investment products, foster innovative solutions and provide actionable insights across sustainability issues.
- Morgan Stanley helps people, institutions and governments raise, manage and distribute the capital they need to achieve their goals.
  
  Inclusive Innovation
  
  From our startup lab to our cutting-edge research, we broaden access to capital for diverse entrepreneurs and spotlight their success.
About Us
About Us
- Since our founding in 1935, Morgan Stanley has consistently delivered first-class business in a first-class way. Underpinning all that we do are five core values.
  
  Core Values
  
  Everything we do at Morgan Stanley is guided by our five core values: Do the right thing, put clients first, lead with exceptional ideas, commit to diversity and inclusion, and give back.
- Since our founding in 1935, Morgan Stanley has consistently delivered first-class business in a first-class way. Underpinning all that we do are five core values.
  
  Leadership
  
  Morgan Stanley leadership is dedicated to conducting first-class business in a first-class way. Our board of directors and senior executives hold the belief that capital can and should benefit all of society.
- Since our founding in 1935, Morgan Stanley has consistently delivered first-class business in a first-class way. Underpinning all that we do are five core values.
  
  History
  
  From our origins as a small Wall Street partnership to becoming a global firm of more than 60,000 employees today, Morgan Stanley has been committed to clients and communities for 85 years.
- Since our founding in 1935, Morgan Stanley has consistently delivered first-class business in a first-class way. Underpinning all that we do are five core values.
  
  Locations
  
  The global presence that Morgan Stanley maintains is key to our clients' success, giving us keen insight across regions and markets, and allowing us to make a difference around the world.
- Since our founding in 1935, Morgan Stanley has consistently delivered first-class business in a first-class way. Underpinning all that we do are five core values.
  
  Diversity
  
  Morgan Stanley is differentiated by the caliber of our diverse team. Our culture of access and inclusion has built our legacy and shapes our future, helping to strengthen our business and bring value to clients.
- Since our founding in 1935, Morgan Stanley has consistently delivered first-class business in a first-class way. Underpinning all that we do are five core values.
  
  Sustainability
  
  Our firm's commitment to sustainability informs our operations, governance, risk management, diversity efforts, philanthropy and research.
- Since our founding in 1935, Morgan Stanley has consistently delivered first-class business in a first-class way. Underpinning all that we do are five core values.
  
  Giving Back
  
  At Morgan Stanley, giving back is a core value—a central part of our culture globally. We live that commitment through long-lasting partnerships, community-based delivery and engaging our best asset—Morgan Stanley employees.
- Since our founding in 1935, Morgan Stanley has consistently delivered first-class business in a first-class way. Underpinning all that we do are five core values.
  
  Technology
  
  As a global financial services firm, Morgan Stanley is committed to technological innovation. We rely on our technologists around the world to create leading-edge, secure platforms for all our businesses.
Careers
Careers
- Students & Graduates
  - Programs
  - Resources
- Experienced Professionals
- We believe our greatest asset is our people. We value our commitment to diverse perspectives and a culture of inclusion across the firm. Discover who we are and the right opportunity for you.
  
  Students & Graduates
  
  A career at Morgan Stanley means belonging to an ideas-driven culture that embraces new perspectives to solve complex problems. See how you can make meaningful contributions as a student or recent graduate at Morgan Stanley.
- We believe our greatest asset is our people. We value our commitment to diverse perspectives and a culture of inclusion across the firm. Discover who we are and the right opportunity for you.
  
  Experienced Professionals
  
  At Morgan Stanley, you’ll find trusted colleagues, committed mentors and a culture that values diverse perspectives, individual intellect and cross-collaboration. See how you can continue your career journey at Morgan Stanley.
Featured

Careers Meet the Minds Breaking the Mold

Careers Explore Our Culture

Technology Yes, You Can Be a Tech Innovator at Morgan Stanley

Multicultural Innovation Lab

Our in-house startup accelerator promotes financial inclusion and provides access to capital for early stage technology and technology-enabled companies led by women and multicultural entrepreneurs.

About | Current Cohort | Leadership | Stories | FAQs | Portfolio

By specifically catering to high-growth multicultural and women entrepreneurs, the Multicultural Innovation Lab presents a unique opportunity for disruptive startups to increase their visibility, accelerate their business and achieve success.

Carla Harris Vice Chairman, Global Wealth Management, and Co-Head of the Multicultural Innovation Lab

Our Mission

In our 2018 survey, investors reported capitalizing multicultural and women-owned businesses at 80% less than businesses overall, and our research shows this translates into roughly $4.4 trillion in missed opportunity. The Multicultural Innovation Lab, part of our Multicultural Client Strategy Group, is here to change that. Launched in 2017 to promote financial inclusion and provide founders of tech and tech-enabled startups with much-needed access to investors—along with the tools, resources and connections they need to grow and thrive—the Lab’s mission is nothing less than to transform the investing landscape.

INTERESTED IN APPLYING?

While we aren’t currently accepting applications, the application period for the next cohort will be open in late winter. Please sign up below to be notified when applications open.

About the Program

Curated Curriculum

The Lab customizes a curriculum for each startup, including finance & sales strategy, marketing & branding, and private sessions with industry experts.

Mentorship That Makes a Difference

Morgan Stanley pairs each startup with hand-picked mentors who provide advice and counsel to help each company grow and scale its business.

Powerful Networks

We introduce startups to our bankers, financial advisors, technology experts and others who can connect each company to their industry networks. We also give them access to potential clients and the investor ecosystem at large.

Showcase and Demo Day

Our five-month program culminates with a Demo Day during which all participants can present to a network of investors, potential business partners and customers, who could help take their companies to the next level.

See FAQs for More Details

2020 Cohort

Adapdix

A software-based platform that monitors and detects equipment, component or system degradations and alerts equipment engineering managers before a failure.

Visit Adapdix Website

Basecap Analytics

Provides software that helps organizations efficiently improve their data quality.

Visit Basecap Analytics Website

Hurdle

A platform that provides culturally sensitive, evidence-based teletherapy.

Visit Hurdle Website

Medhaul

An online marketplace where health-care providers can book personalized non-emergency medical transportation for patients, based on their special needs.

Visit Medhaul Website

Noodie Foods

Provides convenience-seeking consumers with healthy, instant, shelf-stable and delicious meals.

Visit Noodie Foods Website

Praxis Labs

A software-as-a-service company that develops virtual-reality-based diversity and inclusion training modules for the workplace.

Visit Praxis Labs Website

SoHookd

A wellness rewards platform that allows companies to reward and incentivize customers and employees at scale.

Visit SoHookd Website

Teletails

A software platform that connects pet owners with online, high-quality veterinary care.

Visit Teletails Website

Windpact

A technology and materials-science company focused on the analysis, design and implementation of impact-protection solutions.

Visit Windpact Website

View our Complete Portfolio

TESTIMONIALS

“Having Morgan Stanley in our cap table, having all these investors, really gives us a lot of credibility and operational value. It makes all the difference.” — Nicolas Guillen, Co-Founder and CFO, BaseCap Analytics

“It’s all about strategic resources. Working with the Lab potentially saved us years’ worth of time and helped us close one of the biggest gaps that diverse entrepreneurs face, which is access to capital. For our company, it’s been life-changing.” — Chris Gay, Founder and CEO, Care Advisors

“The Lab was a phenomenal experience that helped to hone our business model, sales strategy and investor pitch.” — B.J. Wiley Williams, Founder and CEO, SoHookd

“If you had asked me before I joined the Lab whether I had the confidence to sell to a Fortune 500 company, I would have said, ‘Let’s start with the midmarket businesses first.’ But now that I know the Lab has my back, I feel like we shouldn’t limit ourselves.” — Jotham Ty, Founder and CEO, Gappify

Team Leadership

Carla Harris, Vice Chairman, Global Wealth Management and Senior Client Advisor

Ms. Harris is Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley, responsible for increasing client connectivity and penetration to enhance revenue generation across the firm. Her 30-year career includes extensive industry experience executing many large initial public offerings, as well as one of the largest biotechnology common stock transactions in U.S. history. She has been named to Fortune Magazine’s list of “The 50 Most Powerful Black Executives in Corporate America".

Read Carla's Story Listen to Carla's Podcast, Access & Opportunity

Alice Vilma, Managing Director and Co-Head of the Multicultural Innovation Lab

Ms. Vilma has been at Morgan Stanley for more than 15 years and has over 20 years of investment banking, capital markets, structured finance and investing experience, executing over $25 billon of securitization, structured finance and equity transactions. She graduated cum laude with a B.B.A. in Finance from the University of Miami and received her MBA from the Harvard Business School.

Read Alice's Story

The Lab Experience

Access & Opportunity Podcast

Shawn Springs: From Idea to Impact

Carla speaks with entrepreneur and former NFL cornerback Shawn Springs, founder and CEO of Windpact, a company focusing on impact protection across industries, including sports, automotive, and the military applications.

Pitching Startups Virtually

Our fourth Multicultural Innovation Lab Demo Day connected startup founders with potential investors in an unexpected way.

A Shift Toward Inclusion

Alice Vilma, Managing Director and Co-Head of the Multicultural Innovation Lab, writes that the venture capital landscape has been fundamentally altered, but it might be more inclusive now than before.

How Startups Can Recover From Pandemic Disruption

COVID-19 created challenges that no startup could have anticipated. Here’s how two members of our 2020 Multicultural Innovation Lab adjusted to the new realities.

A Pivotal Moment for Black Entrepreneurs

Members of the 2020 Multicultural Innovation Lab reflect on the heightened awareness of racial inequality and how that has affected them.

Investing in Inclusive Innovation

At this year’s Demo Day, diverse entrepreneurs from the Multicultural Innovation Lab took to the stage to share their unique vision for success.

Growing a Startup During a Pandemic

The founders in our 2020 Multicultural Innovation Lab cohort face some strong headwinds due to the uncertain economy. But there are many opportunities in this environment, too.

Announcing the Multicultural Innovation Lab 2020 Cohort

Despite some macro challenges, our new cohort is ready to kick off the fourth year of Morgan Stanley's accelerator program for tech startups led by multicultural founders.

Frequently Asked Questions

Jump to section:

Background and Basics

What is the Multicultural Innovation Lab?

The Multicultural Innovation Lab is an intensive five-month accelerator designed to help further develop and scale startups, culminating in a Demo Day and showcase presentation to the investor community.

When and why was the Lab started?

Morgan Stanley launched the MCIL in 2017 in order to address inequities in funding of multicultural and women-led startups, which our research shows totals more than a trillion dollars.

Who leads the Lab team?

Our team is led by Vice Chair and Managing Director Carla Harris and Managing Director Alice Vilma. Together, they have had over 50 years of equity syndicate, investment banking, capital markets and structured finance experience.

Where is the Lab based?

The Lab is based in our office at 522 Fifth Avenue in New York City.

Contact Us

For additional questions, please email us and we’ll get back to you shortly!

Application Details

Who is eligible?

The ideal candidate will meet the following criteria:

Is a multicultural or woman founder, co-founder, CTO or other C-suite member.
Has a founded a technology or technology-enabled startup that falls within the Seed to Series B funding round stage.
Has launched product with demonstrated revenues that validate the initial business model and market opportunity.

Do I have to live in or relocate to NYC to participate? How has the COVID-19 pandemic changed the onsite aspect of the program?

We believe that the value of our program lies in part with the relationships built among the cohort and with the broader Morgan Stanley community. In the past, this required all participants to be on site in our offices at 522 Fifth Avenue in New York City for the duration of the program. However, to ensure the health and safety of all members of our program and community, all Lab activities and events are now remote. We will continue to operate remotely, as long as it is prudent and responsible to do so, with the intent to return to in-person programming as soon as possible.

When are applications open?

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. We encourage interested applicants to apply early due to limited space and high application volume.

While we aren’t currently accepting applications, the application period for the next cohort will be open in late winter. Please sign up to be notified when applications open.

Do I have to lead a FinTech company in order to apply?

No. We look for technology or technology-enabled startups across a variety of sectors.

When will I hear back about my application?

We aim to target contacting applicants with next steps within one month after their application is submitted.

I’ve applied to the MCIL before. Can I apply again?

We absolutely welcome repeat applications and encourage previous applicants to keep in touch.

Contact Us

For additional questions, please email us and we’ll get back to you shortly!

What You Can Expect

Does Morgan Stanley invest financially in companies that participate in the Lab?

Yes. Morgan Stanley contributes $250,000 to each participating company in exchange for an equity stake.

What does the curriculum cover?

The curriculum is tailored to suit each individual cohort, but it generally includes such topics as branding your startup, developing your investor pitch, refining your value prop and devising effective finance and sales strategies. In addition, we offer participants the opportunity to meet with industry experts for one-on-one consultations.

What kind of mentorship will I receive from Morgan Stanley?

We pair each company with a Morgan Stanley mentor chosen specifically for their relevant expertise. Your mentor communicates with you regularly and can provide advice and counsel on company growth and scaling your business.

Will I be introduced to investors during my time at the Lab?

Morgan Stanley leverages its broad network of clients and investors on behalf of its Lab cohorts, making introductions and connections that aim to grow and scale each company’s business.

What is Demo Day?

Demo Day culminates the five-month Lab program, with each founder pitching to an audience of potential investors and clients.

Does the Lab team support its portfolio companies after the program is over?

Yes, we stay in contact with former participants and follow their successes, continuing to offer advice and support as needed.

Contact Us

For additional questions, please email us and we’ll get back to you shortly!

INTERESTED IN APPLYING?

While we aren’t currently accepting applications, the application period for the next cohort will be open in late winter. Please sign up to be notified when applications open.