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Equity Investors for West Virginia Companies
Building a great team with experienced and connected equity investors can be very helpful for a startup venture. Investors who can see a business opportunity and market will add value to a startup team. For their investment of money and time, they get an ownership stake in the company.
Targeting companies in West Virginia
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Mountain State Capital
Connects portfolio companies to the customers, strategic partners and funders needed to grow.
Benefits: Receive between $250,000 - $1,500,000 investments.
Portfolio company characteristics: West Virginia’s first and only small business investment corporation (SBIC) invests at the seed stage and has worked with many of the region’s most prominent research universities, angel groups and seed funds.
For more information: Email Matt Harbaugh or go to Mountain State Capital.
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High Tech Consortium Foundation’s INNOVA:
INNOVA focuses on companies that can strengthen West Virginia’s economy and build on its federal agency and contractor presence.
Benefits: Receive between $50,000 - $150,000 investments.
Portfolio company characteristics: Looks for companies that are driven by knowledge, excellence and innovation, rooted in West Virginia values, with a proven plan to strengthen and diversify the state’s economy.
For more information: Phone: 877-363-5482 or Email INNOVA.
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West Virginia Jobs Investment Trust’s WVCAP Seed Capital Co-Investment Fund
This fund focuses on small companies in West Virginia, whether they are early or mature.
Benefits: Receive between $10,000 - $500,000 investments.
Portfolio company characteristics: Funds can be used for market and competitive analysis, design and development of prototypes or to hire key personnel.
For more information: Phone: 304-345-6200 or go to WVJIT.
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Bright Enterprises
This fund grew from the success of the Bright family businesses, and now it invests across West Virginia.
Benefits: Receive between $50,000 - $1,000,000 investments.
Portfolio company characteristics: Funds can be used for work capital growth capital by firms competing in large addressable markets.
For more information: Point of contact: Brian Helmick or go to Bright WV.
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Tri-State Angel Investment Group
This fund provides venture capital to startup or expanding companies that can provide investors with an attractive financial return.
Benefits: Receive between $50,000 - $250,000 investments.
Portfolio company characteristics: Objectives are to create jobs and economic growth in the tristate region. In West Virginia, the group focuses on Wayne, Cabell, Lincoln, Putnam and Mason counties.
For more information Email Tri-state Angel Investment group or go to Tri-State Angel Investment Group.
Targeting companies within a region that includes West Virginia
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RTP Capital Associates
This North Carolina Research Triangle based investor has a regional approach investing in tech-focused or execution-driven business models.
Benefits: Receive between $100,000 - $3,000,000 investments.
Portfolio company characteristics: RTP provides seed to early-stage technology companies with growth capital. An exit should be possible within 3-5 years.
For more information: Email RTP
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Triangle Angel Partners (TAP)
AP invests in companies within a half-day’s drive of Research Triangle Park, NC.
Benefits: Receive between $100,000 - $500,000 investments.
Portfolio company characteristics: Triangle Angle Partners fund high-tech startups with a strong market opportunity. Funds must be used to accelerate the company’s achievement of key milestones that increase value. Fundable activities include product development, building sales and marketing infrastructure and hiring key executives.
For more information: Email TAP or go to TAP's website.
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Contender Capital
Contender invests in early stage companies within the Research Triangle Park region.
Benefits: Receive between $100,000 - $500,000 investments.
Portfolio company characteristics: Focused on regional early-stage tech companies that are poised to become market leaders.
For more information: Point of contact: Email Joe Velk or go to Contender Capital
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Solidarity Capital Group
Solidarity is a regional certified B Corp impact investment firm that funds economically sustainable social justice enterprises.
Benefits: Receive between $50,000 - $250,000 investments.
Portfolio company characteristics: Solidarity Capital is creating opportunities for people of faith and goodwill to finance social entrepreneurs serving marginalized people. Focus areas include community and economic development including real estate, sustainable agriculture including distribution and retailing, energy and environment, and social finance.
For more information: Email Solidarity or go to Solidarity Capital Group.
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Bull City Venture Partners
Bull City Venture Partners is an early, often first, institutional investor in tech startups.
Benefits: Receive between $250,000 - $2,000,000 investments.
Portfolio company characteristics: Bull City will invest in seed and growth stage companies with experienced teams and entrepreneurs that have unique advantages. Focus areas include software, internet, mobile, health IT and e-commerce.
For more information: Point of contact: Email Jason Caplain.
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Idea Fund Partners
Idea Fund Partners provides funding for dynamic young technology companies.
Benefits: Receive between $100,000 - $750,000 investments.
Portfolio company characteristics: Focus areas include software, tech enabled services, materials technologies, medical devices and diagnostics.
For more information: Call David Jones at 919-808-4000 or go to Idea Fund Partners.
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Bluetree Venture Fund
Bluetree is a regionally focused venture capital firm based in Pittsburgh, PA, investing in firms located within 250 miles.
Benefits: Receive between $1,000,000 - $5,000,000 investments.
Portfolio company characteristics: Bluetree targets early institutional investments in medical technologies, software and high-tech instrumentation companies demonstrating compelling tech, strong management teams and capital-efficient business models with clear opportunities for exit through strategic acquisition.
For more information: Phone: 724-475-4538 or Email BlueTree or go to BlueTree Venture Fund.
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Adams Capital Management
This Pittsburgh-based venture capital firm targets firms needing midsize early investments.
Benefits: Receive between $1,000,000 - $5,000,000 investments.
Portfolio company characteristics: Focused on early-stage applied technology opportunities across the region.
For more information: Phone: 412-749-9454 or go to Adams Capital.
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Incline Equity Partners
This Pittsburgh-based firm focuses on buyouts, corporate divestitures and minority recapitalizations.
Benefits: Receive between $5,000,000 - $50,000,000 investments.
Portfolio company characteristics: Focuses on companies with valuations of $50 million - $300 million where Incline can value-add with product alteration, technical sales, logistics, complex sourcing or category management. Targets consumer and industrial products with significant brand equity, unique value proposition, high margins; in particular, business services with high customer repeatability and recurring revenue.
For more information: Phone: 412-315-7800 or go to Incline Equity.
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Draper Triangle Ventures
Draper Triangle is a Pittsburgh-based, early-stage investor.
Benefits: Receive between $5,000,000 - $50,000,000 investments.
Portfolio company characteristics: Focused on companies where midwest values meet high-tech market solutions in software, robotics, medical devices, mobile applications or connected devices.
For more information: Go to Draper Triangle.
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Tecum Capital Partners
Tecum Capital is a midsize SBIC fund that focuses on making mezzanine debt and minority equity investments in companies with earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization of at least $2 million.
Benefits: Receive between $3,000,000 - $15,000,000 investments.
Portfolio company characteristics: Partners with other investors and management teams to facilitate recapitalizations, buyouts, generational transitions, acquisitions and other growth capital needs. Serves as a value-added resource to the management teams of portfolio companies in strategic planning, finances, operations, add-on acquisitions and growth financing.
For more information: Phone: 724-602-4399 or go to Tecum.
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PNC RiverArch Capital
Pittsburgh-based middle-market private equity firm that invests in privately-held companies headquartered throughout North America.
Benefits: Receive between $10,000,000 - $50,000,000 investments. Portfolio company characteristics Invests across a variety of industry sectors, including value-added distribution, specialized manufacturing, business and industrial 27 services, software, and tech-enabled services. Supports buyouts, recapitalizations, corporate divestitures and growth financings.
For more information: Phone: 412-762-2245 or go to PNC Riverarch Capital.
Targeting Opportunity Zone investments across the U.S.
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Savage Grant OZF
A West Virginia-based OZF focused on acquisitions, startups and commercial real estate.
For more information: Point of contact: Patrick Farrell Phone: 800-480-7867 or email Savage Grant or go to Savage Grant website.
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1787 Capital OZF
A $50 million mid-Atlantic and southeast U.S. focused OZF partnering with public agencies and officials on key redevelopment projects.
For more information: Email Chris Jeter or Phone: 646-283-7295 or go to 1787 Capital.
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Access Ventures OZF
A $100 million OZF focused nationally on operating businesses.
For more information: Email Ross Baird Phone: 404-281-1254 or go to Access Venture.
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Affordable Housing OZF
A $100 million nationally focused OZF targeting multifamily real estate developments.
For more information: Point of Contact: Kim Miller. Go to Affordable Housing or email Affordable Housing or Phone: 603-213-8620.
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EJF OZF
A $300 million nationally focused real estate development firm.
For more information: Point of Contact: Carter Henderson. Phone: 703-875-9121 or email EJF or go to ejfcp.com/default.aspx InvestorRelations@ejfcap.com
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Garnett Station Partners OZF
A $250 million southeast- focused OZF investing in commercial and residential real estate as well as hospitality, solar and operating businesses.
For more information: Point of Contact: Alexander Peskind Phone: 646-957-0756 Email Garnett Station or go to gsp-ozf.com.
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Obsidian OZF
A $100 million nationally focused OZF focused on solar. For more information Point of contact: Allen Alley. Phone: 503-245-8800 or go to obsidianopportunityfund.com.
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Opportunity Development Group OZF
A $500 million OZF focused on real estate development in major gateway cities.
For more information: Email Gavriel Kahane. Phone: 646-849-3668 or go to odgfund.com.
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OPZ Capital OZF
A $500 million nationally focused commercial real estate OZF.
For more information: Email Craig Bernstein or phone: 240-731-1310 Email Jill Homan or phone: 202-695-3467 or go to opzcapital.com.
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Peachtree Hotel OZF
A $100 million nationally focused hospitality OZF.
For more information: Email: J. Dana Tsakanikas. Phone: 404-497-4118 or go to stonehillstrategiccapital.com.
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Saxum OZF
A $100 million northeast and mid-Atlantic OZF focused on value-added and opportunistic investments.
For more information: Point of Contact: Chad DeBolt, Director of Investments Phone: 908-210-1045. -
Sixty West OZF
A $200 million nationally focused OZF targeting multifamily, mixed use, hospitality, retail, and office real estate.
For more information: Phone: 404-304-0228. Email Jason Cordon or email Mike Ballard. Phone: 702-467-0789 or go to sixty-west.co. -
Strategic OZF
A $500 million nationally focused OZF targeting multifamily, hospitality, retail, office and solar investments.
For more information: Point of Contact: Mike Fields, COO. Phone: 404-963-6657 or go to email Strategic OZF. -
Fundrise OZF
A Washington, D.C., based OZF real estate development crowdfunding platform.
For more information: Phone: 202-584-0550. Email Ben Miller or go to fundrise.com.
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EJF Capital OZF
Washington, D.C., based OZF real estate development group.
For more information: ejfi.com.
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Enterprise Community Partners OZF
A Columbia, MD, based OZF real estate development firm.
For more information: enterprisecommunity.org.
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EquityMultiple OZF
A New York, NY, based OZF real estate development platform.
For more information: Email Watue Sowaprux. Phone: 646-960-6144 or go to equitymultiple.com.
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North Country Growers OZF
A Berlin, NH, based OZF focused on agriculture real estate development.
For more information: Phone: 617-484-3755. Email North Country Growers or go to americanagenergy.com.
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Alpha Capital Partners OZF
A Canonsburg, PA, based OZF real estate development firm.
For more information: Phone: 412-212-0665 or go to alphacapitalpartners.com.
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Hypothesis Ventures OZF
An LA/Chicago/NYC based OZF with accelerator programs focused on opportunity zone companies.
For more information: Email Hypothesis or go to hypothesisvc.com.
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Wefunder OZF
A San Francisco/Boston based OZF equity and real estate crowdfunding platform.
For more information: Email WeFunder or go to wefunder.com.
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Revolution OZF
A Washington, D.C., based OZF startup investment group.
For more information: Phone: 202-776-1400 or go to revolution.com.
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Goldman Sachs OZF
A New York, NY, based OZF focused on low income real estate development.
For more information: goldmansachs.com.
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Sound West Realty Capital OZF
A Bremerton, WA, based OZF focused on real estate development.
For more information: Phone: 877-277-7886 or go to soundwestrc.com.
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Virtua Partners OZF
A Phoenix, AZ, based OZF real estate development firm focused on single-family and multifamily housing and hospitality.
For more information: Email Zachary Chavez. Phone: 480-757-6503 or go to virtuapartners.com.
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Cresset Capital OZF
A Chicago, IL, based OZF real estate development firm focused on multifamily, office and other asset types.
For more information: Email Nick Parrish. Phone: 312-429-2450 or go to cressetcapital.com.
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OPZ Capital OZF
A Washington, D.C., based OZF focused on real estate development.
For more information: Email Craig Bernstein or go to opzcapital.com
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Skybridge Capital OZF
A New York, NY, based OZF focused on real estate development.
For more information: Phone: 212-485-3100 or go to skybridge.com.
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Normandy Real Estate Partners OZF
A Morristown, NJ, based OZF focused on real estate development.
For more information: Email Normandy Real Estate or go to normandyrealty.com.
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Somerset Partners OZF
A Bronx, NY, based OZF focused on real estate development.
For more information: Phone: 212-825-1300. Email Somerset Partners or go to Somerset Partners.
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Berkadia OZF
A New York, NY, based OZF real estate development firm.
For more information: berkadia.com.
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Capri Capital Partners OZF
A Chicago, IL, based OZF real estate development firm.
For more information: capri.global.
Targeting companies using online or remote incubation programs
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Impact Growth
This delocalized incubation program is compatible with other accelerators, making it a flexible option for founders.
Benefits: Provides a combination of equity-free funding and VC capita to tech startups.
Portfolio company characteristics: Seeks growth-stage startups with a product already on the market.
For more information: Email Impact Growth or go to impact-accelerator.com.
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1M/1M
This California-based online accelerator uses the network effect to amplify participant success.
Benefits: Equity funding and wide-reaching, interconnected mentoring.
Portfolio company characteristics: Aspires to help one million entrepreneurs achieve one million dollars in annual revenue across multiple tech verticals.
For more information: go to 1/M/1M.
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DreamIt Ventures
One of the 20 most-active incubators in the U.S.
Benefits: Helps entrepreneurs scale via securing capital and customers.
Portfolio company characteristics: Partners with brands and corporations to help portfolio companies with pilot programs and tech advancement.
For more information: Go to DreamIT.
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500 Startups
This firm has worked with over 3,000 founders to accelerate, grow and scale their businesses.
Benefits: Receive $100,000 in equity investment.
Portfolio company characteristics: Invests in a diversity of startup founders and offers a four-month accelerator program that provides hands-on learning, office space and mentorship.
For more information: 500.co.
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IBM
IBM encourages new businesses to grow and develop using their Watson platform and other tech.
Benefits: Receive cloud credits for use in IBM’s software development ecosystem.
Portfolio company characteristics: Targets companies with business revenue in the last 12 months of less than $1 million and less than 5 years old.
For more information: developer.ibm.com/startups
Targeting social or environmental impact companies across the U.S.
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Impact America
Invests in billion-dollar market opportunities that use technology to enhance the lives of all Americans.
Benefits: Receive between $50,000 - $500,000 investments.
Portfolio company characteristics: Impact America’s mission is to engage recent graduates and college students to address community needs through collaborative efforts to promote change in the communities served.
For more information: Point of Contact: Channing Kennedy Bethke. Email Impact America or go to impactamerica.com.
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Village Capital
Village Capital invests in companies vetted through their nationwide accelerator network.
Benefits: Receive between $50,000 - $500,000 investments.
Portfolio company characteristics: Invest in extraordinary entrepreneurs that traditional venture capital firms often overlook. Focuses on investments in peerselected companies with a social or environmental mission sourced from Village Capital programs.
For more information: Point of Contact: Allie Burns. Email Village Capital or go to vilcap.com.
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Sustain VC
Focuses on companies with dedication and commitment to social and environmental impact.
Benefits: Receive between $500,000 - $5,000,000 investments. Portfolio company characteristics Invests in early-stage, high- growth companies with strong, diverse and passionate management teams. Usually in post proof-of-concept stage with clear market traction, contracts, strategic partnerships, users, etc.
For more information: Email Justin Desrosiers or go to Sustain VC.
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Bain Capital Double Impact
Partners with companies that offer products, services or business models that can scale positive social impact. Benefits Receive between $300,000 - $2,000,000 investments. Portfolio company characteristics Focused on self-identified mission-oriented companies as well as more traditional businesses that create positive social impact related to sustainability, health and wellness, and community building. Makes buyout and control investments in lower middle market companies in North America.
For more information: Point of Contact: Ernesto Anguilla. Email Bain Capital or go to baincapital.com.
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InvestEco
Investing in expansion-stage companies in North America that promote health and sustainability in the food and agricultural sector. Benefits Receive between $500,000 -$2,000,000 investments. Portfolio company characteristics Invests in companies that produce environmentally superior food and agricultural products or services. Typically have between $1 – $30 million in revenues. Goal is to make a strong financial return while supporting companies that are contributing to a healthier world.
For more information: Point of Contact: Kasia Hulicki Phone: 416-304-1750. Email info@investeco.com or go to investeco.com.
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SJF Ventures
Provides expertise and networks in the clean tech, s ustainability and tech-enhanced services sectors.
Benefits: Receive between $1,000,000 - $10,000,000 investments.
Portfolio company characteristics: Invests in fields including analytical software, mobile healthcare communication platforms, digitalized workflows and minority career outreach programs.
For more information: Point of Contact: Cody Nystrom. Phone: 917-693-4858 or go to SJF.
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Arborview Capital Partners
Makes growth equity and venture capital investments in high growth, mission-oriented companies.
Benefits: Receive between $3,000,000 - $10,000,000 investments.
Portfolio company characteristics: Focuses on mission-driven fields such as water conservation, sustainable food production, health and wellness, and energy efficiency. Incorporates environmental, social and governance (ESG) metrics and analytics into investment decisions and portfolio management.
For more information: Point of Contact: Roger Ballentine Phone: 301-215-8320 Email Arborview Capital or go to arborviewcapital.com.
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Birchmere Ventures
Funds innovative companies that make a positive impact while delivering strong returns for investors.
Benefits: Receive between $1,000,000 - $20,000,000 investments.
Portfolio company characteristics: With offices in Pittsburgh and San Francisco, Birchmere is focused on technology, financial services and software sectors. Current ventures include e-commerce, smart phone-based teaching tools for STEM students and navigation software.
For more information: Email Birchmere or go to birchmerevc.com.
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Core Innovation Capital
Invests in companies that deliver efficient, well-designed financial products that save people time and money, create upward mobility and scale broadly.
Benefits: Receive between $1,000,000 - $5,000,000 investments.
Portfolio company characteristics: Looks for technology impr oving transparency, reducing risk and leveling overhead costs.
For more information: corevc.com.
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DBL Venture Capital
Uses a “double bottom line” investment strategy to invest in companies that can deliver top-tier venture capital returns while enabling social, environmental and economic improvement in the regions in which they operate.
Benefits: Receive between $5,000,000 - $70,000,000 investmen ts.
Portfolio company characteristics: Accelerates innovation in a way that positively affects an organization’s social impact, as well as its financial success. Focuses on clean tech, information technology, sustainable products and services and healthcare.
For more information: dblpartners.vc.
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Encourage Capital
Building a community of investors, foundations, market-leading companies and nonprofits to deploy private capital into systemic solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.
Benefits: Receive between $5,000,000 - $20,000,000 investments.
Portfolio company characteristics: Seeks to change the way investment capital is used to solve critical environmental and social problems.
For more information: encour agecapital.com.
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InvestEco
Focus is on high-growth North American companies that promote health and sustainability in the food and agricultural sector.
Benefits: Receive between $1,000,000 - $5,000,000 investments. Portfolio company characteristics Focuses on renewable energy, water technologies, resource productivity technologies, efficient transportation solutions, health and sustainability in the food and agriculture sector.
For more information: investeco.com.
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SJF Ventures
A national social impact investment firm focusing on the clean tech, sustainability and technology-enhanced services sectors.
Benefits: Receive $1,000,000 - $10,000,000 investments.
Portfolio company characteristics: Focused on analytical software, mobile healthcare communication platforms, digitalized workflows, minority career outreach programs and more.
For more information: Point of Contact: Cody Nystrom. Phone: 917-693-4858 or go to jfventures.com.
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The Lyme Timber Company
Private timberland investment manager that focuses on the acquisition and sustainable management of lands with unique conservation values.
Benefits: Receive equity investment for forestlands or related mitigation and conservation assets.
Portfolio company characteristics: Current investments include timberlands companies across the U.S.
For more information: Email Lyme Timber or go to lymetimber.com.
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Better Ventures
Seeks outsized returns by backing founders on a mission to solve the world’s biggest problems.
Benefits: Receive between $500,000 - $5,000,000 investments.
Portfolio company characteristics: Focuses on founders with the intellectual capacity and drive to build truly world-changi ng companies. Invests at the early stage in smart and resilient teams building disruptive technologies in the fields of education technology, gender equality, future of work, access to affordable care, aging and senior care preventative health, clean energy, closed loop systems and wat er analytics.
For more information: better.vc.
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North Sky Capital
Invests in companies that support sustainability and clean technology advances.
Benefits: Receive equity investments from one in a series of clean-tech funds.
Portfolio company characteristics: Focused on water, healthcare, renewable energy, corporate efficiency, built environment, energy management and storage, recycling and waste-to-value, transportation, pollution controls, sustainable agriculture and education.
For more information: Point of Contact: Gretchen Postula Email North Sky or go to the North Sky Capital site.
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Rethink Education
Aims to transform the way that people learn by partnering with early and growth-stage ed-tech entrepreneurs.
Benefits: Receive between $50,000 - $500,000 investments.
Portfolio company characteristics: Rethink Education finds entrepreneurs creating new ways of teaching, of supporting students, of providing access and meaning to crucial data. Target companies are grounded in rigorous pedagogy with strong business models and proven product-market fit to ensure that they can scale.
For more information: Point of Contact: Michael Walden. Phone: 914-683-8474. Email Rethink or go to Rethink Education.
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The Builders
Helps solve environmental and social problems through the profitable deployment of capital into conscious businesses.
Benefits: Receive between $50,000 - $500,000 investments.
Por tfolio company characteristics: Makes investments around well-researched market themes where platform companies can be built. Focuses on conscious companies building a transformational business, aspirational culture, and an inherently profitable model with the potential to scale.
For more information: Point of Contact: Tripp Baird Email The Builders or go to The Builders
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Imp act Assets’ Small Enterprise Assis-tance Fund
Focused on small- and medium-sized bu sinesses in growth stage.
Benefits: Receive between $100,000 - $1,000,000 investments.
Po rtfolio company characteristics: Focuses on clean technology, sustainable agriculture and small and medium business development.
For more information: Point of Contact: Robert Vodicka Email Impact Assets' or go to Impact Assets.
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TriLinc Global
Invests in globally diversified opportunities that generate attractive returns as well as create positive social impact.
Benefits: Receive equity investment to advance social and environmental missions.
Portfolio company characteristics: Focuses on companies aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals with ongoing commitment to ESG practices such as energy savings, waste reduction and water conservation or social policies such as fair hiring, compensation, maternity leave, community service and corporate donations.
For more information: Phone: 310-997-0580 or go to Trilinc. -
Aqua Spark
A VC firm focused on marine and aquaculture investment opportunities.
Benefits: Receive between $250,000 - $5,000,000 investments.
Portfolio company characteristics: Focuses on companies with a strong and experienced management team that is financially committed to and rewarded by the company’s success. Targets need a strong competitive position as a result of superior technology, innovative products, comparative cost advantage, established market position, significant barriers to entry or dominant distribution in their market.
For more information: Email: Aqua Spark.
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Atticventures
Helps digital businesses define their product and growth strategy and build their operations and revenues.
Benefits: Receive equity investment to advance social and environmental missions.
Portfolio company characteristics: Current investments include a company that helps museums increase consumer engagement, a company that streamlines the processes of writing TV and a company that acts as a travel guide.
For more information: Point of contact: Mark G. Johnson. Email Atticventures or go to the Atticventures site.
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Pilot Mountain Ventures
Investing in companies that disrupt and create new markets.
Benefits: Receive equity investment to advance social and environmental missions.
Portfolio company characteristics: Focuses on scalable businesses with low costs and foreseeable exits. Industry agnostic, but mainly focuses on the technology and medical device sectors. Current investments include a high ankle repair company,a glaucoma treatment company and a company that blocks distractions across all platforms or devices.
For more information: Point of contact: Steven Perricone. Phone: 212-260-9158 or go to Pilot Mountain Ventures.
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