Partners for entrepreneurs with a mission.
We invest in early-stage companies that drive social or environmental impact, with a focus on supporting founders from underrepresented backgrounds.
SV2’s impact investing practice champions early-stage companies that put social and environmental change at the core of their business models. We are especially focused on allocating capital to founders from underrepresented backgrounds and mobilizing our community of Partner Champions to provide vital, Beyond-the-Dollar strategic support.
A broader definition of return on investment.
Our approach to investing seeks three types of return: social or environmental impact, financial return, and “return on learning.” This last piece comes from Donor Partners’ engagement in the process: hearing pitches, conducting diligence, and making decisions about how best to allocate SV2’s pooled capital. Our collaborative practice has a ripple effect: as Donor Partners gain skills and experience, many choose to begin or deepen their own impact investing practice, aligning their capital allocation with their personal values.
A broader definition of return on investment.
Our approach to investing seeks three types of return: social or environmental impact, financial return, and “return on learning.” This last piece comes from Donor Partners’ engagement in the process: hearing pitches, conducting diligence, and making decisions about how best to allocate SV2’s pooled capital. Our collaborative practice has a ripple effect: as Donor Partners gain skills and experience, many choose to begin or deepen their own impact investing practice, aligning their capital allocation with their personal values.
How does it work?
Each month, SV2 hosts an online meeting to hear pitches from two early-stage, impact-focused companies and discuss their fit for SV2 investment. At any given meeting, there is a mix of seasoned and newer investors; all experience levels are welcome. If there is interest in moving either company forward, a small team of Donor Partners conducts diligence over 3-4 weeks using a structured format.
SV2’s Investment Committee meets after each pitch meeting. Diligence teams present their findings to the Investment Committee, and following discussion, an investment vote is taken.
SV2 typically invests $50,000 – $100,000 at the pre-seed or seed stage. We invest across many sectors, including climate, education, and economic opportunity. Just as with our grantmaking, investments are made using pooled funding that Donor Partners contribute to SV2. When our investments generate financial returns, the funds come back to SV2 in support of our mission.
