SJF Ventures

We are still here.? SJF has been investing for 25 years in driven entrepreneurs helping to build a better world. Our portfolio companies have helped propel clean energy, the supply chain and circular economy, education and health for the underserved, and effective government services. With or without policy support, they have built high growth, positive impact businesses. We have invested through five presidential administrations, Democratic and Republican Congressional leadership, as well as recessions, 9/11, bank failures, and the pandemic. Our work and our impact continue because entrepreneurs are still creating companies worth investing in to solve challenges worth solving. We work hard to find promising companies, many of which are under the radar because they have been capital efficient in getting started, in sectors we know well, and that can benefit from joining forces with SJF as a financial and platform partner. We strive to connect with businesses where our experience and support will accelerate the growth and impact of ideas that can make a difference. We are still here. We know you are. Let's connect.

We're looking forward to the New Private Markets Impact & Transition Investor Summit this week in New York. SJF's Director of Impact Kelsey Jarrett will be moderating a panel discussing how impact investors should think about artificial intelligence, as a potential tool for driving impact that carries significant risks. If you will also be attending, please reach out!

In the latest edition of Field Notes, SJF's Kelsey Jarrett and Elizabeth Roberts discuss whether impact funds should be investing in cybersecurity, given the unequally distributed consequences of rising cyberattacks and the potential for cyber resilience to protect key institutions like hospitals, schools and local governments. Read on below:

SJF first invested in SchooLinks' Series A funding round in 2021--we are excited for the company's continued growth with support from Susquehanna Growth Equity (SGE)!

Impact Report site launch alert! SJF Ventures invests in companies that create a healthier, smarter, and cleaner future. Built on WordPress, their new Impact Report features an accessible, user-friendly design with custom features like a quiz block to boost engagement. This site makes it easier for the SJF team to update and offers a transparent look at their impressive impact across their portfolio. We handled design, development, and discovery, working alongside content strategist Deborah Zanke . It's already making an impact with stakeholders. Take a look! https://lnkd.in/eVRPw-yq #ImpactReport #WebDesign #WebDevelopment

Congratulations to SJF Managing Director Daniel Geballe, who was recently elected to join the board of Levi Strauss & Co., effective April 2025. “[Dan’s] expertise will be invaluable as we continue to drive forward the company’s long-term growth while upholding our profits through principles philosophy,” said Michelle Gass, CEO and President of Levi Strauss & Co. https://lnkd.in/e87M6z_p

We are thrilled to finally share Solera's 2024 transformation! We have greatly evolved since our inception as a diabetes prevention company — into a robust SaaS platform delivering high-value virtual health to payer and employers across the country. It's time that our brand and voice caught up ?? But this updated brand is more than a new image. It’s an affirmation of our sharpened focus — delivering measurable value through personalized, clinically-vetted digital care solutions. ?? Read more in today's press release: https://lnkd.in/gTSSsszR

As the frequency and severity of climate-related events increase, investors, insurers, and entrepreneurs are turning their attention to climate adaptation and resilience. But how do we actually prepare for and recover from the current impacts of climate change, and what steps can accelerate innovation for a more resilient future? In this month's Field Notes, read our top four takeaways from the panel SJF hosted during NY Climate Week. Big thank you to our panelists, Amy Barnes, Jay Koh, Matt Stein, and Mishal Thadani for sharing your expertise, and to Dave Kirkpatrick for moderating the discussion.

We are excited to welcome Chibuzor Biosah to the SJF team as a Venture Fellow in our Durham office! ? Uzo is pursuing a dual MBA/MPP degree at Duke University. She is particularly interested in opportunities for private, public, and non-profit organizations to work together to accelerate the clean energy transition while improving quality of life for people around the world. Uzo is serving as Co-Chair of the 2024 Duke University Energy Conference and Co-Lead of the 2024-2025 CASE at Duke Fellowship. She has a background in technology and urban policy, and she spent this summer working at The Bridgespan Group.?Welcome, Uzo!

This week, we were pleased to attend the launch of Impact Capital Managers' Paths to Partner report, which features a case study on Jacqueline Lipkin's journey from Analyst to Partner at SJF. Read the full report below!