Experience using search funds for social enterprise purposes?
November 27, 2019
by a searcher from Johns Hopkins University in Atlanta, GA, USA
Does anyone on this site have experience using search funds for social enterprise purposes? Do well while doing good?
If so, what are your experiences with, for instance, socially conscious PE groups? Non-traditional banking relationships? Leveraging CDFI capital structures?
For instance, here's a social impact investment article on funding: https://www.causeartist.com/changing-the-world-through-social-impact-investing/
And, here is a Bain article on the PE returns in the Asia-Pacific Region: https://www.bain.com/insights/private-equity-investors-embrace-impact-investing/
I would love to connect with anyone else who is interested in this space.
Warm Regards,
Stephen
from Harvard University in Fairfax, VA, USA
Our search fund, Eagle Leaf Group, is likely the first impact search fund; we are self-funded and are focused on acquiring an excellent company that creates environmental benefits as well. Examples include energy saving products and software; emissions, GHG monitoring and control; water conservation; offering an environmentally superior alternative to current methods (e.g., HDPE pipe); or acting as integral component of renewable/remediation technologies. Generally, speaking there is less interest from traditional institutional investors in this type of model given that it is already harder to find a business let alone one that satisfies impact criteria, given that they would be risking the initial search capital. Happy to connect and chat more--please email me at Founder@EagleLeafGroup dot com.
from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, MA, USA