SJF Ventures Closes Fourth Fund at $125 Million
SJF Ventures has closed SJF Ventures IV, L.P., a $125 million fund to invest more in high-growth companies creating a healthier, smarter and cleaner future. The oversubscribed fund will build on proven impact investment strategies from three previous SJF funds that have delivered superior financial returns and generated sizable positive impacts in clean energy and climate change mitigation, asset recovery and recycling, sustainable food and agriculture, education, health and wellness, and quality job creation. Limited partners subscribing to SJF Ventures IV include more than two dozen foundation endowments, along with leading family offices, funds of funds, pensions and individual investors active in impact investing. Read more.
SJF Receives Prestigious Awards
SJF Ventures III was awarded a Top 10 impact fund and Top 5 for the developed markets based on its Impact Business Model Rating by the Global Impact Investment Rating System (GIIRS), following SJF’s strategy to invest in companies whose social and environmental impacts are embedded within their core business models. SJF Ventures II and SJF Ventures III were both named “Best for the World Funds” by B the Change Media. See the Top 10 and full list here.
SJF Ventures was also recently named a Finalist for the international 2017 Circular Economy Investor Award. The Circulars is an initiative of the World Economic Forum and the Forum of Young Global Leaders. Read more here.
PORTFOLIO NEWS
NEXTracker Wins #1 Market Share & Releases Energy Storage Solution
NEXtracker has achieved the number one global market share position among single-axis solar tracker manufacturers according to GTM Research. NEXTracker’s systems have been installed in more than 150 individual solar power systems deployed in eleven countries with system sizes ranging from 1 to 420 megawatts. NEXTracker also recently released the NX Fusion Plus, a solar plus energy-storage solution that integrates solar tracker, battery, inverter, and software to deliver better ROI to owners of solar power plants.
Vital Farms Featured by The Washington Post
Vital Farms was featured on the front page of The Washington Post for a new initiative to curb the culling of newborn chicks. The company’s subsidiary, named Ovabrite, has developed a promising technology that addresses animal welfare concerns and lowers industry costs substantially. Read more.
Deloitte Recognizes Yieldbot and Optoro for Exceptional Growth Rates
Deloitee named Yieldbot the second fastest growing company in North America, citing a 39,783% growth rate over a four-year period. Optoro was also named to Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500, the fourth year in a row in which Optoro has received this recognition. See Deloitte’s complete list.
Solera Highlighted for Diabetes Prevention
Solera was featured in a MobiHealthNews’ story on the Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services’ proposal to offer diabetes prevention for Medicare beneficiaries. Solera plays a critical integration role in a marketplace of health providers by offering an optimal mix of community-based and digital programs. Solera has hundreds of CDC-recognized Diabetes Prevention Programs (DPPs) in its network and over 10,000 delivery locations. Read more.
Fit4D Highlighted for Diabetes Management
Fit4D’s personalized coaching model to build trust and improve diabetic patient outcomes, including for Latino and NYC-based populations, was recently highlighted in the New York Daily News. Read the article.
Portfolium Partners with The University of Pennsylvania
Portfolium has entered a partnership with The University of Pennsylvania to offer the school’s more than 16,000 students access to Portfolium-giving students not only a channel to showcase their achievements in a visual way but also a platform for reflecting on career readiness. Read more.
HYLA Mobile Partners with Facebook and Medic Mobile
HYLA Mobile has teamed up with Facebook and Medic Mobile to deliver donated phones to frontline nonprofit health workers in hard to reach communities in Kenya. Read more.
Validic Partners with Sutter Health on Innovative Pilot Project
Validic and Sutter Health recently announced collaboration on a federal pilot project to determine how patient-generated health data can best be delivered to care teams and researchers to improve patient care and outcomes. This work will inform government policy and help determine how the broader industry implements remotely-collected patient health data. Read more
TransLoc Hires Transit Industry Veteran
TransLoc has hired Rahul Kumar, a transit industry veteran, to help drive further growth and impact. Kumar was previously the SVP of Transdev, a global transportation provider, and helped that company close on $4B in new and renewed revenue and has led work on disruptive transportation innovations. Read more.