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We are pleased to share SJF’s latest bulletin announcing the release of our new Impact website, which highlights our positive impacts. The bulletin also features our most recent investment in Validic; provides updates on portfolio companies; and recognizes another leading impact investor, Arjuna Capital.
Sincerely,
The SJF Team
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SJF Launches New Impact Website
SJF Ventures invites you to peruse our new Impact website. The recently launched Impact site will replace our formerly printed annual Positive Impacts Report and enables us to share the social, community and environmental impacts of our work in a multimedia, interactive and regularly updated format. The site features quantitative results, case studies and videos.
SJF has been a pioneer in impact investing for over 15 years, and we hope the new Impact site will inspire more impact entrepreneurs and investors. Peruse the Impact site.
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Validic Raises $5MM Series A, Earns New Industry Award and Makes Acquisition
Validic announced that it raised a $5 million Series A round in August. The round was co-led by SJF Ventures and Greycroft Partners. Frost & Sullivan recently named Validic the winner of the “2014 Best Practices Global Healthcare Information Interoperability Customer Value Leadership Award,” and Gartner awarded Validic “2014 Cool Vendor for Healthcare Payers.” In July Validic acquired Infometers Inc., a Silicon Valley-based technology company that connects remote healthcare monitoring devices to the healthcare system. Read more.
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Inc. 5000 Recognition for Aseptia, Vital Farms and MediaMath
SJF Ventures is pleased to report that several of its portfolio companies were recognized in the 2014 Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing privately held companies. Aseptia ranked as the #2 fastest-growing food and beverage company. Vital Farms was recognized as #17 in food and beverage, making the Inc. 5000 list for the third straight year. MediaMath also earned recognition on the Inc. 5000 list for the second year in a row.
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Community Energy sells 156MW DC Colorado Solar Project to SunEdison
Community Energy, Inc (CEI) sold its 156 megawatt DC Comanche Solar project in July to SunEdison, a leading global solar technology manufacturer and provider of solar energy services. Construction of the 900-acre solar power plant will begin in 2015 with commercial operation targeted for early 2016. Since its inception, CEI has led the development of more than 950 MW AC of wind and solar generating facilities. Read more.
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Rustic Crust Rebuilds
Rustic Crust received national attention for the company’s effective and responsible handling of a devastating fire to its bakery in March, making quick decisions and recovery plans in order to open a temporary facility to resume operations and minimize losses. As one of the largest employers in Pittsfield, N.H., the company was applauded for keeping all of its employees on payroll during the downtime and continuing to grow the business. The company broke ground in August for a new plant to be built in the same spot as the original building. Read more and watch the groundbreaking video.
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MediaMath Moving Into 4 World Trade Center; Opens Offices in Paris, Sydney
MediaMath announced in July the company will be moving its headquarters to 4 World Trade Center in New York City with support from the NYC Economic Development Corp and Empire State Development. The company plans to create 1,000 jobs in New York during the next five years. MediaMath also recently opened new offices in Paris and Sydney for a total of 12 locations across 5 continents. Read more.
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EnTouch Controls Wins Pizza Hut EMS business; Hiring New Sales Director
EnTouch Controls and Pizza Hut announced an exclusive contract in August, whereby the pizza chain will install EnTouch smart thermostats and energy management systems in all 500 corporate-owned restaurants. Pizza Hut will also recommend EnTouch Controls for its 5,800 franchise-owned locations. EnTouch is currently hiring a Director of National Accounts to pursue similar contracts with other national chains. Read more.
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Think Through Learning Announces No Kid Hungry as New Charity Partner
Think Through Learning recently recognized September as “Hunger Action Month” by adding No Kid Hungry to its list of charitable partners. Students can select and donate money to a national or local charitable organization by passing math lessons within the Think Through Math (TTM) web-based math instructional system. No Kid Hungry works to solve the problem of childhood hunger by connecting kids to effective nutrition programs like school breakfast and summer meals. Each year, students contribute tens of thousands of dollars to charitable partners through the TTM program. Read more.
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Solar & Storage Microgrid Being Built by groSolar
groSolar is constructing at 2.5MW solar farm with integrated battery storage and microgrid technology for Green Mountain Power. The Stafford Hill Solar Farm in Vermont will include 7,722 solar panel and produce enough power for 2000 homes. Read more.
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Cody Nystrom will serve as a judge for social impact companies and speak on a capital raising panel at SXSW Eco Conference October 6-7. Christine Primmer will also attend the speed networking session at SXSW Eco Conference.
Dave Kirkpatrick will serve as a judge at the Future Energy startup event in NYC on October 9 and attend the Solar Power International conference in Las Vegas October 21-22.
David Griest will be attending the E-Scrap 2014 conference in Orlando, FL October 22-23.
Stephanie Nieman will attend the Investors’ Circle Beyond the Pitch event in Boston on October 28. More about the event.
Cody Nystrom will speak on a panel for the Startup NEXT workshop in Richmond on November 6.
Dave Kirkpatrick will be speaking on cleantech investments for “Nicholas Mega Trends” at Duke University’s Nicholas School for the Environment on November 11.
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FEATURED SJF VENTURES INVESTOR
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Arjuna Capital is the sustainable wealth management platform of Baldwin Brothers Inc. and has many clients invested in SJF Ventures III. Through its research and activism, Arjuna seeks to evolve the financial ecosystem by advancing an understanding of what sustainability means for investor returns and corporate profitability. Arjuna and Baldwin Brothers manage approximately $1 billion in client assets with a focus on individuals, families and the non-profit sector.
As one example of its shareholder activism efforts, Arjuna Capital submitted a shareholder resolution earlier this year urging Exxon Mobil to report on risks from climate regulation and carbon-related stranded assets. As a result, Exxon Mobil became the first oil giant to publish such a report. Read more about Arjuna Capital’s work.
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