Dealflow | February 8, 2021

SJF Ventures closes $175 million fifth fund to ride COVID acceleration

Roodgally Senatus
ImpactAlpha Editor

Roodgally Senatus

ImpactAlpha, February 8 — SJF Ventures has closed its fifth fund at $175 million. The Durham, N.C.-based impact investing firm is looking to back at least 20 high-growth impact companies over five years in clean energy and climate, circular economy, logistics, mobility, civic tech, health, education, future of work and sustainable food.

“We have our heads down, looking for promising companies,”  SJF Ventures’ Alan Kelley told ImpactAlpha. He says SJF is looking for companies where COVID has accelerated market adoption, as well as companies with strong long-term fundamentals that have lost financing opportunities due to the pandemic.

SJF has invested in 70 companies since it was founded by Rick Defieux and Dave Kirkpatrick in 1999 (see, “Agent of Impact: Dave Kirkpatrick”). In the portfolio: Berkeley, Calif.-based Terabase Energy, which makes software to automate utility-scale solar projects; Fort Lauderdale-based Shipmonk, which provides inventory and fulfillment services to small and mid-size businesses; and mPulse Mobile in Southern California, which sends patients reminders via SMS and mobile chat.