Dealflow | January 30, 2020

Village Capital to manage $3 million financial health fund for MetLife Foundation

Jessica Pothering
ImpactAlpha Editor

Jessica Pothering

ImpactAlpha, January 30 – After eleven years and more than 100 investments in early-stage startups, Village Capital is getting into the fund management business. The startup accelerator and investor will start by investing long-time partner MetLife Foundation’s $3 million program-related investments fund in ventures addressing financial health.

Village Capital is looking to build a “family of funds” that address the different needs of different entrepreneurs in different places. “The family of funds model will allow us to explore targeted funds that focus on specific sectors and geographies, rather than forcing investments into a ‘one-size-fits-all’ strategy,” write Village Capital’s Allie Burns and Victoria Fram.

Village Capital says its family of funds strategy will invest along the themes of financial health, the future of work, and sustainability. It will also target founder diversity and companies with realistic growth projections. “We’re excited about startups that value customers and sales growth over inflated valuations,” the company wrote.  

Its first fund with MetLife Foundation will make direct and “patient” investments in fintech startups already in the Village Capital orbit. Village Capital and MetLife have already supported dozens of startups through its “Finance Forward” cohorts in Jordan, India and the U.S.