Seed Investing to Boost Economic Opportunity and Climate Action

Beliefs 

Solving humanity’s biggest problems will build economic value. Profit and purpose can be a virtuous cycle.

• Every company has an impact on society; Positive impact needs intentionality and focus​

• Tech-enabled companies can have significant impact at scale BUT Tech companies and impact investors largely live in different worlds

• ​​Positive impact companies can provide superior financial returns​​

• Avesta can bridge these worlds to harness the tech world toward positive impact

What we look for

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Scalable Solutions to Boost Economic Opportunity or Climate Action

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• Tech-enabled companies whose positive impact is aligned with their business​

• Areas of focus:

Opportunity: Education, Financial Inclusion, Future of Work, Health Access & Affordability, Housing, Entrepreneurship Development

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Climate: Sustainable Agriculture, Energy Efficiency, Clean Energy, Carbon Sinks, Clean Manufacturing, Circular Economy, Green Buildings

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• Stage: Pre-seed or Seed; Typically raising $750K to $2.5M in the round

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• We prioritize (but are not limited to) diverse entrepreneurs

What we offer

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Typical investments of $150K to $500K per company

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Unique mix of experiences that help companies bridge both the VC and impact worlds

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Best-practice based coaching to help founding teams optimize their impact, and align it with their business

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Connections to our broad network of investors and partners interested in impact-oriented tech startups

Portfolio

Zoom for site visits: Immersive, remote collaboration

Live-streamed and on-demand STEM classes

Align smart cities and micromobility operators

Interest-free credit line for underbanked gig workers

Virtual women's clinic

Cleaner, cheaper electricity

Team

If You Lead With Impact, We Can Add VC/Tech Startup Expertise

If You Lead With Tech, We Can Add Impact Expertise

Srikant Vasan

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• Partner, Impact Investing at Techstars

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• Philanthropic Investor at Bill & Melinda Gates foundation

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• Twice VC-backed founder/CEO: KBkids grew to $100M; StorePerform (now JDA) grew to $25M

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• Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Battery Ventures and Mobius VC

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• Founding President of Mount St Mary’s University Online 

Stuart Davidson

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• Managing Partner at Labrador Ventures

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• Founder and Chairman at Sonen Capital

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• Investment Committee Member at Skoll Foundation, Impact Assets, and Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors

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• Founding Chairman Emeritus IDEO.org, Founding Board member of Acumen

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• Chairman d.Light, Vice Chair REDF, Advisory Board Member, GIIRS