Impact Strategy
Vision
Our first investment fund is dedicated to empowering underrepresented, mission-driven founders leading high-potential, tech-enabled startups. This fund will not only deliver strong financial returns but also create measurable and sustainable impact by addressing systemic inequities in education, workforce, and economic opportunities.
Objectives
1
Invest in companies (80% minimum of the portfolio) led by underrepresented founders (preference for CEOs) that drive positive outcomes for all of society, with a keen focus on marginalized or underrepresented groups.
2
Identify investment opportunities in which short- and long-term impact is directly linked to financial returns (i.e. impact fuels the growth flywheel).
3
Help companies track and report on impact in a meaningful, but financially and operationally feasible way.
Methodology
Testing
Experiment with new features, products, services, and interventions with a controlled group of users or customers
Learning
Collect, review, and react to the experiment’s findings (by looking at quantitative data, through qualitative interviews, surveys, etc.). Modify as needed to maximize positive results.
Validating
Take ample time to show positive results. This may vary case-by-case, from a few weeks to a full year. Publicly available data and third party research can also be used in this process.
Implementing
Plan and execute the experiment more substantively and formally so that you can prepare to expand.
Scale
Expand the experiment into a formal program or offering to all customers, end users, and/or beneficiaries. Part of this step is to formally commercialize the offering, ensuring that the impact is effectively harnessed to also drive business growth.
Strategies
Vet companies during diligence to ensure that positive impact is connected to financial returns (i.e. the company’s ability to improve outcomes will drive customer retention, upsells, cross sells, and/or new business).
Help companies better tell their impact stories to drive business growth through helping them strategize and execute external research, impact reports, and case studies at conferences, in campaigns, webinars, and more.
Connect companies with third party research institutions in our partnership network, such as Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Research and Education Reform, Columbia University’s Consortium for Research and Policy in Education, and Harvard University’s Proving Ground, to conduct and report on analysis.
Help companies negotiate exits that maximize financial valuations, while positioning their solutions for long-term impact.
Anticipated Outcomes
Increased investment in companies led by and supporting underrepresented and/or marginalized communities.
Strong impact reporting among BRV portfolio companies tailored to drive further growth through credibility.
An elevated focus across the industries in which BRV invests on impact data to help drive buying and investment decisions.
Apply to our Portfolio
More questions? Reach out! info@brassring.vc