Investing in Impact | Impact Investing

This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.----------------------------------------If you enjoy this podcast, please rate and review the show. It's a huge help. Thanks!In episode 27 of the Investing in Impact podcast, we speak with Daniel Blake and Joellen Nicholson, Managing Directors of University Impact, on using Donor-Advised Funds (DAF) to innovate and scale impact investing.University Impact (UI) is a nonprofit that invests in companies and nonprofits solving social and environmental problems. Investments are focused on funding the most promising social ventures.UI's goal is to create the next generation of social impact leaders and provide capital to social ventures solving social and environmental problems. UI does this by providing undergraduate and graduate students with an immersive, hands-on learning experience in impact investing and philanthropy. The associates learn to perform rigorous due diligence and measure social impact through debt and equity investments. Students can then use their experiences to do social good throughout the entirety of their careers. UI hosts the unique Triple Donor-Advised Fund and helps you create the most impact with your investments.What is a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) and the University Impact Triple DAF A DAF?The DAF is a giving vehicle that allows donors to make a charitable contribution with an immediate tax deduction. Donors are able to recommend grants and impact investments from their DAF to organizations solving social and environmental problems. Donors can contribute to their DAF and recommend grants and investments as frequently as they would like.Daniel Blake - Daniel’s background is in building and scaling startups. He started his first company, EcoScraps, in 2010 and sold it to a Fortune 1,000 company (Scott’s Miracle Gro) after 4 years. He has been on the board for two companies that have sold to publicly traded companies. Daniel’s companies have created marketing campaigns that have driven millions of engagements in a matter of weeks, creating stories that garnered national (cover story for Inc., Forbes, stories on Discovery Channel, etc.), and have led to deals with groups including: the US State Dept., United Nations World Food Programme, Amazon, Google, some of the world’s largest food companies etc. Daniel has done business with Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes, Target, Amazon etc. His products have sold approx. $100 million in retail sales.Joellen Nicholson - Joellen has over 18 years experience building shared value partnerships across sectors focused on inclusive value chains. She has led marketing programs, partnerships, plus sustainability, and social impact initiatives with leading brands like the Gap, Disney and Macy’s. As the Director of Programs at the nonprofit Nest, she supported business growth and social compliance for over 100 global MSMEs, with on-the-ground projects in India, Guatemala, Haiti, and Namibia. She also launched Nest’s Maker’s United program in Birmingham, AL, a multi-stakeholder initiative that galvanized local, regional, and national resources to support the entrepreneurship and small business development for an inclusive US-based maker’s ecosystem.In addition, Joellen co-founded basik 855, a social venture that developed a new co-creation model with Cambodian artisans.  As an advisor to start-ups and NGO’s, Joellen consults on business models and program strategies that incorporate social impact and sustainability.  Joellen is a pro-bono advisor to Animaná | Hechos x Nosotros, a non-profit NGO with UN consultative status, that is advancing sustainable fashion in LATAM and inclusion of MSMEs.  Joellen holds an MSt in Social Innovation from the University of Cambridge and a BA in Supply Chain Management and Marketing from Michigan State University.Listen to more Causeartist podcasts here.Partner with Causeartist - Learn moreCheck out the Impact Investor platform here - Discover Impact Investors from around the world.We are powered by:Podcast Made with TransistorPodcast cover design Made with CanvaBuild amazing web platforms with Webflow ----------------------------------------Investing in Impact is powered by PIF Advisory — a global services firm empowering startups and enterprises with expert guidance, tailored solutions, and measurable results. Whether you’re launching your first venture or scaling globally, PIF Advisory delivers full-cycle support across every core function of your business:Bookkeeping, Accounting & Tax Management – Organized, compliant, and transparent financials managed by licensed professionals (CPAs, CFAs, CMAs, and lawyers) to drive smarter decision-making.Growth & Marketing – Data-driven strategies across branding, web, advertising, CRM, and sales enablement—all optimized for measurable ROI.Outsourced CFO – Flexible financial leadership covering cash flow, forecasting, and strategic planning.Entity Management – Stay compliant and ready for scale with expert corporate governance and compliance support.Operations, HR & Admin – Streamlined infrastructure to boost team efficiency and keep your business running smoothly.IT & Security – Safeguard your data and operations with best-in-class infrastructure, compliance, and protection.Technology Consulting – Build the right tech stack with expert support across NetSuite, QuickBooks, Avalara, and more.Management Consulting – Unlock growth with industry-specific advisory services focused on metrics, operations, and scalability.As a sister company to PIF Capital Management, they also offer clients direct insights into venture capital and access to a global investor network—ranging from individuals to sovereign wealth funds.👉 Learn more or schedule a discovery call at pifadvisory.com

This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.----------------------------------------If you enjoy this podcast, please rate and review the show. It's a huge help. Thanks!In episode 26 of the Investing in Impact podcast, we speak with Zécca J. Lehn, General Partner at Responsibly Ventures, on using multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to invest in impact startups.Zécca Lehn is the General Partner of Responsibly Ventures, based in California, backing U.S. PreSeed startups in both Social and Sustainable Tech—using multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a guidepost per investment.Over the past 15+ years, he has worked as an Environmental Economist, Data Scientist, Non-Profit Board Member, and Co-Founder. He grew up in an off-the-grid Japanese-style home, on a remote island in the Pacific Northwest. Through his world travels and living in Scandinavia during his early 20’s, he discovered a deep love for people, planet, and diverse cultures.For the past years, he has produced the podcast posi2ive, on Venture Scale Positive Impacts. He also leads regular community roundtables and interviews on Clubhouse– for posi2ive’s current community base of 4k+ members.He holds a degree in Environmental Economics from Western Washington University, and a Certified Specialization in Data Science from Johns Hopkins University. Additionally, he’s certified under the UN Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). He often speaks on panels, podcasts, and publishes articles on the PreSeed VC impact arena.Zécca is also launching a private beta community of GPs / LPs / Angels / Family Offices / Institutional Funds focused on VC Impact.Learn more about the community here.Listen to more Causeartist podcasts here.Partner with Causeartist - Learn moreCheck out the Impact Investor platform here - Discover Impact Investors from around the world.We are powered by:Podcast Made with TransistorPodcast cover design Made with CanvaBuild amazing web platforms with Webflow ----------------------------------------Investing in Impact is powered by PIF Advisory — a global services firm empowering startups and enterprises with expert guidance, tailored solutions, and measurable results. Whether you’re launching your first venture or scaling globally, PIF Advisory delivers full-cycle support across every core function of your business:Bookkeeping, Accounting & Tax Management – Organized, compliant, and transparent financials managed by licensed professionals (CPAs, CFAs, CMAs, and lawyers) to drive smarter decision-making.Growth & Marketing – Data-driven strategies across branding, web, advertising, CRM, and sales enablement—all optimized for measurable ROI.Outsourced CFO – Flexible financial leadership covering cash flow, forecasting, and strategic planning.Entity Management – Stay compliant and ready for scale with expert corporate governance and compliance support.Operations, HR & Admin – Streamlined infrastructure to boost team efficiency and keep your business running smoothly.IT & Security – Safeguard your data and operations with best-in-class infrastructure, compliance, and protection.Technology Consulting – Build the right tech stack with expert support across NetSuite, QuickBooks, Avalara, and more.Management Consulting – Unlock growth with industry-specific advisory services focused on metrics, operations, and scalability.As a sister company to PIF Capital Management, they also offer clients direct insights into venture capital and access to a global investor network—ranging from individuals to sovereign wealth funds.👉 Learn more or schedule a discovery call at pifadvisory.com

This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.----------------------------------------If you enjoy this podcast, please rate and review the show. It's a huge help. Thanks!In episode 25 of the Investing in Impact podcast, we speak with Catherine Griffin, founder of ImpactableX, on using data to power meaningful impact at scale."If we're really going to address our biggest global problems, we're going to need our most powerful technologies delivered via business models with massive potential to scale. We need to drive innovative and financial capital towards solutions with the greatest potential for meaningful, material impact from the very beginning." - CatherineOf the hundreds of founders she has served, nearly all of them have great aspirations for impact. Their passion for their mission drives them at a fundamental level, yet they crave a deeper understanding of how exactly - and to what degree - their work materially affects our resources and vulnerable populations and contributes to the resolution of our greatest challenges. They crave data to validate it and speak to its potential over time.Over the last 5 years, GoodCompany Ventures developed and refined a forward-looking, data driven approach to social impact modeling, which equips founders with the ability to articulate how their products and services generate social & environmental value, and the scope of their impact potential at scale. As a result of the success with leading social entrepreneurs, impact funds and academics, they have now made this product available to the impact community at large.ImpactableX empowers founders' stories with analytical legitimacy, grounding and validation, enabling them to build their businesses with impact data rather than intentionality, and share much more powerful stories about the full potential of their innovation with partners, customers and investors.The ImpactableX methodology was developed by GoodCompany Ventures, an award-winning accelerator and innovation consortium. It has been used by leading social entrepreneurs, Impact Funds and Academics, including TSEF, Wharton, Stanford, USAID's Global Innovation Exchange, and Techstars, among several others.Listen to more Causeartist podcasts here.Partner with Causeartist - Learn moreCheck out the Impact Investor platform here - Discover Impact Investors from around the world.We are powered by:Podcast Made with TransistorPodcast cover design Made with CanvaBuild amazing web platforms with Webflow ----------------------------------------Investing in Impact is powered by PIF Advisory — a global services firm empowering startups and enterprises with expert guidance, tailored solutions, and measurable results. Whether you’re launching your first venture or scaling globally, PIF Advisory delivers full-cycle support across every core function of your business:Bookkeeping, Accounting & Tax Management – Organized, compliant, and transparent financials managed by licensed professionals (CPAs, CFAs, CMAs, and lawyers) to drive smarter decision-making.Growth & Marketing – Data-driven strategies across branding, web, advertising, CRM, and sales enablement—all optimized for measurable ROI.Outsourced CFO – Flexible financial leadership covering cash flow, forecasting, and strategic planning.Entity Management – Stay compliant and ready for scale with expert corporate governance and compliance support.Operations, HR & Admin – Streamlined infrastructure to boost team efficiency and keep your business running smoothly.IT & Security – Safeguard your data and operations with best-in-class infrastructure, compliance, and protection.Technology Consulting – Build the right tech stack with expert support across NetSuite, QuickBooks, Avalara, and more.Management Consulting – Unlock growth with industry-specific advisory services focused on metrics, operations, and scalability.As a sister company to PIF Capital Management, they also offer clients direct insights into venture capital and access to a global investor network—ranging from individuals to sovereign wealth funds.👉 Learn more or schedule a discovery call at pifadvisory.com

This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.----------------------------------------In this bonus episode I chat with James Duft and Jessica Kellner about our new partnership, the new elements of Causeartist that will be rolling out, and the future of the Causeartist platform.James Duft: With 15 years of experience in the world of national event and magazine media, James is a whiz at networking, partnership development, and operations and logistics. Among his greatest hits: creating the multimillion-dollar event series, Mother Earth News Fairs; partnering with UC Berkeley to host a beneficial business gala with speakers including Deval Patrick, former governor of Massachusetts, and Jostein Solheim, CEO of Ben & Jerry’s; and helping produce large-scale music events.Jessica Kellner: Jessica has more than a decade of experience in content creation and brand management, attracting vast audiences of enthusiastic print, online and social media readers in an array of niches. Most recently, she was the founding editor of Mother Earth Living, a national natural wellness magazine that’s amassed hundreds of thousands of print readers and a social media universe that includes more than 2 million fans. She’s also the author of Housing Reclaimed: Sustainable Homes for Next to Nothing.My passion for Causeartist and the Causeartist community has spanned nearly 10 years. Even though I’ve been at this for a while, I’m more excited about the people and stories that occupy this space than ever before. The impact business world is only getting larger and louder — in the best way possible — and I’m excited to watch Causeartist grow right along with it.Today, I’m excited to announce the relaunch of Causeartist. I’ve reached an inflection point with the brand: A solid foundation has been established, and with the right individuals on my team, I can see nearly endless opportunities for enhanced storytelling, a broader community of friends and partners, and a greater influence on the impact business movement. I believe I’ve found the right team, and we’re already progressing toward a bigger, better Causeartist.What does our relaunch entail? Here are some of the projects we’ve got in the works:First, you can check out this page to learn more about the expanded Causeartist team. These are media experts I’ve been collaborating with for years, and they couldn’t be a better fit for this important work. Our latest podcast features two of them, and you should tune in for that one to hear more about what we’re working on together.Our new and improved story submission page and process welcome contributors of all kinds to be a part of the Causeartist voice. Check it out, and drop us your ideas.We’re building out a Causeartist editorial advisory committee — including business and thought leaders from various backgrounds and business sectors — to bring new ideas and diverse perspectives to the table as we plan our content. Our first two committee members: John Montgomery: One of leading legal minds behind California’s benefit corporation legislation, John’s career has centered on counseling startups and emerging growth companies with a triple bottom line in mind. He currently runs Lex Ultima.Kate Byrne: A media-strategy veteran, Kate held executive positions at BusinessWeek, Inc., and Fast Company, served as President of SOCAP, and has recently joined the team at Katapult.We’re accelerating our content production and made tweaks to design elements across our web, email, and social media entities. Make sure to follow us in all of these places to see what we’ve been working on!We’re also expanding our brand partnership offerings, with a really cool project kicking off this year: the Causeartist Collective. Stay tuned for more details soon.To celebrate our relaunch, we partnered with six amazing impact brands to arrange an amazing giveaway. Learn how you can enter to win $900 worth of the coolest ethical products here.We hope you know that none of what we do would be possible without you. Your support of Causeartist is invaluable, and your ideas are, too. If you have a few minutes, we invite you to hop in and complete this survey, which will help us deliver the best content to you in the best way.Thanks for being here. Onward and upward!Grant TrahantFounder of CauseartistCheck out:ImpactInvestor.io - Discover impact investors from around the world.Podcast Made with TransistorPodcast cover design Made with CanvaBuild amazing web platforms with Webflow ----------------------------------------Investing in Impact is powered by PIF Advisory — a global services firm empowering startups and enterprises with expert guidance, tailored solutions, and measurable results. Whether you’re launching your first venture or scaling globally, PIF Advisory delivers full-cycle support across every core function of your business:Bookkeeping, Accounting & Tax Management – Organized, compliant, and transparent financials managed by licensed professionals (CPAs, CFAs, CMAs, and lawyers) to drive smarter decision-making.Growth & Marketing – Data-driven strategies across branding, web, advertising, CRM, and sales enablement—all optimized for measurable ROI.Outsourced CFO – Flexible financial leadership covering cash flow, forecasting, and strategic planning.Entity Management – Stay compliant and ready for scale with expert corporate governance and compliance support.Operations, HR & Admin – Streamlined infrastructure to boost team efficiency and keep your business running smoothly.IT & Security – Safeguard your data and operations with best-in-class infrastructure, compliance, and protection.Technology Consulting – Build the right tech stack with expert support across NetSuite, QuickBooks, Avalara, and more.Management Consulting – Unlock growth with industry-specific advisory services focused on metrics, operations, and scalability.As a sister company to PIF Capital Management, they also offer clients direct insights into venture capital and access to a global investor network—ranging from individuals to sovereign wealth funds.👉 Learn more or schedule a discovery call at pifadvisory.com

This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.----------------------------------------MDIF is a not-for-profit investment fund for independent media in countries where access to free and independent media is under threat. We provide affordable debt and equity financing supported by technical assistance to media companies that provide the news, information and debate that people need to build free, thriving societies.Harlan has managed debt and equity investments in over 50 news outlets on five continents. He has extensive experience of working in emerging and frontier markets as an impact investment manager and attorney. He was MDLF’s Deputy Managing Director from 1998 until his appointment as CEO in 2011. Before joining MDIF, Harlan served from 1996 to 1998 as Deputy General Counsel of the Open Society Institute/Soros Foundations Network.Prior to that, he practiced law in the New York and Los Angeles offices of Morrison & Foerster, specializing in international litigation, intellectual property and new media law.  He received his JD from Columbia University School of Law in 1989, and holds a BA in International Relations and Asian Studies from the University of Pennsylvania.MDIF manages its investments through a fund structure that includes private equity, debt and hybrid funds. With a current portfolio of more than $100 million, all of our funds provide financing to independent media in countries where access to free and independent is under threat. They include:Emerging Media Opportunity Fund IEMOF I is a $12.9 million private equity fund, providing early- to mid-stage growth capital to independent media companies in select emerging and frontier markets. It has deployed capital in countries including India, Brazil and Indonesia to a portfolio that includes rapidly growing digital players and younger startups. EMOF I is now closed to investors.MDIF Media Finance IMMF I is a $6 million blended-value loan fund providing affordable loans to independent media in OECD-DAC countries. It has invested in companies in countries including Malawi, Serbia, Ukraine and India. In a ground-breaking partnership, MDIF and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) provide investors with 55% first-loss protection. The fund pays a coupon of 4% to investors. MMF I is now closed to investors.MDIF Media Finance IIMMF II operates on identical terms to MMF I, providing investors with a 4% coupon and a 55% first-loss guarantee. MMF II is currently open to investors.MDIF General FundMDIF’s original evergreen fund currently invests in more than 20 countries. Since 1996 it has provided more than $100 million in debt and equity investments to leading independent media in 40 countries. The fund is currently open to investors.Digital News VenturesMDIF launched Digital News Ventures in 2012, a $3.8m seed fund focused on information and news-related startups. DNV invested equity in young media companies experimenting with innovative approaches to delivering news, encouraging public debate or increasing the sustainability of independent media businesses. Placing investments in 16 companies in ten countries around the world, DNV is closed to investors.Listen to more Causeartist podcasts here.We are powered by:ImpactInvestor - Discover Impact Investors from around the world.Podcast Made with TransistorPodcast cover design Made with CanvaBuild amazing web platforms with Webflow ----------------------------------------Investing in Impact is powered by PIF Advisory — a global services firm empowering startups and enterprises with expert guidance, tailored solutions, and measurable results. Whether you’re launching your first venture or scaling globally, PIF Advisory delivers full-cycle support across every core function of your business:Bookkeeping, Accounting & Tax Management – Organized, compliant, and transparent financials managed by licensed professionals (CPAs, CFAs, CMAs, and lawyers) to drive smarter decision-making.Growth & Marketing – Data-driven strategies across branding, web, advertising, CRM, and sales enablement—all optimized for measurable ROI.Outsourced CFO – Flexible financial leadership covering cash flow, forecasting, and strategic planning.Entity Management – Stay compliant and ready for scale with expert corporate governance and compliance support.Operations, HR & Admin – Streamlined infrastructure to boost team efficiency and keep your business running smoothly.IT & Security – Safeguard your data and operations with best-in-class infrastructure, compliance, and protection.Technology Consulting – Build the right tech stack with expert support across NetSuite, QuickBooks, Avalara, and more.Management Consulting – Unlock growth with industry-specific advisory services focused on metrics, operations, and scalability.As a sister company to PIF Capital Management, they also offer clients direct insights into venture capital and access to a global investor network—ranging from individuals to sovereign wealth funds.👉 Learn more or schedule a discovery call at pifadvisory.com

This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.----------------------------------------In episode 23 of the Investing in Impact podcast, I speak with Graham Singh, CEO of Trinity Centres Foundation, on an innovative approach that transforms church properties into modern and inclusive community hubs to create local impact.For nearly 15 years, Graham been involved in finding new vocations for church buildings. He provided leadership for 4 projects in the UK and Canada, including at the Trinity Centres Foundation’s pilot site, St Jax Montreal. Graham’s doctoral research and practical work in this subject inform much of the Foundation’s approach. Prior to his work with church buildings as a minister in the Anglican church, Graham worked within the global advertising sector in London, England. He is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario, St Mellitus College (via Cambridge University / Ridley Hall) and the London School of Economics. He is fluent in French and English.The Trinity Centres Foundation Story:The Trinity Centres Foundation connected with experts from the social innovation, urban planning, property, finance, management, accounting, legal, government and faith sectors.What we heard was the need for a more radical option.What we heard is that 10,000 of canada’s 28,000 church buildings will close within the next 10 years.What we heard was a call for a secular solution to what began as a faith problem.What we heard was a frustration at too many band-aid solutions and the need for a totally new strategy for the building of social infrastructure.What the organization decided to build was a model that could connect, advise, invest and run the solution: joining with all levels of canadian government, investment funds and social innovators to create a new community hub model for our most strategic buildings.The Trinity Centres Foundation was established in 2018 as a pan-Canadian charitable organization with the goal of lovingly preserving, restoring and repurposing underutilized churches into dynamic spaces for dialogue and interaction accessible for multiple uses to a multiplicity of different individuals and groups. Applying a new social business model that generates both societal and economic value, the Foundation is committed to enabling churches to continue to bring about positive change, while maintaining a secure financial future. In the process, innovative new ways will be found to deliver services, while advancing social inclusion and revitalizing communities and local neighbourhoods.From Churches on the Brink to Hubs of Buoyant CommunitiesChurch buildings are among Canada’s most underused assets — all the more so in recent years — and yet, these sites should never be sitting empty and idle. In addition to serving as places of worship, they should be active and enriching gathering places for members of their respective communities day and night and day in and day out.Commonly referred to as community hubs, TCF’s transformed church buildings constitute a new form of infrastructure that advances and builds on core values like friendship and belonging. Serving to both reflect and strengthen communities, these hubs are welcoming, inclusive and inspiring places where people can go to socialize, pursue common interests, gain new knowledge and find support when needed.The transformation into hubs constitutes a way for local churches to offset shrinking congregations, reinvent themselves, and to remain afloat and relevant. Whether located in high-density urban neighbourhoods or more remote rural settings, each hub is as unique as the community it serves and is defined by local needs, services and resources.Listen to more Causeartist podcasts here.We are powered by:ImpactInvestor - Discover Impact Investors from around the world.Podcast Made with TransistorPodcast cover design Made with CanvaBuild amazing web platforms with Webflow ----------------------------------------Investing in Impact is powered by PIF Advisory — a global services firm empowering startups and enterprises with expert guidance, tailored solutions, and measurable results. Whether you’re launching your first venture or scaling globally, PIF Advisory delivers full-cycle support across every core function of your business:Bookkeeping, Accounting & Tax Management – Organized, compliant, and transparent financials managed by licensed professionals (CPAs, CFAs, CMAs, and lawyers) to drive smarter decision-making.Growth & Marketing – Data-driven strategies across branding, web, advertising, CRM, and sales enablement—all optimized for measurable ROI.Outsourced CFO – Flexible financial leadership covering cash flow, forecasting, and strategic planning.Entity Management – Stay compliant and ready for scale with expert corporate governance and compliance support.Operations, HR & Admin – Streamlined infrastructure to boost team efficiency and keep your business running smoothly.IT & Security – Safeguard your data and operations with best-in-class infrastructure, compliance, and protection.Technology Consulting – Build the right tech stack with expert support across NetSuite, QuickBooks, Avalara, and more.Management Consulting – Unlock growth with industry-specific advisory services focused on metrics, operations, and scalability.As a sister company to PIF Capital Management, they also offer clients direct insights into venture capital and access to a global investor network—ranging from individuals to sovereign wealth funds.👉 Learn more or schedule a discovery call at pifadvisory.com

This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.----------------------------------------If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, review, and share this podcast!In episode 22 of the Investing in Impact podcast, I speak with Luis Felipe Adaime, Founder and CEO of MOSS, on creating a carbon credit marketplace and the world’s first green digital asset, a carbon credit-backed token.Moss is the largest environmental platform in the world. With global operations and headquartered in Brazil, it started operating in early 2020, when it launched the first carbon credit-backed token, MCO2, used to offset carbon footprints. MCO2 is audited by international institutions and registered with Verra, a foundation that regulates the global registration of voluntary credits, following a strict global protocol.Luis worked from 2012 to 2019 as the portfolio manager and partner for Latam equities long only funds at Newfoundland Capital Management. While at Newfoundland, Luis created the largest Latam ex-Brazil fund in the region for US and Canada endowments and pension funds, and the largest local equities fund in Argentina.Previously, he was a Managing Director of York Capital Management, working as a Portfolio Manager for the firm’s investments in Latin America. Prior to York, Luis was a Partner at BRZ, a Brazilian hedge fund, working as a commodities Analyst and Portfolio Manager for both their value and long/short funds. Luis began his career working as a Latin American financial institutions Research Associate at Credit Suisse and later moved to the bank’s proprietary desk in São Paulo.Luis holds a B.Sc. in Management Science and Engineering with minor in Economics from Stanford University and graduated cum laude from Phillips Academy, Andover. He is a native of Brazil and is fluent in English, Portuguese, and Spanish.Listen to more Causeartist podcasts here.We are powered by:ImpactInvestor - Discover Impact Investors from around the world.Podcast Made with TransistorPodcast cover design Made with CanvaBuild amazing web platforms with Webflow ----------------------------------------Investing in Impact is powered by PIF Advisory — a global services firm empowering startups and enterprises with expert guidance, tailored solutions, and measurable results. Whether you’re launching your first venture or scaling globally, PIF Advisory delivers full-cycle support across every core function of your business:Bookkeeping, Accounting & Tax Management – Organized, compliant, and transparent financials managed by licensed professionals (CPAs, CFAs, CMAs, and lawyers) to drive smarter decision-making.Growth & Marketing – Data-driven strategies across branding, web, advertising, CRM, and sales enablement—all optimized for measurable ROI.Outsourced CFO – Flexible financial leadership covering cash flow, forecasting, and strategic planning.Entity Management – Stay compliant and ready for scale with expert corporate governance and compliance support.Operations, HR & Admin – Streamlined infrastructure to boost team efficiency and keep your business running smoothly.IT & Security – Safeguard your data and operations with best-in-class infrastructure, compliance, and protection.Technology Consulting – Build the right tech stack with expert support across NetSuite, QuickBooks, Avalara, and more.Management Consulting – Unlock growth with industry-specific advisory services focused on metrics, operations, and scalability.As a sister company to PIF Capital Management, they also offer clients direct insights into venture capital and access to a global investor network—ranging from individuals to sovereign wealth funds.👉 Learn more or schedule a discovery call at pifadvisory.com

This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.----------------------------------------If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, review, and share this podcast!In episode 21 of the Investing in Impact podcast, I speak with David Nikzad, founder of Emotional Intelligence Ventures, on his angel investor journey and the future of the psychedelic industry.Over the past 2.5 decades he has invested in real estate, nightlife, technology and wellness. He left the mainland over a decade ago to work on a retreat center in Maui called Lumeria, working there on his own emotional intelligence (Ei) while continuing to invest in and guide startups.Through his family venture fund Reinmkr Satsang and his holding company Orthogonal Thinker Inc., David put the first checks into companies such as Betterment🦄, Vidyard🦄, InstantCab Ridecell🦄, Wefunder, June Software TaptoLearn, Talkable, Aisle50, TutorSpree, OrangeFund2, Quartzy, Ridejoy, GazeHawk, RealCrowd, InvoiceASAP, Meadow, Mellows, ConfidentCannabis, FOBO Yardsale, BlockRx, SericaPay, Solti, AdStage, Arcview Capital and more.He has personally incubated companies through Orthogonal Thinker like SuryaSpa, KitchenNation, MauiRaw, Randy’s Remedy, EI.Ventures, and Pure Mushrooms.Orthogonal holds secondary shares in anchor companies such as Airbnb, Republic, and Equipment Share.Over this last decade, David has become hyper-focused on his two children who live on Hawaii, and on his current role as Executive Chairman of Orthogonal Thinker Inc, which encompasses all of David’s family’s holdings.His latest journey, Emotional Intelligence Ventures, is focused on creating the new standard of mental wellness through developing novel psychedelic therapeutics, medicinal mushroom formulations, and unique treatment protocols and delivery mechanisms. Listen to more Causeartist podcasts here.We are powered by:ImpactInvestor - Discover Impact Investors from around the world.Podcast Made with TransistorPodcast cover design Made with CanvaBuild amazing web platforms with Webflow ----------------------------------------Investing in Impact is powered by PIF Advisory — a global services firm empowering startups and enterprises with expert guidance, tailored solutions, and measurable results. Whether you’re launching your first venture or scaling globally, PIF Advisory delivers full-cycle support across every core function of your business:Bookkeeping, Accounting & Tax Management – Organized, compliant, and transparent financials managed by licensed professionals (CPAs, CFAs, CMAs, and lawyers) to drive smarter decision-making.Growth & Marketing – Data-driven strategies across branding, web, advertising, CRM, and sales enablement—all optimized for measurable ROI.Outsourced CFO – Flexible financial leadership covering cash flow, forecasting, and strategic planning.Entity Management – Stay compliant and ready for scale with expert corporate governance and compliance support.Operations, HR & Admin – Streamlined infrastructure to boost team efficiency and keep your business running smoothly.IT & Security – Safeguard your data and operations with best-in-class infrastructure, compliance, and protection.Technology Consulting – Build the right tech stack with expert support across NetSuite, QuickBooks, Avalara, and more.Management Consulting – Unlock growth with industry-specific advisory services focused on metrics, operations, and scalability.As a sister company to PIF Capital Management, they also offer clients direct insights into venture capital and access to a global investor network—ranging from individuals to sovereign wealth funds.👉 Learn more or schedule a discovery call at pifadvisory.com

This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.----------------------------------------If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, review, and share this podcast!In episode 20 of the Investing in Impact podcast, I speak with Koen van Seijen, Senior Manager at Toniic and host of the Investing in Regenerative Agriculture and Food Podcast, on the future of farming and agriculture.Koen has extensive expertise in increasing deal flow, and scouting and selecting social enterprises with scalable business models. He has over five years of experience, with a strong focus on the sustainability sector, agriculture and Africa. In 2010, Koen combined his passions for storytelling and sustainability when he co-founded StoryTravelers, a company that promotes sustainable tourism businesses using visual stories. Before this, he was also part of the founding team of the Impact Hub Milan and also spent time as a Host at the Impact Hub Rotterdam.Koen also supported Aqua-Spark, an impact investing fund based out of Utrecht, focused on sustainable aquaculture companies. As part of the deal flow team at AquaSpark, Koen created the deal flow pipeline from scratch, and went on to screen over 350 companies. Koen studied Business Economics at the Universiteit van Tilburg and also serves as an Advisor for the Ecosystem Return Foundation, which is dedicated to restoring large ecosystems in a financially sustainable way.For people who want to learn more about investing in regenerative agriculture and food:Check out the course Koen created.Great introduction into the world of regenerative agriculture, the book Growing a Revolution by David R Montgomery.Koen interviewed him here.Listen to more Causeartist podcasts here.We are powered by:ImpactInvestor - Discover Impact Investors from around the world.Podcast Made with TransistorPodcast cover design Made with CanvaBuild amazing web platforms with Webflow ----------------------------------------Investing in Impact is powered by PIF Advisory — a global services firm empowering startups and enterprises with expert guidance, tailored solutions, and measurable results. Whether you’re launching your first venture or scaling globally, PIF Advisory delivers full-cycle support across every core function of your business:Bookkeeping, Accounting & Tax Management – Organized, compliant, and transparent financials managed by licensed professionals (CPAs, CFAs, CMAs, and lawyers) to drive smarter decision-making.Growth & Marketing – Data-driven strategies across branding, web, advertising, CRM, and sales enablement—all optimized for measurable ROI.Outsourced CFO – Flexible financial leadership covering cash flow, forecasting, and strategic planning.Entity Management – Stay compliant and ready for scale with expert corporate governance and compliance support.Operations, HR & Admin – Streamlined infrastructure to boost team efficiency and keep your business running smoothly.IT & Security – Safeguard your data and operations with best-in-class infrastructure, compliance, and protection.Technology Consulting – Build the right tech stack with expert support across NetSuite, QuickBooks, Avalara, and more.Management Consulting – Unlock growth with industry-specific advisory services focused on metrics, operations, and scalability.As a sister company to PIF Capital Management, they also offer clients direct insights into venture capital and access to a global investor network—ranging from individuals to sovereign wealth funds.👉 Learn more or schedule a discovery call at pifadvisory.com

This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.----------------------------------------If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, review, and share this podcast!In episode 19 of the Investing in Impact podcast, I speak with Bobby Turner, CEO of Turner Impact Capital, on building one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing social impact investment firms, positioned to invest $3 billion into solutions to address societal challenges across the United States. Those solutions include three major sectors - Housing, Education, and Healthcare.Coming Soon: ImpactInvestor - Discover Impact Investors from around the world.Over the past two decades, Bobby Turner has established himself as a pioneer in the area of social impact investing. Since founding Turner Impact Capital in 2014, he has rapidly built one of the nation’s largest social impact investment firms, with over $3 billion in investment potential to help address some of the country’s most pervasive social issues with real estate solutions.As former Chairman, CEO and Co-Founding Partner of Canyon Capital Realty Advisors (CCRA), he oversaw a commercial real estate and mortgage asset portfolio totaling over $12 billion and was responsible for launching several groundbreaking funds that helped define the “triple bottom line” investment movement. In his years as a social impact innovator, Bobby has dedicated himself to providing sound financial returns for investors while fostering opportunities for the communities in which his funds invest.Bobby is a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania (B.S., Finance) where he serves on Wharton’s Board of Overseers and where he has endowed a number of initiatives focused on social impact and triple bottom line investing. Today these programs have grown to include curriculum development, summer internships for students interested in pursuing social impact careers, financial scholarships for minority students, the Turner Social Impact Society and the Lauren and Bobby Turner Executive Speaker Series for Social Impact. “Most investors believe if you are going to impose a societal objective on a financial return you’re going to sacrifice yield. I just refute that. Our results do, too.” Bobby Turner, CEOAbout Turner Impact CapitalTurner Impact Capital brings a multi-disciplinary investment approach to underserved communities where large mismatches exist between the supply and demand of community-serving infrastructure and related services. They pursue compelling opportunities in markets where the traditional investor has been either the government or philanthropy. These opportunities are often overlooked by conventional investors and intensified by demographic trends.By harnessing market forces, Turner Impact Capital is creating sustainable solutions to some of our society’s most pressing challenges on a broad, nationwide scale.Listen to more Causeartist podcasts here.We are powered by:ImpactInvestor - Discover Impact Investors from around the world.Podcast Made with TransistorPodcast cover design Made with CanvaBuild amazing web platforms with Webflow ----------------------------------------Investing in Impact is powered by PIF Advisory — a global services firm empowering startups and enterprises with expert guidance, tailored solutions, and measurable results. Whether you’re launching your first venture or scaling globally, PIF Advisory delivers full-cycle support across every core function of your business:Bookkeeping, Accounting & Tax Management – Organized, compliant, and transparent financials managed by licensed professionals (CPAs, CFAs, CMAs, and lawyers) to drive smarter decision-making.Growth & Marketing – Data-driven strategies across branding, web, advertising, CRM, and sales enablement—all optimized for measurable ROI.Outsourced CFO – Flexible financial leadership covering cash flow, forecasting, and strategic planning.Entity Management – Stay compliant and ready for scale with expert corporate governance and compliance support.Operations, HR & Admin – Streamlined infrastructure to boost team efficiency and keep your business running smoothly.IT & Security – Safeguard your data and operations with best-in-class infrastructure, compliance, and protection.Technology Consulting – Build the right tech stack with expert support across NetSuite, QuickBooks, Avalara, and more.Management Consulting – Unlock growth with industry-specific advisory services focused on metrics, operations, and scalability.As a sister company to PIF Capital Management, they also offer clients direct insights into venture capital and access to a global investor network—ranging from individuals to sovereign wealth funds.👉 Learn more or schedule a discovery call at pifadvisory.com