CI3 Impact Investing Fund
North America

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Columbia Impact Investing Fund will train the next generation of leaders in investing and supporting social enterprises committed to improving the quality of life for vulnerable families around the World

Standings & Awards

422 out of 422 in North America
778 out of 778 in Education
935 out of 935 in Design
992 out of 992 in Charitable
4003 out of 4003 Overall
CI3 Impact Investing Fund will train the next generation of leaders in the emerging field of impact investing

Motivated by impact investing's vast potential to scale social and environmental innovations in developing and developed countries, Columbia Impact Investing Initiative (CI3) seeks to provide experience-based training to its 200+ student members for leadership and professional roles in impact investing and social entrepreneurship. Most learning at CI3 happens through events and consulting projects for investors and entrepreneurs.

CI3's Impact Investing Fund will be created in 2012 as a non-profit and will be based in New York City. Its mission is to provide CI3's international and interdisciplinary membership with hands-on learning on the strategic and management issues and practices of impact investing. In a 2-year graduate program, this Fund will expose CI3 members to 1 or 2 full impact investment cycles.

Its Board of Directors and Investment Sub-Committee will be comprised by thought leaders in the fields of impact investing, social entrepreneurship, and social innovation, who currently take part in CI3's Board of Advisors:
1. Philip LaRocco. Founder of E+Co
2. Patrik Ball. VP, Debt Investments Relationship Manager at Developing World Markets
3. Sarah Holloway. Management Specialization Director at SIPA
4. Giselle Leung. Manager of Investors' Council at Global Impact Investing Network
5. David Kyle. COO at Calvert Foundation and former CIO at Acumen Fund
6. Thomas Gros. Associate at McKinsey & Company and former Co-President of CI3
7. Thorsten Wirkes. Senior Associate at McKinsey & Company and former Co-President of CI3
8. Vladimir Olarte. Co-President of CI3, former Managing Consultant at Kaiser Associates and Invest Hong Kong

CI3's Impact Investing Fund will have a Deal Sourcing Team and a Portfolio Management Team, geared at investing debt capital, convertible notes, and equity capital in early stage social enterprises and entrepreneurs focused on four CI3 target areas:
1. Improve access to higher education by vunerable young men and woman (e.g. prospective investee: Lumni)
2. Increase access to clean and renewable energy by vulnerable communities and families (e.g. prospective investee: DLight)
3. Improve access to quality social housing for vulnerable families (e.g. prospective investee: MexVi)
4. Develop inclusive agricultural value chains in developing countries (e.g. prospective investee: Colombian Coffee Growers Federation)

FIVE PROJECT QUESTIONS Required (60 - 90 minutes)

1. What is your innovation? 
This project is innovative in three aspects: 1. Global viral effect: by training talented and international Columbia University students we will nurture a generation of impact investing and social enterprise leaders in all regions of the World 2. Experience based training, complemented with top-quality courses, consulting projects, and learning activities 3. Providing capital and strategy consulting services to high-potential social enterprises. Impact investing is also innovative in itself.
2. Who gains the most? 
1. Vulnerable individuals, families, and communities in developing countries who are beneficiaries of the social enterprises CI3 will invest in 2. Social entrepreneurs and enterprises supported by CI3 with capital and consulting services 3. The international base of 200+ CI3 members from more than 30 developing countries
3. Who pays? 
Revenue will come from: 1. Seed capital from corporate sponsors and philanthropic foundations (between USD 10.000 and 20.000 each) 2. Interest payments from debt capital and convertible notes allocation 3. Payment of dividend from equity capital investments 4. Some schools of Columbia University will provide travel grant support for due diligence processes
4. What is your success? 
Success will be measured in terms of increments in 5 outcome indicators related to projects and social enterprises (SEs) in the 4 strategic areas CI3 will invest in: 1.1. # higher education students enrolled; 2.1. # vulnerable families benefited with clean/renewable energy solutions; 2.2. Reduced CO2 emissions (in metric tons); 3.1. # vulnerable families with access to housing solutions; 4.1. # beneficiary families participating in agricultural projects.
5. How will you do it? 
The structure of the fund includes a Board of Directors (described above), and executive board comprised of an executive director, a deal sourcing and due-diligence manager, and portfolio manager. Finally, below them will be teams of deal sourcing, portfolio management, and several teams of consulting services from CI3. In total, CI3 has nearly 200 members, 32 associate consultants, and 9 management board leaders from the SIPA, CBS, Law, and Engineering schools. We are ready to start!