Entrepreneurs – SJF Ventures

Welcome.

We value the unique innovation and hard work of entrepreneurs to create extraordinary outcomes. Thank you for considering us to be part of that journey.

Providing capital is just a starting point for how we can assist in achieving your vision. Having served on the boards of over 80 portfolio companies, our principals draw from a wealth of sector expertise, personal networks and investment experience to help companies develop growth strategies, recruit talent, obtain future capital, execute company acquisitions and navigate the inevitable twists and turns of rapidly growing businesses. We believe that trust, transparency, aligned interests and sensible decision making are essential to developing enduring partnerships.

Company Stage

SJF is looking for companies with proven customer validation, resulting in rapid growth and typically more than $1 million in annualized revenue. SJF also invests in later-stage businesses.

Sector Focus

Energy, Carbon, and Climate Resilience
Supply Chain and Circular Economy
Sustainable Products and Systems
Education and Employment
Health and Wellness
Government and Civil Society

Entrepreneur Testimonials

“SJF brings a commitment to our impact mission and the work it takes to get there. They help us keep the mission front and center, and they're active in opening doors and bringing ideas and experience to help us reach our financial goals.”

Doug Donovan CEO

“SJF understands the challenges and opportunities of scaling a rapid growth sustainable technology and supports its companies through thick and thin. Cody always looks for ways to help companies get to the next stage, whether it’s funding, talent or strategic development.”

Brian Powers Co-Founder and former CEO

“We have enjoyed our partnership with SJF since leading our Series A round 4 years ago. Their deep experience in clean energy and in helping to build great companies has been invaluable as we have grown from a team of 10 to over 100 people. We value SJF’s long commitment to sustainability and look forward to continued collaboration.”

Matt Campbell CEO

“SJF and David Griest have not only been an investor to Hyla, but also a partner and a lifelong friend. They understood our mission well and supported the sustainability angle in our growth story well before it was fashionable. As Hyla went through our successful digital transformation from a commodity device trading company to a globally diversified technology and services company, SJF and David stood by us. Ultimately our exit in 2020 through a successful sale to Assurant would not have been possible without the support and guidance of David and the SJF partners.”

Biju Nair CEO

“What we value most about SJF Ventures is our shared commitment to creating a healthier future. Their investment and leadership have been pivotal in advancing our mission to revolutionize mental healthcare through vocal biomarkers and machine learning. We deeply appreciate their honesty, strategic thinking, and the invaluable guidance they have provided over the years, which has significantly amplified our impact.”

Mainul Mondal Founder & CEO

“Dan Geballe has been an invaluable asset to us as a venture capitalist and board director, demonstrating unwavering support for us as founders. His attentive and diligent approach has been especially crucial in guiding our focus toward areas of immediate importance, enabling us to better understand and implement unit economics within our business. Dan consistently leverages his extensive network to provide us with access to essential services and expert advice, ensuring we have the tools and connections needed to succeed. His commitment has played a significant role in our growth and development, making him a trusted and essential part of our team.”

Jay Nath and Kamran Saddique co-CEOs

“SJF has been a great supporter of Ayla over multiple years and multiple funding rounds. They have consistently helped me think through complex situations and have often provided input and thoughts that helped drive our direction. I have found them to always be thoughtful and calm, no matter what the situation. I would strongly recommend working with SJF. ”

Jonathan Cobb Chairman

“SJF are thoughtful partners that I trust at every step of our journey. They deeply understand our business and vision, providing timely guidance in a way that I appreciate. They act as real partners whom I can call on for any topic - the wins and the challenges. Revalue is a stronger company for having SJF on our side.”

Stuart Rowland CEO and Founder

“SJF participated in our Series A round. SJF helped us strengthen our understanding of the ecosystem, and we are able to leverage their knowledge, connections and insights around the spaces they invest in. They are truly thought partners in this journey.”

Katie Fang Founder and CEO

“Cody Nystrom and the SJF team have been fantastic partners throughout Cecelia Health’s growth story. Their experience across the healthcare landscape has informed numerous strategic decisions particularly with go-to-market, competitive and pricing matters. From the lens of funding the company’s growth, SJF has been exceptional with proactive and strategic support throughout Cecelia Health’s growth cycle. They are smart, efficient and impactful!”

Mark Clermont CEO

“SJF Ventures' commitment went well beyond financial investment; their hands-on approach and genuine alignment with our mission has been instrumental in propelling ShipMonk to new heights. David was a value-add thought partner who brought a wealth of industry knowledge and connections that opened doors for our team. Thanks to David and SJF Ventures, ShipMonk has achieved significant milestones and built a strong foundation for future growth.”

Jan Bednar Founder

“Partnering with SJF has been instrumental in our success. Their deep understanding of our industry and valuable insights helped us scale our operations and achieve our growth targets. When it came time for our exit, their strategic guidance and steady hand helped position us for a successful transaction.”

Mark Nelson CEO

“SJF has been a great partner and friend to the entrepreneurs at Optoro as we’ve grown from a small 25 person team to over 250 people providing solutions for some of the nation’s biggest retailers. In the early days, they helped us figure out our business model, navigate the world of sustainable commerce, and land some of our first clients. And when the times were bad during the rough spots, they loyally stood by our side and helped us push through to continue on our growth trajectory. Today, as we’ve evolved into a strong player in our industry, they act as an advisor on strategy as we look to many larger opportunities in the future. We couldn’t have asked for a better and more loyal investor than SJF.”

Tobin Moore CEO

“SJF quickly understood why consumers love pasture-raised eggs and why the principles of conscious capitalism are core to what we do. That helped us to select SJF as our first institutional investor.”

Matt O'Hayer Founder

“SJF Ventures was the first institutional venture fund to partner in our growth. They immediately recognized the potential of our business, and demonstrated an ability to help us achieve our vision of transforming the health care ecosystem through empowering data access.”

Ryan Beckland Co-Founder

“SJF Ventures led our Series B round, which catalyzed $25 million in growth capital financing at a critical time -- helping Nextracker fulfill on rapidly increasing sales volumes. As our company grew, SJF continued to help through deep engagement on the board all the way through to our successful transaction with Flex. Any entrepreneur with a rapidly growing business would be hard pressed to find a more aligned and helpful investment partner than SJF.”

Dan Shugar CEO

“What I value most about SJF is that we share similar core values and their team lives out those values in the way they operate. They have earned my trust over the last two years by focusing on what is best for the long term health of the company, and not just what will maximize their ROI. They are open and honest when addressing any concerns, and they have become a trusted partner that I lean on when facing tough challenges or critical decisions.”

Dean Dorcas CEO

“SJF has been a tremendous asset to Rustic Crust. From the time of their initial investment to our most recent round of financing, SJF has proven to be a true partner. The experience that SJF has brought to the board room and the support they have shown the company has been an important element for achieving the level of success that we are currently experiencing. They have proven to be an invaluable asset as we raised additional capital, explored acquisitions, hired additional management, and have grown the company. ”

Brad Sterl CEO

“Community Energy was impressed by the expertise, diligence and deep network SJF Ventures demonstrated in leading our $6 MM Series A round. After the investment, SJF has been active on the board in the recruitment of new independent directors, strategic insights on expansion, industry and finance referrals, and market intelligence. They also supported our plans for a capital efficient corporate model that intelligently leverages the project finance capital markets. With SJF Ventures, we were fortunate to find an investor aligned well with CEI on building a values-driven enterprise that rapidly scales solar power and renewable energy utilization.”

Brent Alderfer CEO

“The quality of SJF’s people sets them apart. They are a true partner in every sense of the word that is highly supportive and has a long term perspective. They are very strategic thinkers that work with their portfolio companies to increase enterprise value. I highly recommend them.”

Preston “Cinco” Plumb President & CEO

“We have been working well with SJF since September 2013. We are fortunate to have many ready to invest in our growth, such as very large SV firms and even the venture capital/technology transfer arm of a top 5 technology university in the United States. We chose SJF because of Arrun’s intelligence and energy, and because the firm shared our values. SJF understands our values driven culture. They get that our mission to help struggling students, often those from low income areas, is the most important goal to our team of teachers and technologists and that by educating kids carefully and effectively, we would also build a successful business. They vowed to support us in our educational mission and have even introduced us to potential customers within their network. As a company with a values-driven culture, we made the right choice in choosing SJF.”

Kevin McAliley CEO

“SJF participated in our Series A funding round this past Spring. We've had a great experience working with Arrun and his team thus far. Arrun is a thoughtful and committed partner, who consistently comes to us with ideas and contacts to drive the company forward. ”

Preston Silverman RaiseMe

“SJF Ventures led our Series B round and became so much more than financial partners in our business. Throughout our relationship, David and his team have consistently made introductions to potential partners and prospects, but, maybe more importantly, the team has provided exceptional expertise over the years to simply make our business better. Their insights have influenced every aspect of the business: how we hire, how we measure, how we market and who we are.”

Jon Bolen CEO

Connect With Us.

Please connect directly with team members. Contact information can be found in their biographical information in the SJF section.

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