Investors’ Circle to Merge with SJF Institute

Partnership accelerates connection between high-caliber impact entrepreneurs and values-led investors

Durham, NC and San Francisco, CA – July 11, 2011 – SJF Institute (SJFI) and Investors’ Circle (IC) today announced a strategic merger to more efficiently and effectively unleash the power of the impact investing marketplace. The merger will increase entrepreneurs’ access to capital, resources and networks, and will provide more opportunities for collaboration among impact investors.

Effective July 1, 2011, SJFI has taken over management and governance roles for Investors’ Circle. Bonny Moellenbrock, Executive Director of SJF Institute, has also assumed executive leadership of Investors’ Circle. Two of IC’s board members will join SJFI’s board, and Suzanne Biegel – IC’s Acting CEO and longtime IC member – will transition to serve on IC’s Advisory Board.

“IC and SJF Institute are completely mission aligned – we believe that entrepreneurship is key to addressing the world’s greatest social and environmental challenges and supporting the economy,” said Suzanne Biegel of Investors’ Circle. “Early stage impact investors are looking for investment-ready companies led by passionate, capable entrepreneurs, and to align their investments with their values.”

Since 1992 Investors’ Circle has built a network of over 150 angel investors, professional venture capitalists, foundations and family offices who are using private capital to promote the transition to a sustainable economy. During that time Investors’ Circle has facilitated the flow of over $145 million into more than 220 companies and small funds addressing social and environmental issues. Members in IC’s network of impact investors include some of the most experienced angels, early-stage and growth funds working to change the world.

SJF Institute was founded in 2001 as an independent nonprofit affiliate of SJF Ventures, a leading national impact investment venture capital fund. SJFI develops national and regional programs to connect, inspire and accelerate impact entrepreneurs and the fields that support them. SJFI has provided direct technical assistance to over 1500 impact entrepreneurs and has helped hundreds of others through its signature programs, including Getting Ready for Equity™, CleanLinks networking events, the SJF Cleantech Mentorship Program, the Green Jobs Award, and field-building reports such as Employees Matter: Maximizing Company Value Through Workforce Engagement. 

“We see a great deal of synergy in bringing together our entrepreneur and venture networks with the IC investment network,” said Bonny Moellenbrock of SJF Institute. “We want to build a vibrant capital marketplace to put more impact entrepreneurs on a clear path to strong financial growth and measurable social and environmental impact. We know this is the pipeline that later stage institutional investors are seeking. When this happens, everyone wins: the entrepreneurs, the investors, communities, and the planet.”

About SJF Institute. SJF Institute connects, inspires and accelerates impact entrepreneurs and the fields that support them. The Institute empowers companies that provide sustainable solutions and build workplaces where employees can grow and thrive.SJF Ventures is an affiliated venture capital fund focused on delivering superior financial returns through investments in high-growth positive impact companies.  For more information, see www.sjfinstitute.org.

About Investors Circle. Investors’ Circle is a network of over 150 angel investors, professional venture capitalists, foundations and family offices who are using private capital to promote the transition to a sustainable economy. For more information, see www.investorscircle.net.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Bonny Moellenbrock
(919) 530-1177, Ext. 402
bmoellenbrock@sjfinstitute.org                                                      

Anne Claire Broughton
(919) 530-1177, Ext. 403
acbroughton@sjfinstitute.org