The Social Venture Fund (SVF) at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business accepts business plans on a yearly cycle, from approximately August through October.  We seek innovative, high-impact, for-profit social enterprises in which to invest. As the nation’s first student-led impact investing fund, the SVF currently has five companies in its portfolio. Read about them here

Companies must meet the following criteria:

Our Investment Criteria

• Social Enterprise: The Social Venture Fund focuses exclusively on for-profit social enterprises that are committed to positive and measurable social and/or environmental impact. In evaluating potential investments, we employ rigorous social and financial valuation techniques to ensure that companies have the potential to provide a strong blended social and financial return.
• Alignment with Investment Areas: We invest in (typically) post-revenue companies responding to critical challenges within the Education, Food Systems & Environmental, Health, and Urban Revitalization sectors.
• Investment Amounts and Stage: We invest $50,000 – $100,000 in equity or convertible debt notes as part of larger capital rounds, typically seed or Series A. Post-investment, we provide our portfolio companies access to resources at the University of Michigan to help them scale quickly and deliver on their social or environmental mission.
• Change Agent Entrepreneurs: We invest in inspiring leaders capable of assembling a world-class management team that shares their passion and commitment to the enterprise’s sustained impact.
• Location: We focus on businesses based in the United States. The Urban Revitalization circle is particularly interested in plans for the Southeast Michigan/Detroit area.

To Apply

We are no longer accepting business plans for our 2014-15 investment cycle.  Please check back in summer 2015 for information regarding our 2015-16 sourcing and screening timeline.