Rural Revival Fund

Profit and purpose can be a virtuous cycle. Solving humanity's biggest problems can provide superior financial returns. Tech-enabled companies can have significant impact at scale BUT Tech companies and impact investors largely live in different worlds. Avesta can bridge these worlds to harness the tech world toward positive impact. Areas of Focus We invest in tech-enabled companies whose positive impact is aligned with their business. We prioritize (but are not limited to) diverse entrepreneurs. Stage: pre-seed or seed; Typically raising $750K to $4M in the round. ClimateSustainable Agriculture Energy Efficiency Clean Energy Carbon Sinks Clean Manufacturing Circular Economy Green Buildings OpportunityEducation Financial Inclusion Future of Work Health Access & Affordability Housing Entrepreneurship Development What we offerTypical investments of $150K to $500K per company Best-practice based coaching to help founding teams optimize their impact, and align it with their business Unique mix of experiences that help companies bridge both the VC and impact worlds Connections to our broad network of investors and partners interested in impact-oriented tech startups

For nearly 30 years, we have successfully identified and cultivated growth-oriented businesses that create good jobs for people living in areas overlooked by traditional VC firms. We finance and help to grow businesses that pay a living wage, provide basic benefits and host a fair and engaging workplace that offers opportunities for training and advancement. We view our investment relationships as collaborative partnerships. In addition to capital investment, we are actively involved in our portfolio companies – bringing our knowledge of socially responsible management practices and working together with our parent company, CEI, to introduce workforce development specialists along with environmental, technical assistance and consulting relationships. We view our investment relationships as collaborative partnerships. In addition to capital investment, we are actively involved in our portfolio companies – bringing our knowledge of socially responsible management practices and working together with our parent company, CEI, to introduce workforce development specialists along with environmental, technical assistance and consulting relationships. We focus our investments on dynamic, socially minded companies that exhibit a dual potential for high growth and positive community impact, particularly those that: Create good jobs and wealth building opportunities for workers with an emphasis on jobs targeted to people with low-to-moderate incomes, in alignment with CEI’s Good Jobs Framework. Are located in markets with more limited access to equity capital including rural areas and small cities. Are led by individuals underserved by the current equity markets, including people of color, women and veterans. Increase the availability of environmentally sustainable products/services that preserve natural resources, reduce waste/pollution or increase the adoption of renewable energy/clean technology. Strong investment candidates will also exhibit: Create good jobs and wealth building opportunities for workers with an emphasis on jobs targeted to people with low-to-moderate incomes, in alignment with CEI’s Good Jobs Framework. Prospects for attractive returns with an appealing market opportunity, realistic projections, appropriate valuation, and pragmatic exit plan. A competitive advantage through proprietary interest in technology, intellectual property, distribution system or other unique attribute. A deep commitment to social benefits including quality employment opportunities and environmental stewardship. Each portfolio company is required to sign a social agreement, securing a commitment to promote CEI’s mission. A viable exit plan within a reasonable time frame.

Our strength is our diver­si­ty. The New Com­mu­ni­ty Trans­for­ma­tion Fund vision is shared among its affil­i­ates, each who take our approach will cre­ate oppor­tu­ni­ties, cre­ate jobs, cre­ate wealth in the communities NCTF was con­ceived of four years ago to build a more diverse econ­o­my and cre­ate eco­nom­ic pros­per­i­ty for com­mu­ni­ties of col­or. We work with scal­able, ear­ly to mid-stage busi­ness­es and tran­si­tion­ing suc­ces­sion com­pa­nies in var­i­ous indus­tries spe­cif­ic to your region.

More than just a South East Asian country with a profoundly distinctive culture, Viet Nam itself is in the golden population period with increasing quality in manpower and an open economy that is always ready to take on new trends. Based on the above competitive advantages, we seek to partner with enterprises/startups in the early stage (Seeding, Pre-series A, Series A) with an investment ranging from 100 thousand to 1.5 million USD. Our only requirements for startups include either of the following: LOCAL SPECIALTIES: The value of local specialties, from the sustainable exploitation of material sources to the application of traditional and regionally characteristic techniques, must be highlighted comprehensively during the production and development process of startups. BREAK-THROUGH TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION: The core business model must be based on innovative ground-breaking technologies, can solve the society’s most urgent issues, keep up with trends and have future expansion plans into the international market. INVESTMENT THESIS Based on the above investment strategy, we evaluate the suitability of our partnered enterprise or startup via the following investment thesis: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (ESG): This is the first and also the core element that ITI takes into consideration in our evaluation process: Environmental Friendliness, Community – society development capability (Social), Optimal business management model (Governance). BUSINESS MODEL SERVING LARGE DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN MARKETS: Vietnam is considered a potential market, with a total population of nearly 100 million people, increasingly improving average GDP per capita of roughly 3,694 USD/person (2021) beside the middle class with the fastest growth rate in Southeast Asia (2020). At the same time, total export ranks 16 globally (2020), a growth rate of 16% in value (2021). These key factors prompt us to highly appreciate the attractiveness of both the domestic market and the country’s export capability. As can be observed from our early-stage investment strategy (Seeding, Pre-seeding), ITI Fund seeks elements beyond mere innovative products, services, or business models. We prioritize startups and projects that can satisfy both the domestic and international market HUMAN FACTOR: Human plays the most crucial role in the innovation part of any businesses, accordingly deciding the business’s existence. ITI will, therefore, only cooperate and invest in projects where co-founders have the required in-depth knowledge and practical hands-on experience in their specific field of operation. At the same time, founders must be sensitive and adaptable to market fluctuations, able to connect and coordinate with the company’s pivotal team and uphold the entrepreneurial spirit.

The MassMutual Catalyst Funds (MMCF) I & II - a $150 million commitment to increase diversity in, and access to, venture capital and invest in innovative products and services that advance economic and social mobility. Increasing investments in underserved businesses At MassMutual, we’re committed to fueling innovation, creativity, and problem-solving to benefit the needs of all Americans. We believe this begins with creating financial opportunities where historic disparities exist. That’s why we established the MassMutual Catalyst Fund (MMCF) I & II - a $150 million commitment to increasing diversity in, and access to, venture capital and investing in innovative products and services that advance economic and social mobility. Building on the first MM Catalyst Fund launched in 2021, MMCF’s latest Fund II will scale nationally and create further impact momentum. We know the mission to increase access to capital to overlooked founders and changing the ratio of who is funded in venture capital is not an easy challenge. That's why we are expanding our focus and working with like-minded partners, particularly companies with the potential to make a significant social impact in certain areas. We will continue to focus investing in MA companies and also selectively invest alongside fund managers within the First Fund Initiative at a national level. We invest in Seed through Stage B companies. As we assess businesses, we consider not only financial return, but their potential to advance racial equity, reduce the rural-urban divide, and make an economic impact. While we are industry agnostic and focus on the founding team, we seek to invest in the following verticals: health tech, climate tech, Future of Work, and fintech. MMCF’s status quo alternatives to sourcing, screening and selecting deals, as well as supporting our portfolio companies are key to finding and funding companies in a more expansive way. Investing in diversity The Catalyst Fund is powering progress in a world where women and people of color only manage 1% of the 70 trillion of capital in the United States. We’re making an impact in across the US and in Massachusetts where only .4% of funding goes to Black founders.* We’re passionate about creating change and prioritizing companies with social impact built into their DNA. That means that as their business grows, their impact grows too. As we assess businesses, we consider not only financial return, but potential to advance social mobility and racial equity, reduce the rural-urban divide, and make an economic impact in Massachusetts and beyond. Industry agnostic and founding team driven We look for strong financial and impact return with an industry preference in the following areas: Healthcare Equity: Healthcare technologies that reduce disparities in health outcomes across the population Economic Inclusion: Availability and equality of opportunities to access financial goods and services​ Climate: Technologies that ensure the transition to clean energy is fair, inclusive and economically beneficial for all Future of Work: HR and education technologies that encourage workforce participation​ What makes our process different? Impact investing requires critical thinking, not checking boxes. We’re committed to building innovative approaches and alternatives in: Sourcing: Our online inquiry form lowers barriers to accessing our funding. Screening: We look twice - taking a consultative approach, with an emphasis on transparency and trust. Selection: We prioritize companies with scalable business models tied to social impact which comes in many shapes. That could mean removing structural barriers like access to better education or finance, or it could mean creating quality jobs in a rural area. Value Add: Our passionate team is dedicated to our entrepreneurs' success. We consult regularly with our portfolio companies at key intersections and provide strategic insight, leverage our MassMutual network, facilitate introductions to other investors and are continually expanding the ways we add value to our wide spectrum of portfolio companies. Rooted in venture. Built for impact. We like to think of the Catalyst Fund as having VC hardware and impact software - meaning, while we’re backed by MassMutual’s more than 170 years of financial strength, we’re also constantly evolving to maximize our social and economic impact. Together, our impact investing team has a total of 55 years of expertise, with backgrounds ranging from founding companies to traditional investment management to overseeing global startup accelerators.

As humanity confronts unprecedented challenges, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates that we must remove up to 310 billion tonnes of CO₂ by 2100 to limit global warming to 1.5°C. With our growing global population and current consumption patterns, this poses a daunting task. At GGF, we’re unwilling to accept defeat and settle for a bleak future. We stand ready to challenge the status quo and address this global crisis at its root. Our investment approach and thesis Spotting a vital missing piece in the climate change puzzle, we recognize the absence of broad resilience to disrupt a persistent negative loop. While the urgency is clear, many institutions still lean towards reactive responses instead of fostering proactive resilience. We envision a future where food and energy security is ensured, climate resilience is embedded in all practices, and our planet thrives. Guided by this vision, we strategically invest in early-stage green tech and food tech start-ups, transforming food and energy systems, cutting global emissions, and improving resource security. Our background and secret sauce At GGF, we are lucky to have a team of individuals with diverse backgrounds and sector-specific expertise. Being one of the largest female-led sustainability funds, we bring a variety of perspectives to our work. Each team member contributes unique skills, helping us make informed investment decisions. More than just investors, we are committed to guiding visionary founders towards crafting a sustainable future.