DETAILS
Columbia Venture Community's Impact Program provides startups in the impact space access to world-class mentorship, expert panels, and pitch workshops.
The Impact Investment space has grown by more than 60% since 2019. Investors are channeling private funding to address the many challenges of climate change, pollution, resource use, inequity, health, and more. The current investment levels are, nonetheless, inadequate to address the scale of global issues. The industry is nascent. That is, there is an opportunity for committed investors and entrepreneurs to make a material difference to impact goals and develop a robust industry.
AT A GLANCE
Our purpose is to develop a community that engages in constructive dialogue and furthers the development of a robust global industry. We are doing this in two ways:
First, we are building a community of professionals willing to develop the industry and support Columbia-linked impact founders. This community includes investors, founders, and other stakeholders.
Second, we run a selective annual accelerator program for a small cohort of impact founders. In this accelerator, founders and the community will meet and explore questions like:
What makes an impact enterprise different?
Who is in the industry ecosystem?
How to build a credible business and impact thesis for stakeholders?
What resources are available through Columbia University and its network?
The program will run for 10-12 weeks offering between September and December 2023.
When to Apply
The selection process for founders is competitive, with screening completed by a committee. If your application progresses past our initial screening, our committee members will be in touch to schedule an interview with the applicant(s).
Applications are now closed.
Who Can Apply?
The theme for the Impact Program in 2023 is Sustainability: Any one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Due to popular demand, we have expanded this years’ cohort to include applicants across a broader range of sustainability themes.
To be eligible to apply, the applying startup’s founders or key employees must be Columbia-affiliated. For more details about our selection process, scroll down!
We accept startups from all stages, though the program is best suited for those in earlier stages of funding.
LOOKING TO MENTOR AND INVEST?
Want to get involved as a mentor or investor? We are always looking for more people to support our cohort.
Please email us at info@columbiaventurecommunity.com and we will be in contact shortly.
TEAM
Alumni volunteers manage and run the Columbia Venture Community Impact Program. CVC is an entrepreneurship-focused community in the Columbia innovation ecosystem, serving 6,000 members in 50+ countries.
Anindita Sharma is an impact measurement and management specialist with more than 25 years of work experience in global organizations in the Asia Pacific and the USA. She consults with organizations to design and implement measurable programs.
Other than leading the CVC’s Impact Program, Anindita runs Aartha, an impact consulting company, as well as serves as the Asia Pacific Regional Director for the ROI Institute USA, serves on the Asia Pacific Evaluation Association’s strategy theme of Sustainable Development Goals, and the steering committee of Energy Evaluation Asia Pacific.
Anindita holds an M.A. in Industrial Economics from Rutgers University, NJ, and an MBA from Columbia Business School.
Heer Baxi is a product leader in the impact space, with experience in the investment and renewable energy sector. As a product manager, she has worked with technical and business teams to deliver digital products across a variety of functions.
Heer serves on the Creative Commerce board at the Guildhouse School and acts as the Columbia Venture Community chapter lead for London. Previous to working in technology, Heer has worked with private equity and investment firms in Hong Kong and Singapore.
Heer holds a B.A. in Economics and East Asian Languages and Cultures from Barnard College, Columbia University.
Bhuva Shakti is the Chief Ethics & Culture Officer and global management board member at Women in AI, a non-profit community of leaders in artificial intelligence and data science.
As a Senior Director at Capgemini, she has managed diverse multinational teams and launched several technology products in the investment banking, capital markets risk and regulatory compliance industry. As the financial inclusion advisor at Wallet Max, Bhuva is committed to positive planet impact, sustainable business transformation and green revenue strategies.
She is an early-stage investor in social innovation startups with a vision to accelerate economic freedom and reduce inequalities. Bhuva holds an an MBA from Columbia University.
Azhar Yerzhanova is a Product Manager/Director of Corporate Strategy at Nohbo, a sustainable personal care startup with material science at its core. At Nohbo, Azhar leads business development and product commercialization efforts.
Prior to joining Nohbo, Azhar worked at a venture capital fund called Material Impact. Previously, she was an investment banking analyst at a J&A, a NY-based boutique investment bank.
Azhar earned her B.A. in Political Science from New York University and her M.S. in Applied Analytics from Columbia University.
Yan is an Associate at Bridges Fund Management, a private equity impact investor committed to supporting the transition to a more inclusive and sustainable economy. At Bridges, Yan connects her strong interest in impact with her understanding of strategy and value creation to support the sustainable growth of impact-driven portfolio companies. She is also actively involved in the firm's impact-led origination strategy as well as its wider cross-product impact management platform.
Prior to Bridges, Yan was a strategy consultant supporting clients in sectors such as consumer goods, industrials and energy, where she gained insight into business strategy and portfolio analysis. Born and raised in Hong Kong, Yan graduated from Columbia University and Sciences Po Paris, and is currently based in London.