EIF (Ecosystem Integrity Fund)

EIF (Ecosystem Integrity Fund)

EIF (Ecosystem Integrity Fund) was founded in 2016 by James McDermott, who previously co-founded the hedge fund firm Capstone Investment Advisors. The firm is headquartered in San Francisco and operates as a venture capital manager focused exclusively on investments that restore or maintain ecosystem integrity — a thesis that predates the broader impact-investing wave. EIF invests across ClimateTech, energy transition, water infrastructure, sustainable agriculture, and waste management. The firm targets early-stage companies with scalable, capital-efficient business models. Portfolio companies include Aclima (sensor networks for air quality), Pivot Bio (microbial nitrogen for crops), and Revolution (compostable packaging). EIF typically leads or co-leads Series A and B rounds, taking board seats and supporting portfolio companies with operational and scientific expertise. The firm manages capital on behalf of institutional investors, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals. The team includes roughly 10 professionals, with a scientific advisory board that screens for verifiable environmental outcomes. EIF does not disclose AUM, but public filings and deal sizes suggest a fund size under $500 million. The firm has not disclosed any additional offices or affiliated philanthropic vehicles. EIF’s structural differentiator is its explicit ecosystem-integrity mandate — the fund’s investment thesis is built around planetary boundary science, not generic ESG ratings. Every investment must demonstrate a measurable pathway to restoring or preserving a natural system, a constraint that avoids greenwashing and dictates a narrow, discipline-heavy deal pipeline.