Updated:
Stanford GSB Impact Fund
The GSB Impact Fund is designed to expose students to impact investing—intentional investing for both financial and measurable social and environmental...
Stanford GSB Impact Fund
The GSB Impact Fund is designed to expose students to impact investing—intentional investing for both financial and measurable social and environmental returns. The Fund is managed by students with oversight from faculty, under the guidance of the Center for Social Innovation. It is an evergreen fund that invests in early-stage for-profit ventures seeking both financial and social and environmental returns, with a geographically flexible investment mandate.
General information
Firm type
Private Equity
Year founded
2015
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Stanford
Corporate office
Stanford, CA, United States
Principals
Danielle DeVera
Co-Chief Executive Officer
Jeffrey Xia
Co-Chief Executive Officer
Hope Ditlhakanyane
Co-Chief Operating Officer
Dhanush Girish
Co-Chief Operating Officer
Paul Pfleiderer
Faculty Advisor
Kenneth Singleton
Faculty Advisor
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who makes the investment decisions at the Stanford GSB Impact Fund?
Investment decisions are made by student deal teams under the supervision of an investment committee. The committee includes faculty advisors Paul Pfleiderer and Kenneth Singleton, along with alumni and expert practitioners. Student Co-CEOs and COOs, who change annually, lead overall fund management.
How is the fund structured, and where does its capital come from?
The fund is structured as an evergreen vehicle housed within the Center for Social Innovation at Stanford Graduate School of Business. It is not a traditional limited partner fund; capital is provided to support the educational mission, though the specific funding sources are not publicly detailed. All financial returns are reinvested into new enterprises.
What types of companies does the fund invest in?
The fund targets early-stage, for-profit ventures that seek both financial returns and measurable social or environmental impact. Its portfolio spans seven verticals: education, climate (natural and industrial solutions), fintech, healthcare, and justice and urban development. Recent investments span neobanking, healthtech, and economic development platforms.
Does the fund participate in co-investments alongside external investors?
Yes. The fund explicitly invites co-investors to pursue shared investment opportunities and lists this as a way for outside parties to engage. The fund's student leaders manage these relationships as part of the educational experience.
How is the Stanford GSB Impact Fund related to the university's endowment?
It is entirely separate. The Impact Fund is an educational program operated by the Center for Social Innovation at the GSB, not a pool of the university's endowment assets. Its investment activities do not represent the investment decisions of Stanford's Management Company.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
Need institutional-grade insight on private equity firms?
Altss delivers:
Prefer a guided tour?
We’ll walk you through: