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§ Venture Capital · San Francisco, CA, USA
Private equity, investment management for growth-stage companies in environmental, social sustainability, health, wellness sectors.
Builders Fund is a San Francisco-based private equity and investment management firm that provides capital to growth-stage companies focused on environmental and social sustainability. The firm targets consumer brands operating within the health, wellness, organic products, and clean energy sectors to support their operational expansion. Operating with a multi-fund structure, the firm has closed two investment vehicles, including its initial fund in April 2017 and a subsequent fund in June 2022, while currently maintaining a third fund in the market. The firm directs its capital toward recognizable portfolio companies, executing investments in established wellness brands such as Traditional Medicinals, Urban Remedy, PosiGen, and Sambazon. The investment team is supported by a network of experienced entrepreneurs, including Trulia founder Sami Inkinen. Builders Fund was established in 2015 by co-founders and managing partners Tripp Baird and Mike Dutton.
Key people at Builders Fund.
Builders Fund has 4 tracked investments across 3 companies. The latest tracked deal is $2.4M Seed in Enkrypt AI in February 2024.
| Date | Company | Round | Lead Investor(s) | Co-Investor(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 27, 2024 | Enkrypt AI | $2.4M Seed | Sathya Nellore Sampat | Arka Venture Labs, Berkeley SkyDeck Fund, Kubera VC, Kube VC, Veredas Partners |
| Jan 5, 2022 | PosiGen | $100.0M Other Equity | Magnetar Capital | Activate Capital, Emerson Collective, Irradiant Partners, SJF Ventures, The Kresge Foundation |
| Jul 23, 2021 | Urban Remedy | $18.0M Series D | Manna Tree | Obvious Ventures |
| Dec 1, 2020 | PosiGen | $33.0M Series D | Builders Fund, 2040vc, Emerson Collective | — |
Key people at Builders Fund.
The Builders Fund is a growth-stage private equity firm that invests in purpose-driven companies addressing significant environmental and social challenges. Their mission centers on generating exceptional financial returns while driving positive impact by scaling businesses that integrate sustainability and social responsibility into their core models. The firm focuses on sectors such as climate solutions, regenerative food systems, education, energy, and health, leveraging purpose as a competitive advantage. By partnering closely with portfolio companies, The Builders Fund supports intentional growth and systems-responsible investing, aiming to advance a more sustainable and equitable economy[1][2][3][4].
Founded in 2015 and headquartered in San Francisco, The Builders Fund was co-founded by Tripp Baird and Mike Dutton, who bring deep expertise in sustainable investing and impact-driven business models. Over time, the firm has evolved to emphasize authentic partnerships with entrepreneurial management teams, focusing on growth-stage companies that have proven scalable business models addressing urgent social and environmental issues. Their approach has been recognized through consistent B Corporation certification and a strong track record of impact and financial performance[1][4][5].
The Builders Fund rides the growing trend of impact investing and stakeholder capitalism, where companies are expected to deliver both financial returns and measurable social/environmental benefits. The timing is critical as global challenges like climate change, food system reform, and social equity demand innovative business solutions. Market forces such as increasing consumer demand for responsible brands, regulatory pressures, and the rise of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) investing favor their approach. By scaling purpose-driven companies, The Builders Fund influences the broader ecosystem by demonstrating that sustainability and profitability can coexist, encouraging more capital to flow into impact sectors[1][3][4].
Looking ahead, The Builders Fund is poised to deepen its influence by expanding its portfolio in high-impact sectors and refining its partnership-driven model. Trends such as decarbonization, regenerative agriculture, and equitable education will likely shape their investment focus. Their commitment to systems responsibility and authentic partnership positions them to be a leader in proving that growth-stage impact investing can deliver superior returns while addressing critical global challenges. As stakeholder capitalism continues to mature, The Builders Fund’s role as a catalyst for sustainable business growth will likely strengthen, reinforcing their mission to build a better world through intentional investment[1][3][4].
