Investing for Impact
Description
The Field Course: Investing for Impact was born out of the efforts of HBS students and faculty in the spring of 2020 and offered for the first time in fall semester of 2021.
This course seeks to help students understand why certain business founders lack access to capital and whether small investments of $25,000 to $50,000 (made from an intermediary Donor Advised Fund) might help these businesses grow to deliver financial returns and measurable community impacts.
In addition to a weekly seminar (which includes case discussions, panels of expert guests and field experience), students work in small groups with their faculty mentors to conduct due diligence on a business for possible investment. Working closely with entrepreneurs to understand each company’s needs and opportunities, groups are responsible for completing a full diligence report and bringing their investment recommendation to the Investment Committee for discussion and approval. The course is designed to provide students with hands-on experience and training that they can use to pursue careers in the growing field of impact investing.