CaseWorks Abstract

Rick Larson

Rick Larson is Director of Sustainable Ventures for The Conservation Fund (TCF), a national nonprofit organization with a unique dual mission of land & water conservation and economic development. Based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Mr. Larson serves as NC Program Director of Natural Capital Investment Fund, a TCF affiliate that provides subordinated debt and equity to companies that promote and practice the sustainable use of natural resources. He also is assisting TCF with the development of investment vehicles for forestry-based carbon sequestration.

Prior to joining TCF, Mr. Larson was Managing Director for SJF Ventures, LP, a $45 million mission-driven venture capital fund with offices in Durham, NC and New York, NY. A member of the Fund's Investment Committee, he sourced, conducted due diligence on, and structured equity and subordinated debt investments in SJF portfolio companies. He served on the Board of Directors of Ryla Teleservices, Inc. and B.B. Hobbs, Inc. and as liaison to other portfolio companies. His other professional experience includes twelve years as Executive Director of REAL Enterprises, a non-profit social venture that provides entrepreneurship curriculum, training and support to secondary and post-secondary instructors nationwide. He also worked in financial and shop floor supervisory positions in manufacturing for the Cummins Engine Company.

Rick is a director of TransFair USA, the certifier of Fair Trade products in the US. He has served as an evaluator and judge for numerous social venture competitions, including the Yale SOM-Goldman Sachs Foundation Partnership on Nonprofit Ventures and the Duke Fuqua School of Business Start-Up Challenge Social Entrepreneurship Track. He is a graduate of the NASBIC Venture Capital Institute and holds a B.A. from Amherst College and an MBA from the Yale School of Management.

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