At Portland State University’s The School of Business, we believe that business has a unique ability to shape a better social, ecological, and economic future. This belief isn’t abstract; our students make it real through hands-on investment experience that supports companies driving meaningful change.
A Program Rooted in Purpose, and Growing in Influence
Founded in 2019 by four visionary MSF students, Impact Ventures has grown into the first student-led impact investing fund in the Pacific Northwest. Now entering its seventh year, the fund has supported five startup investments totaling $130,000 to date, with four companies still active and progressing.
“What makes Impact Ventures special is that our students are not simulating investment decisions; they are making them,” says Julie Hackett, Academic Director for MS in Finance and Master of Taxation and Impact Ventures Faculty Advisor. “They navigate uncertainty, assess risk, debate valuations, prepare investment memos, and present actual recommendations. It’s real finance, real responsibility, and real growth.”
How the Fund Works
Through the three-term FIN 575 Impact Ventures experience, students from the MBA, MSF, and Social Innovation Certificate tracks learn core investment skills while evaluating real companies in collaboration with venture partners.
Each cohort has approximately 15 students who: source and screen deals; conduct due diligence; consult with investment partners; present proposals to the Investment Committee; develop professional investor-level analysis; and build a personal network of entrepreneurs, angels, and VCs.
And the experience is transformative. Alumna Seshu Bharathi Katari, "Coming from a consulting background focused on large-scale infrastructure projects, I was accustomed to structured analysis and clearly defined outcomes. Impact Ventures immersed me in a very different environment—early-stage uncertainty, evolving data, and real capital at risk. The discussions and debates in class, along with the opportunity to interact with entrepreneurs, sharpened my thinking and reshaped how I approach risk, value creation, and decision-making."
Partners & Ecosystem Collaboration
The fund continues to maintain strong relationships with regional investment groups while expanding access to new deal flow.
2025 Partners include: Alliance of Angels; E8; TiE Oregon; Rogue; and Dreamward Ventures. Our partners consistently express respect for the quality of student work. Kari Doherty, MBA/MSF Dual Degree student and Venture Fellow with Rogue Women’s Fund, adds: “Inviting an Impact Ventures student into our due diligence process at Rogue Women’s Fund was a clear reminder of how strong this program really is. Their analysis didn’t just meet expectations; it filled a critical gap in our financial review and directly strengthened a real investment decision. Watching a student contribute at that level is proof that PSU isn’t just teaching investing theory; it’s cultivating capable analysts who can add value on day one.”
Leadership & Stewardship
As the Investment Committee evolves, long-time leaders are helping elevate new voices.
Outgoing Chair, Tom Kingsley, shares “Serving as Investment Committee Chair and watching our students develop has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. Their discipline, curiosity, and rigor give me confidence that the future of investing is in capable hands.”
On August 1, Arsh Haque stepped in as Chair while continuing to teach FIN 575.
“Impact investing requires not only analytical skill, but imagination, the ability to see what a company might achieve,” says Haque. “Our students are learning to analyze financial potential and human potential simultaneously, and that’s where real innovation happens.”
Investment Committee Guidance, and Future Talent Pipelines
Students now also learn directly from a dedicated student IC advisor. “What I value most about serving on the Investment Committee is watching students realize that investing isn’t only about deploying capital,” said Kasem Rodriguez Mohsen, Founder & CEO of LION Strategies and long-time impact investor. “It’s about judgment, courage, and the discipline to ask better questions. When those skills come together, you don’t just develop stronger analysts—you cultivate future leaders capable of shaping a more just and resilient economy.”
Philanthropic & Community Engagement
For both donors and partners, Impact Ventures offers a unique opportunity to invest in both people and companies. Ellie Varbeg, Associate Director of Development, sees the ripple effects, “Every gift, whether large or small, directly shapes student futures. I’ve seen students gain confidence, make career-changing connections, and secure opportunities because of their involvement with this fund. That transformation is what keeps our supporters engaged.”
Stacey Henriquez, VP of Finance and Accounting for PSU Foundation and Ex Officio Chair for Impact Ventures, emphasizes the institutional significance, “Impact Ventures represents the best of what PSU stands for, students learning by doing, working alongside industry experts, and applying finance as a tool for positive change. It’s inspiring to see these students evaluating real startup opportunities and carrying that experience into their careers.”
Investments to Date
- 2020 — Optimize Health - $29,740 (Healthcare)
- 2021 — Tend Health / MicroBiomX - $25,000 (Healthcare)
- 2022 — Community Energy Labs - $25,000 (Energy)
- 2023 — Membrion - $25,000 (Energy)
- 2024 — Enduring Planet - $25,000 (Climate)
One highlight worth mentioning is that Enduring Planet has deployed more than $24M in cumulative loans and supported 77 transactions, indirectly amplifying climate-focused innovation across the region.
Looking Forward
As Impact Ventures evolves, it continues to model the future of investment education - ethical, analytical, entrepreneurial, and collaborative.
The leadership team’s conviction is clear: Impact Ventures isn’t just training future investors. It’s cultivating principled leaders who understand what finance can be used to build a better world.
Get Involved
- Join the Investment Committee
Help guide Portland State’s student-run venture fund.
Time commitment: ~10 hours annually. - Mentor a Student Team
Offer subject-matter expertise during deal evaluations. - Become an Investment Partner
Collaborate with PSU’s student investment analysts to evaluate real deals.
Make a Gift
Your support moves us toward our $1M endowment goal—strengthening both the fund and scholarships for business students.