Our Criteria
When we evaluate potential investments, we’re looking for:
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Potential to scale quickly and effectively
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Capacity to create progressive change
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Ability to generate revenue with a robust business model
2021 Fall Season
Target Areas
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Innovative Tools & Technology
Technology empowers people and enables new kinds of progress.
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Media Platforms & Distribution
Content can change hearts and minds to inspire action.
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Advocacy Platforms
Empowering people to take change directly into their own hands.
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Digital Organizing
Building power and making new forms of community possible.
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Civic Engagement Tools
The future of civic life will be a seamless mix of digital and IRL communication.
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Elections & Voting Systems
Voting and representation are critical to a functioning democracy.
Featured Investments
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Blavity
Blavity is a venture-backed technology and media company aimed at building beautiful products and experiences for black millennials. Founded in July 2014, it has quickly become one of the fastest growing digital media outlets on the web, reaching more than 7M millennials a month.
Visit Blavity.com (opens in a new window)Founders: Morgan DeBaun, Jonathan Jackson, Jeff Nelson, Aaron Samuels
We're building a community of the most exceptional multicultural creators and influencers in the world. If you change the way people view the world, you can transform it.
— Morgan DeBaun
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Sister District
The Sister District Project activates the power, passion, and creativity of volunteers to win elections and turn states blue. They are leading a movement to win back state legislatures and ensure fair redistricting by empowering an enduring community of volunteers.
Visit SisterDistrict.org (opens in a new window)Founders: Lala Wu, Rita Bosworth, Lyzz Schwegler, Gaby Goldstein, Candis Mitchell
We build grassroots power at the local level, providing opportunities for every person in the country to get involved in democracy. Together, all our small actions add up to the giant change we need.
— Lala Wu
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SumOfUs
SumOfUs is a community of people from around the world committed to curbing the growing power of corporations. Members want to buy from, work for and invest in companies that respect the environment, treat their workers well and respect democracy.
Visit SumOfUs.org (opens in a new window)Founder: Taren Stinebrickner-Kauffman
Together, our community of millions acts as a global consumer watchdog – running and winning campaigns to hold the biggest companies in the world accountable. We’re not afraid to stand up for what’s right.
— Taren Stinebrickner-Kauffman
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Vote.org
Vote.org uses technology to simplify political engagement, increase voter turnout, and strengthen American democracy.
Visit Vote.org (opens in a new window)Founder: Debra Cleaver
Vote.org's goal is to get as many people to the polls as humanly possible. We don't believe Americans are apathetic; we think voting should be more convenient. Technology can help with that.
— Debra Cleaver
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CrowdTangle
CrowdTangle helps publishers identify great stories, measure social performance, and identify influencers. It's used by newspapers, television stations, digital media outlets, investigative journalists, entertainment companies, sports teams and nonprofits all over the world. Hundreds of newsrooms and thousands of journalists use the tool every day.
Visit CrowdTangle.com (opens in a new window)Founders: Brandon Silverman, Matt Garmur
In addition to helping us raise one of our earliest rounds, the support, advice and guidance we got from the NMV staff and network played a huge role in our success. I’m not sure we would be at Facebook if it hadn’t been for everything that NMV did for us.
— Brandon Silverman
Selected Investments
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Hearken
Helping local newsrooms meaningfully engage the public from pitch through publication
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ActBlue Civics
Powering fundraising for candidates, committees, parties, organizations, and c4s around the country
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Coworker.org
Helping workers start, run, and win campaigns to change their workplace
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Upworthy
On a mission to change what the world pays attention to (Merged with GOOD)
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PushBlack
Using the power of mobile organizing to keep Black Americans informed about key issues and help them take action
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Attentive.ly (acquired by Blackbaud)
Increasing the engagement and reach of campaigns by tracking what people are saying on social media, identifying influencers, and improving targeting
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BallotReady
Helping voters know what they're voting for all the way down the ballot
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Swing Left
Ensuring we take back the house in 2018 by helping progressives connect to and take action in their closest Swing District
We have over 100 startups in our portfolio
See AllApply for Funding
We host open investment processes for early-stage startups seeking funding via our Innovation Fund. The most successful applications are beyond the idea phase. We have a simple set of criteria for those we fund.
Learn MoreInvest with Us
We have many ways for investors to get involved. We’d love to hear from you.
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