Our Mission
Leadership, Experience, Opportunities
For Impact Investing at Columbia Business School
LEO Impact Fund, the student-run impact investing fund at Columbia Business School, invests in early-stage social enterprises and provides pro-bono consulting services to high impact startups. Founded in 2007 and incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, LEO Impact Fund strives to educate the next generation of impact investors with hands-on experience, active networks, and educational events.
Our Three-Pronged Approach
1. Investment
We make debt investments that support social enterprises across the world while maintaining strong relationships with investees to help them develop and grow. In addition to venture debt, we continue to explore opportunities to invest in equity and equity-like securities. Our focus areas include financial inclusion, health, education, and climate solutions.
2. Education
Through lecture series, speaker panels, conferences, newsletters, and other engagement activities, we provide opportunities for the Columbia University community at large to learn about impact investing, network, and find career opportunities in the field.
3. Consulting
We work with investees and other partners to design consulting and due diligence projects carried out by Columbia MBA students. Projects are typically three months long and culminate with consultants traveling and working internationally on-site at no cost to partners.
Our Partners
LEO Impact Fund’s work is possible through the generous resources provided by The Tamer Center for Social Enterprise at Columbia Business School.
LEO Impact Fund is affiliated with Columbia Business School's Social Enterprise Club as an experiential learning opportunity for students.
"Joining LEO, serving as a VP of Impact Measurement and more recently as co-President, has been an incredibly formative experience during my time at CBS. Coming from a liberal arts background, I decided to pursue my MBA at Columbia to integrate my interest in doing social good with my desire to develop strategic business acumen. LEO has afforded me that opportunity and more; the leadership skills I'm developing in running a certified non-profit will be invaluable in my career and life."
— Celeste Young, Co-President (2024-25)