IMPACTASSETS 50™
An Annual Showcase of Impact Investment Fund Managers
ImpactAssets 50
An Annual Showcase of Impact Investment Fund Managers
Zeal Capital Partners
Financial and Economic Inclusion
Health and Wellbeing
Workforce Development, Upskilling and RetrainingFirm Overview
Zeal Capital Partners is a mission-driven venture capital firm that invests in high-growth, early-stage businesses to generate above-market rate returns and impact at scale. Founded in 2020 in Washington, DC, Zeal leverages its Inclusive InvestingTM strategy to partner with diverse management teams who are scaling solutions across 3 categories: financial technology, health equity, and employment pathways. Together we are narrowing wealth, health, and skill gaps in the United States and globally. The firm manages ~$183m in total AUM, investing across three accounts - Zeal I, Zeal II, and Barclays Black Formation Investments ($50M pre-seed vehicle with Barclays as sole LP)
Years of Operation: 3 – 4 years
% of Capital from Top 3 Investors: Less than 25%
Zeal Capital Partners invests in high-growth, early-stage companies led by diverse management teams scaling solutions to improve financial wellness, health equity, and employment pathways.
Zeal focuses on Inclusive Investing™, a market-backed discipline that allows us to cast a targeted, yet wide net when sourcing companies, while keeping outsized returns and impact front and center in our investment decisions. Inclusive Investing™ goes beyond diversity. It’s a new investment discipline that can transform the way we source, invest in, and scale businesses, thus creating new pathways to prosperity for individuals, businesses, and communities at scale. We’ve constructed a five pronged approach that starts internally with Diverse Fund Managers as we endeavor to seek out Diverse Management Teams. Our Investment Focus drives fund allocation to sectors where we expect continued innovation and opportunity for disruption. Geographical Inclusivity is critical to our thesis, as we source across the entire US and not just tech hotbeds. Lastly, we look for an Impact Lens to achieve top tier financial and social returns while impacting low-wealth communities and small businesses.
Zeal Capital Partners core differentiator is its Inclusive Investing™ strategy, a market-backed discipline that enables Zeal to cast a wide, yet targeted approach to sourcing, due diligence, and investments. In addition, an investment from Zeal goes beyond capital to include hands-on strategic and operational support and a broad network of tools and resources that drive performance and minimize downside risk for each company and the Zeal portfolio overall. Ultimately, we aim to have our founders hit the next stage of growth faster and more often than would otherwise be possible. We draw on the expertise of our in-house team, our network of founders and investors, and formal and informal operating partners and advisors. We also leverage local assets in Washington, DC such as federal agencies, academia, think tanks, etc, which is helpful since we often underwrite in highly regulated categories.
Investment Example
In 2023 we invested in EdVisorly, is a mobile platform to improve community college students' ability to transfer to 4-year universities. Though 80% of the 9 million U.S. community college students aspire to earn a bachelor’s degree, only 13% are successful. Meanwhile, 4-year universities have a demand for talented, diverse students across all of their classes. EdVisorly’s AI-enabled technology makes it easier for qualified students and universities to connect and find one another. In addition, the AI tech streamlines the process of evaluating and transferring credits throughout the enrollment process. Each quarter, EdVisorly is welcoming an average of 10 new universities, more than doubling the university acquisition rate from earlier in the year. Since January, Average Contract Values have expanded over 120% and recurring revenue is on track to grow 5.5x YOY as new universities onboard and existing customers expand their partnership.
Leadership and Team
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Nasir Qadree – Founder and Managing Partner More Info
Mr. Nasir C. Qadree is Founder and Managing Partner of Zeal Capital Partners where he defines the firm’s focus, leads investment activities, and manages post value creation strategies for its portfolio companies. Prior to Zeal, Qadree served as Associate Director for AT&T’s $400 million Aspire Social Investment Fund, where he oversaw direct investments in education and employment technology companies and led the tech giant’s investment readiness program. Prior to AT&T, he led Village Capital’s US Economic Opportunity portfolio and served as its Global Head of Education. While there, Qadree evaluated early stage businesses in education, health, and financial services and developed investment theses across the three sectors. |
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Stefanie Thomas – Partner More Info
Today, Stefanie can often be found working at the intersection of inclusive economies, innovation, and capital accessibility. Along the way, Stefanie has started organizations, led multi-faceted projects, and built incredible networks. As someone who enjoys connecting with people and expanding her perspective, she is always up for ideating on a new concept or exploring an alternative way to think about the world. |
Financial Performance
Impact Performance
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Percentage of Total Assets Under
Management that are Impact Investments: |
100%
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With every investment we make the impact, either inherent or potential, of a company is core to our decision making process. So much so that it is explicitly written in our thesis statement that we invest in companies setting out to “[impact] low-wealth communities and small businesses.” Not only must impact be a core focus of the company mission, but we also examine founders' motives to ensure genuine intentions.
At Zeal we believe that diversity in management yields inclusive, effective, and forward thinking companies. Zeal requires all founding teams to sign a diversity pledge to ensure continued equitable hiring practices as well as an inclusive company culture. Likewise, we do not engage with any companies involved in predatory or harmful practices that may prove detrimental to the very communities that we have set out to support.
Impact Tracking and Monitoring
Learn More
600 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001 USA
Apply for the IA 50 2022
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