LGBT Capital and Galeforce Capital today announced a strategic alliance to offer a world-first focus on Impact Investing in the LGBT sector, combining sound commercial investment with social enterprise impact.

LGBT Capital is the world’s first corporate advisory and investment management firm focused on the LGBT consumer sector, with particular interest in LGBT social networking companies benefiting from LGBT growth. Galeforce Capital is the first philanthropic investment fund dedicated to supporting LGBT social enterprises and enterprises creating economic opportunity for marginalized LGBT individuals and organizations. Both organizations share the view that the Impact Investing is an asset class on the rise globally and that commercially sound LGBT related investments and promoting LGBT social enterprise are no longer mutually exclusive in this increasingly blended value marketplace.

LGBT Capital and Galeforce Capital are confident that their collaboration will provide investors with a unique opportunity to maximize both financial and social returns in the LGBT sector. “We are proud to be working with Galeforce Capital and with such exciting projects. We believe the socially responsible angle to the LGBT orientated investment fund is very powerful and believe that Impact Investing is a strong force for change,” said Paul Thompson, co-founder of LGBT Capital.

First among LGBT Capital’s socially screened offerings is a private equity investment fund focused on social networking investment opportunities within the LGBT sector.
This specialist investment vehicle will focus on new media channels to connect with the LGBT consumer sub-sector and while the primary investment focus will be on creating attractive financial returns, the investments will also be vetted on ‘Impact Investment’ merits and managed to encourage social-enterprise and responsibility.

A portion of LGBT Capital’s revenue from its portfolio of LGBT commercial enterprises will be reinvested in Galeforce Capital’s efforts to support LGBT social enterprises. “We need to develop responsible ways to leverage the full potential and power of the market to address the critical LGBT social and economic challenges of our day” said Lee Davis, social entrepreneur and Galeforce Capital founder. “Our strategic alliance with LGBT Capital creates the perfect opportunity for impact investors to enable the growing LGBT social enterprise marketplace and, in so doing, maximize their social and financial returns.” In 2009, with support from the Arcus Foundation, Davis published the first book on the growing LGBT social enterprise market, “End of the Rainbow: Increasing the Sustainability of LGBT Organizations through Social Enterprise,” and launched Galeforce Capital the following year to respond to the potential of LGBT social enterprise.

To encourage excellence and innovation in LGBT social enterprise globally, Galeforce Capital is launching the first global social enterprise competition in 2011. Entry details will be posted on the Galeforce Capital website in March and promoted globally with the assistance of LGBT Capital and a global network of sponsors and supporting partners. Winners of the competition will be selected by an international panel of judges and will receive a package of financing and business development support to plan for, start-up or expand their LGBT social enterprise.

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About LGBT Capital
LGBT Capital is a specialist Corporate Advisory and Investment Management Unit of Galileo Capital Management focused on the LGBT consumer market with operations in the UK and Greater China. LGBT Capital provides corporate advisory and business development services, as well as investment management for the Funds it is launching. LGBT Capital’s principals Anders Jacobsen and Paul Thompson have over 40 years combined experience in the investment management sector with distinguished track records in global investment managers including Goldman Sachs, Prudential Financial, Inc., Fidelity, Bankers Trust and Chase Manhattan Bank as well as a unique knowledge of the LGBT sector. Between them they have advised numerous mutual, private equity, venture capital and hedge funds on their establishment and launch, as well as provided growth and development strategies for existing investment Funds.
www.LGBT-Capital.com

About Galeforce Capital
Galeforce Capital is the first global philanthropic investment fund dedicated to supporting LGBT social enterprises that create economic opportunity for marginalized LGBT individuals and organizations. Galeforce Capital provides financial and business development support to plan for, launch or expand LGBT social enterprises. Galeforce Capital was launched and is managed by NESsT, an international social enterprise development organization, founded by serial social entrepreneurs Lee Davis and Nicole Etchart. NESsT has supported over 2,600 social enterprises in emerging markets since 1997. In 2009, Lee Davis authored the seminal book on LGBT social enterprise, “End of the Rainbow: Increasing the sustainability of LGBT organizations through social enterprise,” launching Galeforce Capital the following year.