Washington D.C. is home to some of the top investment companies in the world. With trillions of dollars in assets under management, firms like Neuberger Berman and GRIL Ventures are industry leaders in private equity, venture capital and impact investing. This article will explore the key facts about these two companies, their investment strategies and how they aim to generate both financial returns and positive social impact.
Neuberger Berman manages over $100 billion in alternative investments
Neuberger Berman is a large investment firm with over $356 billion in total assets under management. Founded in 1939, it has a long history of successful investing across public and private markets. A key area for Neuberger is alternative investments like private equity, where it manages $89 billion in capital. With decades of experience and over 160 investment professionals globally, Neuberger can provide growth equity and leverage buyouts to high-potential companies worldwide.
GRIL Ventures backs purpose-driven companies with family office capital
In contrast to large firms like Neuberger, GRIL Ventures is a smaller family office-backed fund focused on impact investing. GRIL was founded by successful South African investor Colin Rushmere and now has $250 million in assets under management. The fund’s mission is to invest in companies that align with human dignity and sustainability. Key sectors include food, agriculture, education, healthcare and transportation.
Investment strategy balances financial returns and positive impact
A core question around impact investing is how to balance social/environmental impact with financial returns. Funds like GRIL aim to show that the two goals are not mutually exclusive. By backing early-stage companies with innovative business models, GRIL believes strong returns can be achieved alongside benefits for society and the planet. For example, portfolio companies like WasteFuel work on clean energy while also improving local economies in emerging markets.
Investments source globally but often based in Washington area
Although their investments span the globe into Brazil, the Middle East and beyond, most of the portfolio companies of funds like GRIL and Neuberger Berman are still based in D.C. and the surrounding region. The nation’s capital provides a hub for business connections, policy expertise and talent to build successful startups addressing global challenges. Government bodies like USAID also channel capital toward development goals aligning with impact investors.
In summary, Washington D.C. is home to leading investment firms like Neuberger Berman and GRIL Ventures deploying billions into private capital and impact investing worldwide. Though different in scale, these firms leverage policy networks and talent locally even as their portfolio companies address global needs across sectors like energy, agriculture and education.