Lisa Hagerman is the Director of Programs at DBL Partners, a double bottom line venture capital firm, which she joined in 2011.  Lisa is leading the strategy and implementation of double bottom line practices, working with DBL’s portfolio companies across workforce development, environmental stewardship, community engagement, and public policy.

This interview is part of the Aspen Institute Center for Urban Innovation’s series of conversations with inclusive innovation practitioners

Jennifer Bradley:  How do you think about the relationship between the tool of venture capital and values?

Lisa Hagerman:  I see it as a tool for inclusive innovation because it is a vehicle for large institutional investors, many private foundations, family foundations, family offices, high net-worth individuals, and others to invest for strong financial returns, but also positive social and environmental impacts on society.  Being able to move beyond traditional philanthropy through values-based investing sends significant amounts of capital into different sectors and supports the whole ecosystem that then leads to innovative technologies and significant job creation, because you’re doing all of this at scale with substantial capital.

JB:  I’ve talked to other people in impact venture capital, and a tool they wish existed is a different set of metrics or more subtle ways to think about ROI.  Is that something that you would like to see? 

LH:  Well, I think metrics and impact measurement and impact management seems to be a big discussion point within the impact investing industry right now.  I think some of the discussion around metrics is to some extent how can you automate it, how can you create different platforms and benchmarks.

Read the full article about venture capitalists thoughts on investing at The Aspen Institute.