Fundraising Fox

David Kirkpatrick

Investor

Managing Director at SJF Ventures

Durham, North Carolina

Writes $3M – $10M checks · typically $5M

FoundedENTOUCH Controls

About

David Kirkpatrick is Managing Director and co-founder of SJF Ventures, a growth equity fund focused on mission-driven enterprises, with offices in Durham, New York City, Seattle, and San Francisco. Since its founding in 1999, SJF has invested in 96 portfolio companies across sectors including climate technology, renewable energy, and resource efficiency, and is currently investing from its fifth fund. Kirkpatrick also served as founding co-chair of Impact Capital Managers.

LinkedIn ↗X / Twitter ↗Website ↗

Experience

  1. SJF VenturesManaging Directorcurrent1998 — presentRaleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Area
  2. Columbia Business SchoolAdjunct Associate Professor of Businesscurrent2022 — presentNew York, NY
  3. NewEdge PowerDirectorcurrent2025 — present
  4. Terabase EnergyDirectorcurrent2020 — presentBerkeley, California, United States
  5. Impact Capital ManagersCo-Founder and Board Membercurrent2017 — present
  6. VoltaiqInvestorcurrent2018 — presentBerkeley, CA
  7. EFI (Entrepreneurs for Impact)Mentorcurrent2024 — presentDurham, North Carolina, United States
  8. EnTouch ControlsDirector2013 — 2025Richardson, TX
  9. Ambient Fuels, LLCDirector2021 — 2025
  10. Living Earth - Mulch, Compost, SoilsDirector2020 — 2022Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex
  11. Community EnergyDirector2010 — 2021Radnor, PA
  12. WaycareInvestor2019 — 2021
  13. TransLocBoard Chair2016 — 2018Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Area
  14. NEXTracker, IncDirector2014 — 2015Freemont, CA
  15. groSolarDirector2006 — 2015
  16. B.B. HobbsDirector2007 — 2013
  17. NC Sustainable Energy AssociationBoard Chair2007 — 2010
  18. KirkWorksPrincipal1995 — 1999
  19. SunSharesExecutive Director1982 — 1995

Education

  1. UNC Kenan-Flagler Business SchoolMBA1989 — 1991
  2. Duke UniversityBA, Physics1978 — 1982
  3. JL Mann High1974 — 1978

Skills & more

Strategy18Management13Cleantech71Renewable Energy40Venture Capital99Solar Energy9Entrepreneurship88Impact Investing5Socially Responsible Investing2Community Development6Investments21Business2
+12 moreSustainabilityEnergy EfficiencyEnergyPrivate EquityMergersExecutive ManagementCorporate DevelopmentDue DiligenceStart-upsBusiness DevelopmentSocial EntrepreneurshipMergers & Acquisitions

From David's professional profile.

Same school

Also attended UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School85

Mathew KayeAccounting Manager at RevolutionFrancesco MoroPrincipal at Burda Principal InvestmentsJoe SantaBarbaraChief Financial Officer at .406 VenturesTony WellsVenture Partner at Copper Sky CapitalTroy ArnoldPartner, Echo Health Advisors at Echo Health VenturesTim SchmidtVice President, Fund Finance at Northpond Ventures

+ 79 more

Also attended Duke University408

Fred EhrsamCo-founder and Senior Advisor at Paradigm; founder of NudgeJeremy LevinePartner at Bessemer Venture PartnersJulie YangVice President at InvestcorpScott RaneyManaging Director at Redpoint VenturesJack Bixby LucasGeneral Partner at Lucas Venture GroupVinnie McSweeneyInvestor at OpenView Venture Partners

+ 402 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Columbia Business School86

Jeremy PhilipsInvestor at Spark CapitalGraham BrownManaging Partner at Lerer HippeauCharlie RexfordChief of Staff to CEO at Sapphire VenturesSiddharth RamakrishnanPrincipal at Scale Venture PartnersHalle TeccoFounder, Rock Health & Natalist at Giant Ventures Global LlpFlorin MihocVenture Partner at Ff Venture Capital

+ 80 more

Also worked at Terabase Energy7

Tim WoodwardManaging Director at Prelude VenturesEdward YangSenior Associate at Prelude VenturesTianyu ZhaoInvestor at Sand Hill AngelsEmily KirschFounder and Managing Partner at PowerhouseSila KiliccoteBreakthrough Energy Ventures at Breakthrough Energy VenturesAlexandra HarbourAdvisor at Prelude Ventures

+ 1 more

Also worked at EFI (Entrepreneurs for Impact)4

Jordan RamerInvestor at Motus Ventures, LlcTim KrysiekManaging Partner at MassMutual VenturesMicah KotchPartner at Blackhorn VenturesSusan Hunt StevensExecutive in Residence at Earthshot Ventures

Also worked at EnTouch Controls2

Fabio LancellottiPartner at Aster CapitalMartin AaresManaging Director at Closed Loop Partners

Colleagues at SJF Ventures

Alan Kelley
Managing Director at SJF Ventures
Allan Kelley
Investor at SJF Ventures
Arrun Kapoor
Managing Director at SJF Ventures
Cody Nystrom
Managing Director at SJF Ventures
Dan Geballe
Managing Director at SJF Ventures
David Griest
Managing Director at SJF Ventures
Jackie Lipkin
Partner at SJF Ventures
Joey Barrick
Senior Associate at SJF Ventures

Network1

Cody Nystrom
Managing Director at SJF Ventures

Investors connected to David in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.