David Kirkpatrick

Dave Kirkpatrick is a Managing Director and co-founder of SJF Ventures, which focuses on high growth, positive impact ventures. Dave helped lead SJF’s capitalization of five funds totaling $435 million starting in 1999.  Dave’s portfolio engagements include Ambient Fuels, Terabase Energy, PosiGen, Voltaiq, and ENTOUCH, as well as exited companies ROOM, Living Earth, Community Energy, TransLoc, Nextracker, groSolar, CleanScapes, B.B Hobbs, Waycare, and Foxfire. Dave’s industry focus areas include climate tech, solar energy, energy efficiency, recycling & reuse, and mobility. Dave was the founding co-chair of the Impact Capital Managers, a network of private capital fund managers in the U.S. and Canada investing for financial returns and impact.

Prior to SJF, Dave founded and managed KirkWorks, a cleantech investment research firm; and SunShares, a solar energy and recycling company. Dave was named the 2005 CDVC Practitioner of the Year by the Community Development Venture Capital Alliance and Recycler of the Year in 1996 by the National Recycling Coalition.

Dave is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Business at the Columbia Business School and co-teaches a climate tech course. Dave earned a BA in Physics and History from Duke University in 1982 and an MBA from UNC Kenan Flagler Business School (KFBS) in 1991. He was named 2023 Impact Leader Award by Impact Capital Managers and the KFBS Executive MBA Alumnus of the Year in 2010.  He enjoys gardening, kayaking and trying to learn Spanish.