Investing in New Hampshire Forum Held May 18

PORTSMOUTH, NH - A recent article on Forbes.com noted that investors’ questions about impact investing have undergone a significant shift, from “What is impact investing?” to “How do I do impact investing?”

Three New Hampshire institutions − Live Free & Start, the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund − have teamed up to answer that question for Granite State investors and prospective investors. The fourth in their series of public forums, Investing in New Hampshire, will be held at Alpha Loft in Portsmouth on May 18, 2016, from 4:30 to 7 p.m.

“A successful startup ecosystem and strong business climate require, among other things, access to capital,” said Mark Kaplan, a Live Free & Start Advisory Council member and chair of its Capital Access committee. “This focus by LFS comes as the state’s five incubators and other economic development groups are creating a vibrant startup ecosystem and angel groups have a desire to become more active. These seminars will educate people about opportunities to invest in New Hampshire, making capital more available to entrepreneurs.”

Each forum features representatives of the three presenting organizations describing what they offer to impact investors:

• Mark Kaplan, CEO of Alpha Loft and Live Free & Start Advisory Council member
• John Hamilton, VP of Economic Opportunity at the N.H. Community Loan Fund
• Michael Wilson, Chief Financial Officer and VP of Finance at the N.H. Charitable Foundation

“Live Free & Start is not an investor or conduit for investment, but it can stimulate and catalyze activities leading to investment,” remarked Kaplan. “The first step in doing that was a very-well-attended angel conference that has led to new members in angel groups. The next step are these forums, which take a broader view of the opportunities to invest with impact in N.H. through other means as well.”

Hamilton said the Community Loan Fund has welcomed impact investments for more than three decades. “Our options range from Opportunity NH Investments, which pay fixed-rate returns and support job creation and retention, affordable housing, child care and other vital community services, to potentially higher-yield co-investments in growing businesses,” he said.

“We made our very first impact investment in 1971, by providing a loan to preserve historic buildings in Harrisville, N.H.,” said Wilson. “Working alongside our grant and scholarship dollars, impact investing creates an opportunity to make sizeable, long-term investments to strengthen N.H. communities.”

“Through our impact-investment program, we can invest philanthropic capital in innovative business ventures and solid nonprofit organizations aligned with our mission to improve community well-being.”

The forum’s presentations will finish at 6 p.m., followed by a networking reception at which attendees can ask questions. All are free and open to prospective and current investors and to philanthropists. This event is for educational purposes only; it’s not intended for individuals or businesses seeking investment or capital.

Registration is required, at livefreeandstart.com/nh-investing-forums/.