BNVT Capital launches its inaugural fund, blending profit and purpose through AI-powered investments targeting global societal challenges, backed by extensive research and strategic global partnerships.
BNVT Capital has launched its inaugural $150 million fund, marking a significant step into AI-first and technology-driven investments aimed at addressing some of humanity’s most pressing challenges. The fund’s strategy draws from a pioneering study co-authored with Harvard Business School professor Josh Lerner, alongside academics from MIT and Oxford. This extensive research analysed data spanning four decades from more than 500 venture capital funds and 14,000 companies, revealing a compelling insight: only about 30% of venture-backed companies focus on solving major societal issues, yet these companies have consistently delivered financial returns 51% higher than their peers.
The fund was founded by three experienced partners: Rory Mounsey-Heysham, formerly of the Gates Foundation; Chris Corbishley, who brings his expertise from Hedosophia; and Nasir Alsharif, the Executive Chairman of Sackville Capital with a background at Goldman Sachs and Investcorp. Sackville Capital, a well-established global investment firm based in London, is a financial backer of BNVT Capital, supporting the fund’s approach by providing operational expertise and connections to international partners. This collaborative backing signals strong industrial confidence in BNVT’s vision.
Since its launch, BNVT Capital has already invested in 11 innovative companies across Europe and the United States, including Swap Commerce in the UK, Cloover in Germany, and Dawnguard in the Netherlands. The fund has further extended its influence by partnering with prominent global investment firms such as TPG, Iconiq, Lowercarbon, and QED Capital to enhance its reach and impact.
The ethos underpinning BNVT Capital is inspired by the investment philosophies exemplified by philanthropists like Bill Gates, who have demonstrated that investing in solutions to global problems can yield substantial returns. Rory Mounsey-Heysham articulated this perspective, noting that “LPs and entrepreneurs are crying out for investors who see the world’s biggest challenges not as a moral quandary, but as vast untapped markets.” This approach aims to strike a balance between conventional environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives and traditional capitalism, offering what the firm describes as a “third way” to investing—merging profit with purpose.
BNVT Capital’s launch coincides with broader market dynamics in 2025, a year witnessing a surge in AI funding, projected at $280 billion globally. The firm employs AI-driven due diligence processes to navigate the liquidity tightening that has challenged other investment vehicles, ensuring resilience through regulatory-aligned stress testing and sector diversification in its portfolio. This disciplined strategy reflects an acute awareness of current market volatility while pursuing opportunities that align with the investment thesis of “benevolent disruption.”
The study that informed BNVT’s strategy has gained notable support within the entrepreneurial and investment communities, including endorsements from founders and executives at major companies such as Shopify, Google, Octopus Energy, and Remitly. Institutional investors like Starwood Capital and Investcorp have also lent their backing. Barry Sternlicht, CEO of Starwood Capital, emphasised this philosophy, stating, “The greatest economic value comes from investing in mission-driven brands that don’t just follow the market—they redefine it.”
Leading figures associated with BNVT Capital have underlined the untapped potential of investing in companies that tackle massive social challenges. Nasir Alsharif highlighted the uniqueness of the fund’s thesis, calling it “a differentiated investment thesis backed by extraordinarily real-world data,” with a “countercyclical nature” that promises outsized returns across multiple sectors. Meanwhile, Chris Corbishley criticised conventional investment trends for neglecting “solutions that can reshape society for the better,” framing BNVT’s vision as a genuine disruption in venture capital norms.
Testimonies from portfolio companies also showcase the fund’s active role beyond capital provision. Sam Atkinson, founder of Swap Commerce, credited BNVT for its “strategic capital and deep expertise” that have been pivotal in shaping the company’s growth strategy and product development. Similarly, Jodok Betschart, founder of Cloover, emphasised BNVT’s significance in unlocking funding and connecting Cloover to climate-focused investors, describing the partnership as “instrumental.”
Looking ahead, BNVT Capital plans to expand its portfolio to include 25 to 30 companies globally within the next two years, accompanied by the launch of Benevolent Disruption—a platform designed to cultivate collaboration and knowledge-sharing among entrepreneurs, investors, and stakeholders committed to using business as a force for good.
This initiative reflects a broader ambition not merely to generate financial returns but to redefine the intersection of investment and societal impact, asserting that significant challenges present vast, largely untapped markets. As Professor Josh Lerner of Harvard Business School, one of the study’s co-authors, observed in its foreword, recognising that “outsized financial returns can be produced while solving big issues at scale” could be pivotal to the next wave of innovation in venture capital.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative was published on September 17, 2025, and has been republished across multiple outlets, including GlobeNewswire, StartupHub.ai, and CityBiz. The earliest known publication date is September 17, 2025. The narrative is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. No similar content appeared more than 7 days earlier. The article includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
The quotes from Rory Mounsey-Heysham, Nasir Alsharif, and Chris Corbishley appear to be original and have not been found in earlier material. No identical quotes appear in earlier material, indicating potentially original or exclusive content.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The narrative originates from Pulse 2.0, a business news outlet. While Pulse 2.0 is a known source, it is not as widely recognized as major outlets like the Financial Times or Reuters. The report mentions Sackville Capital, a global investment firm based in London, which appears to be a legitimate entity. However, further verification of BNVT Capital and other entities mentioned is recommended.
Plausability check
Score:
7
Notes:
The claims about BNVT Capital’s $150 million fund and its focus on AI-driven investments align with current market trends. The report lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, which is a concern. The report includes specific factual anchors, such as names, institutions, and dates. The language and tone are consistent with the region and topic. The structure is focused and relevant to the claim. The tone is formal and resembles typical corporate language.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative presents a plausible account of BNVT Capital’s $150 million fund launch, with original quotes and specific details. However, the reliance on a press release and the lack of coverage from other reputable outlets raise concerns about the report’s credibility. Further verification of the entities mentioned is recommended to assess the overall reliability of the information.
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