Joel Solomon

Joel Solomon is Chairman of Renewal Funds, a $98-million mission venture capital firm. He has invested in over 100 early growth-stage companies in North America, delivering above-market returns while catalyzing positive social and environmental change. Solomon spent ten years building businesses in Nashville’s deteriorating urban core, where he co-founded Village Real Estate, CORE development and the Bongo Java chain of coffee houses. Solomon is a founding member of the Social Venture Network, Business for Social Responsibility, Tides Canada and is board chair of Hollyhock. He is a Senior Advisor to RSF Social Finance in San Francisco.  Joel is considered a vanguard of socially responsible investing in North America. He is also a TED speaker.