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Sayuri Sharper

Impact investor and social venture mentor

Sayuri Sharper is the Chief Executive Officer of Kuo Sharper Initiative LLC, where she focuses on impact investing and social entrepreneurship. She is also the president of KSF Impact, a private foundation dedicated to investing in early-stage global social enterprises aimed at poverty alleviation and economic development. Additionally, she serves as a board member of MCE Social Capital, a nonprofit that generates economic opportunities through a loan guarantee model, and is an advisory board member of the Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship, which supports social entrepreneurs in creating sustainable solutions to poverty.

Her professional background includes significant roles in various organizations that promote social impact. Sharper has been a senior partner at Acumen since 2016, where she helps invest in companies that serve low-income customers. She was also the president of the MIT Social Entrepreneurship Alumni Group from 2018 to 2021, fostering collaboration among alumni in the field of social entrepreneurship.

In terms of education, Sayuri holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a Juris Doctor (JD) from Santa Clara University School of Law.12

Highlights

Apr 5 · linkedin

Want to hear from three innovative entrepreneurs who are "unlocking growth capital to create jobs and wealth in developing countries?" Vote for this session at SOCAP 2023 here: https://lnkd.in/gKEdmC8T #impactinvesting #socialenterprise #catalyticinvesting #socap

Mar 8 · linkedin

Proud of MCE for closing the first round of MESA fund, and serving as MESA fund investment committee chair.

Message from MCE:   We have some BIG news! In partnership with the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), Ceniarth, ImpactAssets, and other respected investors, and with fund design support from USAID, we have officially launched MCE’s Empowering Sustainable Agriculture Fund (MESA) with our first close of US$19.5M. We expect a second close of similar size to follow later in 2023, led by a proposed commitment from FMO: Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank, for a total target raise of US$40M in senior and catalytic investments—bringing MCE’s total assets under management to an impressive US$100M and allowing MCE to further scale its impact.

“MCE’s Empowering Sustainable Agriculture (‘MESA’) is coming to market at the right time, allowing us to expand our support to innovative companies who are creating economic opportunities for smallholder farmers. I’m so proud of what MCE’s all-female leadership team has accomplished and excited to see the impact MCE will have on rural communities through this new fund.” - Camilla Nestor, CEO

#impactinvesting #socialimpact #socialenterprise #agriculturelending

Related Questions

What are the main goals of Kuo Sharper Initiative LLC?
How has Sayuri Sharper's background in electrical engineering influenced her career in impact investing?
What specific projects has KSF Impact funded recently?
How does MCE Social Capital's loan guarantee model work?
What is the role of the Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship in Sayuri Sharper's career?
Sayuri Sharper
Sayuri Sharper, photo 1
Sayuri Sharper, photo 2
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Experience

President at KSF Impact
Senior Partner at Acumen, Member at Toniic

Education

BS & MS in Electrical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1977 - 1982), JD from Santa Clara University School of Law (2001 - 2004)

Location

San Francisco Bay Area