Fort Worth-based Eagle Venture Fund has closed its Eagle Freedom Fund at $18 million, powering what the global impact venture capital firm called “the first investment fund in the world dedicated to investing in tech innovation to fight human trafficking.”
The fund has already invested in 16 for-profit technology companies that prevent, detect, or respond to labor and sex trafficking incidents—empowering law enforcement, nonprofits, and frontline organizations with scalable solutions, the firm said.
“We’re incredibly grateful for the success of this fund and the transformational impact we’re seeing in the fight against trafficking,” Wes Lyons, general partner at Eagle Venture Fund, said in a statement. “Backing bold entrepreneurs solving the world’s greatest problems is at the core of everything we do, and we are deeply humbled by the founders, investors, and partners who have joined us in this mission.”
Portfolio companies making an impact
Eagle Venture Fund said the fund’s impact is already being felt in the first few months of operation, with its portfolio companies have directly contributed to serving 149 trafficking victims and the arrest of 39 traffickers.
The Fort Worth firm said a key catalyst in this success has been Eagle’s partnership with the Tebow Group, helping accelerate global efforts to protect the most vulnerable.
“I’m so grateful to be part of the Eagle Freedom Fund, where we’re scaling serious solutions to a serious problem,” former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow, partner at Eagle Freedom Fund and founder of The Tebow Group, said in a statement. “Fighting human trafficking requires so many people taking action together—counselors, innovators, investors, and operators. It’s an honor to partner with so many amazing leaders in our mission to protect the most vulnerable.”
The fund’s growth and reach have been boosted by wealth management partners including Huntsville, Alabama-based Keel Point, which has played a pivotal role in bringing this opportunity to “values-aligned” investors, helping to match capital with purpose, the firm said.
“We have been energized by our partnership with the Eagle Freedom Fund,” Keel Point CIO Lyle Minton said. “The fund has been a successful addition to our values-based investment platform, and the portfolio companies are already producing tangible impact results for investors who want to align investment capital with their values and mission.”
Eagle has a global impact mission
With offices in Dallas-Fort Worth, Zurich, Switzerland, and Singapore, Eagle said it targets B2B SaaS, AI-enabled software, fintech, and tech-enabled services that fight human trafficking, poverty, and economic injustice around the world
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