Strategy & Portfolio
ESG
Last updated
Quick Answer
Environmental, Social, and Governance — criteria used by impact investors to evaluate companies beyond purely financial metrics.
ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) is a framework for evaluating a company's impact and behavior beyond financial performance. Environmental factors: carbon emissions, resource consumption, environmental practices. Social factors: labor practices, diversity and inclusion, community impact. Governance factors: board composition, executive compensation, shareholder rights, transparency. In venture capital, ESG has become increasingly relevant as LPs (particularly sovereign wealth funds, European pension funds, and endowments with sustainability commitments) require their fund managers to consider ESG criteria. ESG-focused VC firms specifically target companies with positive environmental or social impact. Critics argue ESG frameworks are too vague and subject to 'greenwashing' — overstating sustainability credentials.
Related Concepts
Further Reading
Side Letter Best Practices for Emerging Managers: What to Grant and What to Avoid
A practical guide to VC side letters for emerging managers: what they are, which provisions are standard, how MFN clauses really work, what to push back on, and how to avoid the most common mistakes that can haunt a fund for its entire life.
How to Write an LPA: The Limited Partnership Agreement Guide for Fund Managers
A practical 2026 guide for venture capital and private equity fund managers on drafting, negotiating, and operating under a Limited Partnership Agreement (LPA): key sections, ILPA standards, costs, lawyer selection, and common mistakes.
Impact Investing in Venture Capital: Returns, Metrics, and Fund Structures
Impact venture capital has matured into a serious asset class. Here's what fund managers and LPs need to know about returns, measurement frameworks, and fund structures.
Emerging Manager LP Outreach: Email Templates and Sequences That Work
Struggling to get LP responses? These proven email templates and follow-up sequences are built for emerging managers who need to convert cold outreach into real conversations.
Side Letter Negotiations: What LPs Actually Ask For
Side letters are where LPs exercise real leverage. Here's a breakdown of the most common provisions institutional LPs actually negotiate — and how GPs should respond.
How Endowments and Foundations Allocate to Venture Capital
The Yale Model changed everything. Here's how the largest endowments and foundations actually build their venture portfolios — and what it means for GPs seeking institutional capital.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ESG in venture capital?
ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) is a framework for evaluating a company's impact and behavior beyond financial performance. Environmental factors: carbon emissions, resource consumption, environmental practices. Social factors: labor practices, diversity and inclusion, community impact.
Why is ESG important for startups?
Understanding ESG is critical for founders navigating the fundraising process. It directly impacts deal terms, valuation, and the relationship between founders and investors.
What category does ESG fall under in VC?
ESG falls under the strategy category in venture capital. This area covers concepts related to the strategic approaches to portfolio construction and management.
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