The specialist corporate advisory and investment management unit of Galileo Capital Management, LGBT Capital, has formed a strategic alliance with philanthropic hedge fund, Galeforce Capital, offering a world-first focus on Impact Investing in the LGBT sector.

LGBT Capital and Galeforce Capital are confident that their collaboration will provide investors with a unique opportunity to maximize both financial and social returns in the LGBT sector. “We are proud to be working with Galeforce Capital and with such exciting projects. We believe the socially responsible angle to the LGBT orientated investment fund is very powerful and believe that Impact Investing is a strong force for change,” said Paul Thompson, co-founder of LGBT Capital.

First among LGBT Capital’s socially screened offerings is a private equity investment fund focused on social networking investment opportunities within the LGBT sector.

This specialist investment vehicle will focus on new media channels to connect with the LGBT consumer sub-sector and while the primary investment focus will be on creating attractive financial returns, the investments will also be vetted on ‘Impact Investment’ merits and managed to encourage social-enterprise and responsibility.

In 2009, with support from the Arcus Foundation, Davis published the first book on the growing LGBT social enterprise
market, “End of the Rainbow: Increasing the Sustainability of LGBT Organizations through Social Enterprise,” and launched Galeforce Capital the following year to respond to the potential of LGBT social enterprise.

To encourage excellence and innovation in LGBT social enterprise globally, Galeforce Capital is launching the first global social enterprise competition in 2011. Entry details will be posted on the Galeforce Capital website in March and
promoted globally with the assistance of LGBT Capital and a global network of sponsors and supporting partners.

Winners of the competition will be selected by an international panel of judges and will receive a package of financing and business development support to plan for, start-up or expand their LGBT social enterprise.

LGBT Capital’s principals Anders Jacobsen and Paul Thompson have over 40 years combined experience in the investment management sector with distinguished track records in global investment managers including Goldman Sachs, Prudential Financial, Inc., Fidelity, Bankers Trust and Chase Manhattan Bank as well as a unique knowledge of the LGBT sector.

Between them they have advised numerous mutual, private equity, venture capital and hedge funds on their establishment and launch, as well as provided growth and development strategies for existing hedge funds.