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Dave Kirkpatrick

Dave Kirkpatrick

Managing Director & Co-founder atSJF VenturesDurham, NC
LinkedIn SJF Ventures websiteFirm profile

Dave Kirkpatrick is a Managing Director and co-founder of SJF Ventures, focusing on high growth, positive impact companies. He has led the firm's capitalization of five funds totaling $435 million since 1999.

What Dave can write

Writes checks of$3M to $30M
Comes in atSeries A, Series BCan lead the round
Ownership target7-10%At first check
Pitch pageSubmit on their siteThe firm asks founders to apply here.

SJF Ventures writes $3M to $30M checks, larger than 93% of firms in the atlas.

Bars: how many firms report each check band. Highlighted: SJF Ventures.

Career

  1. KirkWorks · founder and manager
  2. SunShares · founder
  3. SJF Ventures · Managing Director and co-founder
    Now
  4. SunShares
  5. KirkWorks
  6. Columbia Business School · Adjunct Associate Professor of Business

Companies founded

SJF VenturesKirkWorksSunShares

Investments named in public bios

Terabase EnergyVoltaiqNewEdge PowerNuclearnAmbient FuelsENTOUCHROOMLiving EarthCommunity EnergyTransLocNextrackergroSolarCleanScapesB.B HobbsWaycareFoxfire

Focus

climate techsolar energyenergy efficiencyrecycling & reusemobility

Education

Duke University, BA in Physics and HistoryUNC Kenan Flagler Business School (KFBS), MBA

Also at SJF Ventures

Alan Kelley
Alan KelleyManaging Director
Arrun Kapoor
Arrun KapoorManaging Director
Cody Nystrom
Cody NystromManaging Director
Dan Geballe
Dan GeballeManaging Director
David Griest
David GriestManaging Director
Jackie Lipkin
Jackie LipkinManaging Director
Perry Clarkson
Perry ClarksonManaging Director
Rick Defieux
Rick DefieuxChair, Investment Committee & Co-founder

Partners like Dave

At firms with a similar stage, sector and check size.

Andrew Beebe
Andrew BeebeManaging Director, Obvious Ventures
Daniel Balmisse
Daniel BalmisseManaging Partner, Cathay InnoSquare, Cathay Innovation
Brian D'Ambrosio
Brian D'AmbrosioGeneral Partner, GOVO Venture Partners
Nabeela Merchant
Nabeela MerchantTELUS Pollinator Fund for Good
Arti Srivastava
Arti SrivastavaSenior Vice President, Investing, Citi Impact Fund
Fady SaadGeneral Partner, Cybernetix Ventures

Alert me when SJF Ventures is active

One email when Dave's firm raises a fund, adds a partner or shows new activity.

Founders and investors at a Mode VC gathering

Send Mode VC your deck

Raising a pre-seed or seed round? We write $1M to $5M first checks and help founders with distribution. A partner reads every deck.

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Questions

Who is Dave Kirkpatrick?

Dave Kirkpatrick is a Managing Director and co-founder of SJF Ventures, focusing on high growth, positive impact companies. He has led the firm's capitalization of five funds totaling $435 million since 1999.

How much does Dave Kirkpatrick invest?

Dave Kirkpatrick invests through SJF Ventures, which writes checks of $3M to $30M at series a, series b.

How do I pitch Dave Kirkpatrick?

A warm intro from a founder SJF Ventures backed works best. A short LinkedIn note with one line on traction is the next best route.

What did Dave Kirkpatrick do before SJF Ventures?

founder and manager at KirkWorks; founder at SunShares; SunShares; KirkWorks; Adjunct Associate Professor of Business at Columbia Business School.

Last updated 2026-10-15. Is this you? Ask for a correction.