SJF Ventures

SJF Ventures is a Durham, North Carolina-based venture capital firm focused on growth- and early-stage investments in cleantech, sustainability, and technology-enabled services across the United States. Founded in 1999, it backs companies with annual sales typically between $2 million and $30 million and enterprise value under $50 million, investing roughly $3 million to $10 million per portfolio company and up to $15 million over the life of a company. It seeks to lead or co-invest in syndicates, sometimes alongside debt with warrants, and aims to take a board seat. Portfolio companies operate in sectors such as energy efficiency, water and waste technologies, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, health and wellness technology, education technology, and digital services leveraging software and data. The firm pursues rapid sales growth, profitability, and premium exits through strategic mergers, initial public offerings, or buyouts, with a five-year or shorter investment horizon. It maintains offices in San Francisco, New York, and Richmond, in addition to its Durham base.

Joey Barrick

Senior Associate

Perry Clarkson

Principal

Richard Defieux

Co-Founder and Investment Committee Chair

Daniel Geballe

Managing Director

David Griest

Managing Director

Past deals in Spam Filtering

Respondology

Series A in 2025
Respondology provides social media management tools that combine real-time engagement with moderation capabilities. It operates a cost-per-click reply-based advertising platform that scans millions of social posts daily to identify customer sentiment and intent and deliver targeted marketing messages in real time, with dashboards for tracking replies, clicks, and conversions. It also offers a customizable comment moderation system that helps brands reclaim control of their social presence by removing harmful comments, bots, and spam across paid, organic, and influencer channels, enabling unified moderation across multiple platforms. Founded in 2008 and based in Boulder, Colorado, Respondology serves brands seeking to optimize social media engagement while mitigating brand risk.

Respondology

Series A in 2023
Respondology provides social media management tools that combine real-time engagement with moderation capabilities. It operates a cost-per-click reply-based advertising platform that scans millions of social posts daily to identify customer sentiment and intent and deliver targeted marketing messages in real time, with dashboards for tracking replies, clicks, and conversions. It also offers a customizable comment moderation system that helps brands reclaim control of their social presence by removing harmful comments, bots, and spam across paid, organic, and influencer channels, enabling unified moderation across multiple platforms. Founded in 2008 and based in Boulder, Colorado, Respondology serves brands seeking to optimize social media engagement while mitigating brand risk.
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