Gratitude Railroad

Gratitude Railroad is a community-driven impact investment firm founded in 2013 by Howard Fischer and Eric Jacobsen. The firm focuses on investing in early-stage companies and emerging funds that address critical social and environmental issues. Their investment strategy emphasizes planetary health, social well-being, and intersectional innovation, with a strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. Notable investments by Gratitude Railroad include Recompose, a company innovating in the field of ecological death care; Twentyeight Health, which aims to improve access to healthcare for underserved populations; and Firework Ventures, a fund supporting companies that drive positive social change. These investments highlight the firm's dedication to supporting businesses that deliver both financial returns and significant societal impact. Gratitude Railroad typically invests around $1 million in companies at the Seed or Series A stage, focusing primarily on US-based businesses with proven product-market fit and at least $500,000 in annual revenue. They also invest in diverse-led companies and funds, with over 60% of their portfolio companies led by women and 42% by BIPOC leaders. Overall, Gratitude Railroad's mission is to harness the power of capital to create a more just, equitable, and sustainable world, supporting ventures that tackle systemic issues with innovative market-based solutions.