Annual Haas Impact Fund Pitch Competition

The Berkeley Haas School of Business proudly hosted the fifth annual Invest for Impact Pitch Competition, a cornerstone event for the Sustainable & Impact Finance (SAIF) program at Haas. This year’s competition, held on April 26, 2024, marked a significant evolution in both scope and impact, bringing together a diverse array of MBA students, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders.

During the semester-long Haas Impact Fund course, MBA students embarked on an intensive journey to source and perform due diligence on startups that promise high financial returns coupled with meaningful social and environmental impacts. This year, the competition focused on a broad range of sectors, including food and its supply chain, health implementation, skilling and education, waste & circular economy, and various aspects of climate tech.

The companies pitched to the Haas Impact Fund in 2024 included:

  • MedHaul (MedHaul): Enhancing access to healthcare by providing reliable transportation for vulnerable patients.
  • Splight (Splight): Innovating the energy sector with intelligent energy solutions.
  • Hertha Metals (Hertha Metals): Significantly reducing emissions in steelmaking with advanced technology.
  • Nanochon (Nanochon): Offering low-cost, minimally-invasive solutions for joint injuries.
  • Redwood Neuro (Redwood Neuro): Developing scalable diagnostics for Alzheimer’s Disease.
  • Orlar (Orlar): Revolutionizing agriculture through sustainable farming techniques.
  • HyLight (HyLight): Advancing transportation with eco-friendly aerospace solutions.
  • Inevitable (Inevitable): Pioneering innovations in infrastructure development.
  • Kunduz (Kunduz): Disrupting education through personalized tutoring services.
  • Urban Machine (Urban Machine): Creating sustainable urban environments through innovative construction technologies.

This year’s winners, MedHaul, Splight and Hertha Metals, showcased solutions that were not only innovative but also scalable, addressing critical needs in the healthcare accessibility, energy efficiency and clean energy sectors.

“The Haas Impact Fund was an awesome opportunity to see companies solving problems across healthcare. In my full-time role, I invest in companies with a comparatively narrow investment thesis, so HIF allowed me to broaden my horizons and get experience diligencing new business models. I also loved the opportunity to build community with alumni working in impact investing and with like minded students in the full time program.” – Rosana Rabines, EWMBA 2025

Judges give feedback
The panel of judges ask questions to the students pitching

The 2024 competition expanded its influence with a panel of esteemed industry judges who evaluated the pitches. The judges included David Hartwig, co-founder and partner at Sapphire Ventures, Sara Weinheimer, impact finance investor & advisor, Shilpi Kumar, partner at Third Sphere, and Teresa Tate, chair of U.S. Emerging Growth & Venture Capital Group at Reed Smith. They brought a wealth of experience from various sectors, contributing to an enriched learning environment for the participants. Also joining as both a judge and a keynote speaker was Mark Goldstein, managing partner of Builders VC.

“HIF was an incredible learning experience. My takeaways and true level of understanding could only have been gained through this experiential class format. The teaching team of Adair and Jeep is supportive, constructive, and direct. They pull in outstanding mentors, who are even willing to talk you through a stressful founder interaction while they’re on vacation (IFC’s Selcuk Tanatar)! My understanding of Venture Capital and the positive impact it can have went from 0 to 60 in one semester, and I’m truly grateful for all I’ve learned.” – Brianna Beighle, MBA 2024

The event concluded with a networking session, providing students, alumni, and professionals a platform to discuss future collaborations and reflect on the innovative ideas presented. Next year’s competition will continue to offer an investment stake of $75,000, with a view to attracting more global startups and further fostering the spirit of sustainable and impact investing at Berkeley Haas.

One winning team, pitching on behalf of startup MedHaul, included Lauren Zinser, MBA 24, Amy Cui, MBA 25, Crystal Gaeta, MBA 24, and Rosana Rabines, EWMBA 25.
One winning team, pitching on behalf of startup MedHaul, included Lauren Zinser, MBA 24, Amy Cui, MBA 25, Crystal Gaeta, MBA 24, and Rosana Rabines, EWMBA 25.
Another winning team, pitching on behalf of startup Splight, with Haas Impact Fund faculty and support staff. Photo features Kyle Allen MBA 25, Jeep Kline, Professional Faculty of the Haas Impact Fund Course, Jule Hulsman, MBA 25, Loraine Binion, Treasurer of the UC Foundation, and Mohammed Shomrat, EWMBA 25. (Team members not pictured Svetlana Tokareva and Shuyu Mao, EWMBA 26).
Another winning team, pitching on behalf of startup Splight, with Haas Impact Fund faculty and support staff. Photo features Kyle Allen MBA 25, Jeep Kline, Professional Faculty of the Haas Impact Fund Course, Jule Hulsman, MBA 25, Loraine Binion, Treasurer of the UC Foundation, and Mohammed Shomrat, EWMBA 25. (Team members not pictured Svetlana Tokareva and Shuyu Mao, EWMBA 26).
The final winning team, pitching on behalf of startup Hertha Metals, including Korawat Techaphulphol, MBA 24, Hillary Hoffstein, MBA 24, Jeep Kline, Professional Faculty of the Haas Impact Fund Course, Junhua Wei, EWMBA 25, and Tatsuya Toyoda. (Team member not pictured Lucian Sweitzer, EWMBA 24).
The final winning team, pitching on behalf of startup Hertha Metals, including Korawat Techaphulphol, MBA 24, Hillary Hoffstein, MBA 24, Jeep Kline, Professional Faculty of the Haas Impact Fund Course, Junhua Wei, EWMBA 25, and Tatsuya Toyoda. (Team member not pictured Lucian Sweitzer, EWMBA 24).