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From Worm Poop to Wal-Mart

From Worm Poop to Wal-Mart

Published 10-09-07

Submitted by Investors' Circle - SJF Institute

October 9, 2007 - In 2001, Tom Szaky had a crazy idea to turn worm poop into plant food and package it in used soda bottles. And it worked. 6 years later, TerraCycle employs over 30 workers in their 20,000 square foot Trenton, NJ plant and they have a 2007 sales goal of well over $5 million. This year they are selling 9 products in many major, nationwide retailers, including Target, Wal-Mart, The Home Depot, Whole Foods and others. Tom and TerraCycle have been featured everywhere from the Evening News with Dan Rather to the cover of Inc. Magazine.

TerraCycle got to this point with well over $4 million in angel investments and some of that investment came from a group called Investors' Circle, a nationwide network of investors who use private capital to promote the transition to a sustainable economy. TerraCycle's CEO, Tom Szaky said, "I owe endless gratitude to Investor's Circle. Without their programs and investors my young company may not have survived. They are probably the only investor group that focuses entirely on environmental and socially beneficial companies. They realize that there is much more to a company then a bottom line and a profit margin."

Investors' Circle hosts two venture fairs a year where companies like TerraCycle, who address a social or environmental issue, present to over 150 investors who are looking for socially responsible investments. Over the past 15 years, Investors' Circle members have invested over $112 million in 183 deals.

The next opportunity for companies like TerraCycle to present to Investors' Circle will be during the Investors' Circle 2007 Fall Conference & Venture Fair, taking place November 14-16 at the Boston Harbor Hotel in Boston, MA.

The Venture Fair on November 15th, open to accredited investors only, will feature 20 early-stage for-profit companies and small funds working to solve social and environmental problems. The Education Day on November 16th is open to all who are interested in exploring effective ways to fund and nurture sustainable businesses. Engage with renowned speakers and panelists discussing the state of double bottom line investing and enterprise creation in the areas of energy & environment, food & organics, education & media, health & wellness, mission-related investing and community & international development.

About Investors' Circle:
Investors' Circle was founded in 1992 and is based on the idea of using venture capital - specifically from angel investors, foundations, and venture capitalists oriented toward sustainable businesses - as a powerful catalyst for creating sustainability worldwide. Over the last 15 years, the Investors' Circle network has invested more than $112 million in 183 companies, with even more investments pending since our Spring Conference in San Francisco last May.

Investors' Circle - SJF Institute logo

Investors' Circle - SJF Institute

Investors' Circle - SJF Institute

SJF Institute was founded in 2001 as an independent nonprofit affiliate of SJF Ventures, a leading national impact investment venture capital fund. SJFI develops national and regional programs to connect, inspire and accelerate impact entrepreneurs and the fields that support them. SJFI has provided direct technical assistance to over 1500 impact entrepreneurs and has helped hundreds of others through its signature programs, including Getting Ready for Equity™, CleanLinks networking events, the SJF Cleantech Mentorship Program, the Green Jobs Award, and field-building reports such as Employees Matter: Maximizing Company Value Through Workforce Engagement.

Since 1992 Investors' Circle has built a network of over 150 angel investors, professional venture capitalists, foundations and family offices who are using private capital to promote the transition to a sustainable economy. During that time Investors' Circle has facilitated the flow of over $145 million into more than 220 companies and small funds addressing social and environmental issues. Members in IC's network of impact investors include some of the most experienced angels, early-stage and growth funds working to change the world.

Together, SJF Institute and Investors' Circle will increase entrepreneurs' access to capital, resources and networks, and will provide more opportunities for collaboration among impact investors.

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