Lumina Impact Ventures
About Lumina Impact Ventures
Lumina Impact Ventures (LIV) is the corporate venture and impact investing arm of Lumina Foundation, an Indianapolis foundation focused on learning beyond high school. PitchBook and WaveUp give 2015 as the founding year, while an IBJ article reports that the venture division was established in March 2016. WaveUp describes a $50 million fund, and PitchBook lists a 2017 vintage. Lumina Foundation and LIV are named as managers. WaveUp says John Duong, Managing Director, has led the fund since its formation, and cites earlier roles at J.P. Morgan, Citigroup, Merrill Lynch and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. PitchBook lists one professional. No AI partners are named in the sources I found.
Public sources describe LIV as making direct equity investments in early-stage education technology companies and social enterprises that support the foundation's goal of raising degree and credential attainment. I found no public statement of an AI-specific strategy and no investments labelled as AI. Documented activity includes a $2 million commitment to the Reinvestment Fund's $25 million HBCU Brilliance Fund. PitchBook lists investments in CareAcademy, Credential Engine and Beam, but the sources do not describe these companies as AI businesses.
Public sources describe LIV's investments as early-stage, but they do not state a stage range beyond that. Check sizes are not public. WaveUp says the fund deploys about $5 million per year over a decade. WaveUp and PitchBook both list 23 investments, and PitchBook lists 15 portfolio companies and 5 exits.
- hub.waveup.com/funds/lumina-impact-ventures
- pitchbook.com/profiles/investor/268013-89
- pitchbook.com/profiles/fund/15504-67F
- crunchbase.com/organization/lumina-impact-ventures
- ibj.com/articles/64061-lumina-kicks-venture-capital-arm-into-high-gear
- reinvestment.com/insights/reinvestment-funds-hbcu-brilliance-fund-welc
- caplight.com/investor/luminafoundation-org
Investing activity
Lumina Impact Ventures is listed on Lounge as a venture capital investor based in Indianapolis. The deals desk records Series A and later AI rounds and seeds over $10M, so smaller checks may not show here yet.
Deals
Frequently asked questions about Lumina Impact Ventures
Does Lumina Impact Ventures invest in AI companies?
Public sources describe the firm as focused on early-stage education technology and social enterprises. I found no public statement of an AI-specific strategy or AI-labelled investments.
When was Lumina Impact Ventures founded?
PitchBook and WaveUp give 2015 as the founding year. An IBJ article reports that the venture division was set up in March 2016.
How large is the Lumina Impact Ventures fund?
WaveUp describes a $50 million impact investing fund, and PitchBook lists a 2017 vintage. Lumina Foundation and LIV are named as managers.
What check sizes does Lumina Impact Ventures write?
Check sizes are not public. WaveUp says the fund deploys about $5 million per year over a decade.
Who leads Lumina Impact Ventures?
WaveUp names John Duong as Managing Director and says he has led the fund since its formation.
Where is Lumina Impact Ventures based?
Lumina Impact Ventures is based in Indianapolis.
How can founders reach Lumina Impact Ventures?
Founders on Lounge can see Lumina Impact Ventures's contact details in AI Investor Contacts (paid plans), check for a warm introduction through members who worked with the firm under Warm Paths, and add Lumina Impact Ventures to their Investor Pipeline to track the conversation.