Nick Harrington: Investment Manager, Yendys Capital

Former Social Ventures Australia impact investing manager Nick Harrington has carried the for-purpose values instilled in him at SVA, to the commercial space.

Harrington left SVA in February 2017 to become investment manager at Yendys Capital, a Sydney-based global investment firm that targets high growth businesses.

“Probably what I’m most proud of about my time at SVA, is how it instilled and solidified my own values system and philosophical approach to business,” Harrington says.

“And that still applies in my new role. I’m constantly asking, are the businesses we consider providing a product or service that is accretive to society? Do they look after their employees? Are they good corporate citizens? That was really cemented in me at SVA and I’ll never lose that.”

While Yendys Capital is not an impact investment firm, they invest in values aligned businesses. Yendys has reviewed and invested in businesses that Harrington first came into contact with while working at SVA. One of which is an education technology business that was at a very early stage when Harrington first saw it. Now it’s an established fast-growing business reshaping the learning experience.

“We deal with people who are very focused on growing their businesses, growing revenue and improving their company culture,” Harrington says.

“What was challenging at SVA was assessing entrepreneurs with great ideas that often came with a limited track record — be that social or commercial.”

“It’s certainly been a bit of an adjustment entering into my new role. However, when you’re dealing with entrepreneurs and business people with a track record and history in business, it can sometimes be a bit more straight forward.”

Not too many impact investing managers enter the profession straight out of university, but that’s exactly the opportunity Harrington was presented with at SVA.

“As a young employee at SVA I was supported and given the opportunity to work with much more senior and talented staff. This included being gifted with a lot of hands on experience, autonomy and responsibility, ” he says.

“This allowed me to walk away from SVA with real confidence when working with experienced people in the investment industry. I look back on my time at SVA very fondly.”

Want to work at Social Ventures Australia? Browse the latest job openings.