ETF@JFFLabs Impact Report 2020

About the Impact Report

The Employment Technology Fund, also known as ETF@JFFLabs (ETF), was launched in 2017 to fund early-stage technology companies that create opportunities and pathways to quality jobs for low- and middle-income adults living in the United States.

Now, four years into the fund creation, our mission to increase economic advancement for all is more pressing than ever. We believe creating equitable economic recovery in the wake of recent catastrophes requires acknowledging that the current approach does not work for the most vulnerable populations. As a result, ETF is increasing its efforts to serve people, particularly those who historically have been the most underserved.

2020 was a time of unprecedented insecurity and socioeconomic suffering across the globe. Overall, the pandemic has revealed our collective failure to acknowledge and address the structural problems that have consistently left millions behind.

During this time, ETF deepened our efforts to leverage JFF’s networks, expertise, infrastructure, and scale to support the growth and development of our portfolio companies. Those efforts included, but were not limited to, the following steps:

1. We connected our companies with new growth opportunities across JFF
2. We helped retool go-to-market strategies to meet COVID-19 lockdown and social distancing guidelines
3. We launched pilots with Fortune 300 corporations.

Our portfolios have served millions of workers and learners during this time of high need.

This report outlines progress, trends, and takeaways from ETF@JFFabs portfolio companies. As well as select spotlights and case studies that offer an in-depth look at the work of a few of our portfolio companies as a way of acknowledging the challenges and celebrating the successes of leading a social enterprise.

$3,100,000

Invested or granted

60%