Vancouver-based Renewal Partners Co. started out investing the money of its founders, Joel Solomon and Carol Newell, in startup companies, but the small investment firm has since opened its doors to outside cash.
Here are some of the successful investments made by Renewal Partners so far:
Happy Planet Foods: The organic juice maker received an initial $250,000 from Renewal Partners in 1996. Renewal put in additional cash and remains fully invested in a firm with annual sales of more than $12-million. Happy Planet was started in 1994 by "two friends with an obsession for tasty and creative food, one organic family farm, two small juicers and one very impressive blender." Co-founder Gregor Robertson became mayor of Vancouver in 2008.
New Society Publishers: Mr. Solomon in 1996 over a four-hour lunch convinced the owners of the non-profit to incorporate. Renewal quadrupled its $300,000 investment when the company was sold to Douglas & McIntyre in 2008. "I don't think anybody would have loaned us the money Renewal put into the company," publisher Judith Plant said.
David Ebner