Bill Harrington

Board Member

Bill Harrington is the managing director of a non-profit investment vehicle, Vista Ventures Social Impact Fund, which mentors and provides initial investments to promising social impact start-ups in East Africa and India.  These companies are engaged in a wide variety of businesses from construction of fire-proof slum dwellings in Nairobi to cold storage facilities for smallholder farmers in rural India.  The goal is to provide the guidance and capital necessary for early-stage social entrepreneurs to qualify for their first round of commercial capital from angel and seed investors.  One of Vista Ventures’ social entrepreneurs was one of five winners of the 2022 Earthshot Prize which resulted in an award of £1 million.  

Bill’s prior experience includes over 20 social impact investments in the US, East Africa and  India.  He has been a consultant and investment advisor to early-stage companies which has included work with entrepreneurs in energy efficiency in the US as well as consulting with microfinance institutions, mostly on raising commercial capital.  The microfinance work included travel throughout Latin America, East and West Africa, Pakistan, India and the Philippines.  He sharpened his investing and portfolio management skills with advanced technology companies while serving as executive vice president of Ben Franklin Technology Partners.  

Bill has a master’s degree in city planning from the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Lafayette College.