# WNY Impact Investment Fund

> The Western New York Impact Investment Fund (WNIIF) is a Buffalo, NY-based for-profit investment fund, founded in 2017, that makes investments combining high-upside commercial returns with place-based social impact across the eight counties of Western New York. The Fund is one of the most active investment vehicles in Buffalo, with portfolio companies that have collectively participated in investment rounds totaling more than $200 million.

The Fund sources deals through two equally weighted due diligence processes: (1) Business Opportunity — equity and debt deals that show financial promise on behalf of investors; and (2) Social Impact — products or business strategies that make Western New York a better place to live, work, and raise a family. Investors are a mix of corporate, private, and philanthropic partners.

Through Series 1 ($8.15M, closed 2017) and Series 2 ($12.55M, closed 2022), the Fund has raised more than $20M in committed capital. Typical check size is $250K–$1M. The Fund makes 3–5 new investments per year.

Key metrics (as of 2026):
- 27 total investments
- 16 portfolio companies
- $14.45M invested to date
- 400+ jobs created (66% of new hires from marginalized communities)
- 1.5M sq ft of formerly vacant space brought back online
- 36M tons of waste kept out of local landfills

Contact: info@wnyimpact.com · 716.464.3069 · 120 W Tupper St, Buffalo, NY 14202

## Main pages

- [Home](https://www.wnyimpact.com/): Fund overview, mission, impact statistics, founder testimonials, and press features
- [Portfolio](https://www.wnyimpact.com/portfolio): All 16 portfolio companies with descriptions and links to individual company pages
- [Impact](https://www.wnyimpact.com/impact): Social impact metrics covering job creation, neighborhood revitalization, and environmental stewardship
- [About](https://www.wnyimpact.com/about): Fund history, timeline from 2017 to present, leadership team, and Board of Directors
- [News](https://www.wnyimpact.com/news): Press releases, portfolio company news, and insights about Buffalo's economic resurgence

## Portfolio companies

- [CleanFiber](https://www.wnyimpact.com/portfolio/cleanfiber): Converts recycled corrugated cardboard into carbon-negative cellulose building insulation; revived a vacant former Bethlehem Steel facility in Blasdell into an active manufacturing site with 80+ employees
- [Viridi](https://www.wnyimpact.com/portfolio/viridi): Fire-safe lithium-ion onsite battery storage for backup and grid applications; brought the abandoned American Axle plant on Buffalo's East Side back to life as an advanced manufacturing campus with 200+ jobs
- [Top Seedz](https://www.wnyimpact.com/portfolio/top-seedz): Female-led (Rebecca Brady), nutritious organic cracker and seed brand sold in U.S. retailers; relocated from a small suburban space to a 35,000 sq ft HQ in downtown Buffalo
- [Buffalo FilmWorks](https://www.wnyimpact.com/portfolio/buffalo-filmworks): Female-led (Jennifer O'Neill) production studio anchoring Buffalo's emerging film industry; transformed a 200,000 sq ft former rail car facility into the region's largest film studio
- [Arbol](https://www.wnyimpact.com/portfolio/arbol): Higher-education fintech platform creating financial transparency for students and pathways to graduate with less debt
- [3AM Innovations](https://www.wnyimpact.com/portfolio/3am-innovations): Developer of the FLORIAN platform for first responder safety during emergencies; partner of T-Mobile for public safety distribution
- [CAHill Tech](https://www.wnyimpact.com/portfolio/cahill-tech): Female-led (Carley Hill) construction-industry workforce platform (aQuiRe) connecting community members to good-paying construction jobs
- [Lender Logix](https://www.wnyimpact.com/portfolio/lender-logix): Mortgage banking software suite, with tooling that drives investment in low-income communities
- [Circuit Clinical](https://www.wnyimpact.com/portfolio/circuit-clinical): National clinical trials network democratizing access to cutting-edge medicine
- [EcoVerde Organics](https://www.wnyimpact.com/portfolio/ecoverde-organics): Composting and recycling company turning food scraps into high-quality compost
- [Package Design & Supply](https://www.wnyimpact.com/portfolio/package-design-supply): East Side-based manufacturer and distributor of shipping, industrial, and packaging materials
- [The Rookery](https://www.wnyimpact.com/portfolio/the-rookery): Medical device commercialization laboratory on Northland Avenue, anchor of a planned medical device innovation cluster on Buffalo's East Side

Additional portfolio companies referenced: SomaDetect (female-led ag-tech, Bethany Deshpande), Garwood Medical Devices, RU's Pierogi.

## Leadership

- Tom Quinn — Founding CEO (since August 2017); [bio](https://www.wnyimpact.com/team-members/tom-quinn)
- Duane Connors — Director of Investments; [bio](https://www.wnyimpact.com/team-members/duane-connors)
- Heidi Burke — Director of Social Impact Analysis; [bio](https://www.wnyimpact.com/team-members/heidi-burke)
- Dan Miner — Coordinator, Communications and Investor Relations; [bio](https://www.wnyimpact.com/team-members/dan-miner)

Board of Directors: Brigid Doherty (Chair), Northrup Knox (Vice Chair of Business Impact), Carrie Frank (Vice Chair of Social Impact), Melissa Baumgart, Martin Berardi, Pete Grum, Thomas Hunt, Thomas Hyde, Glenn Jackson, Ted Janicki, Erin Komorowski, Buford Sears, Michael Ulbrich.

## Recent news and announcements

- [WNY Impact Investment Fund makes $1M investment in Viridi](https://www.wnyimpact.com/blog-posts/wny-impact-investment-fund-makes-1m-investment-in-viridi) (Apr 2026)
- [Another major Hollywood production wraps shooting at Buffalo FilmWorks](https://www.wnyimpact.com/blog-posts/another-major-hollywood-production-wraps-shooting-at-buffalo-film-works) (Apr 2026)
- [CEO Tom Quinn moves up annual list of influential business leaders](https://www.wnyimpact.com/blog-posts/ceo-tom-quinn-moves-up-annual-list-of-influential-business-leaders) (Mar 2026)
- [Arbol's exciting traction continues with marquee customer wins](https://www.wnyimpact.com/blog-posts/article-arbols-exciting-traction-continues-with-marquee-customer-wins) (Mar 2026)
- [Bringing transformative projects to Buffalo's East Side with catalytic capital](https://www.wnyimpact.com/blog-posts/bringing-transformative-projects-to-buffalos-east-side-with-catalytic-capital) (Feb 2026)
- [2025 recap: A year of focused growth and measurable impact](https://www.wnyimpact.com/blog-posts/2025-recap-a-year-of-focused-growth-and-measurable-impact) (Jan 2026)
- [Portfolio co. 3AM Innovations working with T-Mobile to chart new course for public safety](https://www.wnyimpact.com/blog-posts/portfolio-co-3am-innovations-working-with-t-mobile-to-chart-new-course-for-public-safety) (Oct 2025)
- [Inside the efforts to build a medical device hub in Buffalo](https://www.wnyimpact.com/blog-posts/article-inside-the-efforts-to-build-a-medical-device-hub-in-buffalo) (Sep 2025)
- [WNY Impact Investment Fund makes $300,000 investment into The Rookery](https://www.wnyimpact.com/blog-posts/wny-impact-investment-fund-makes-300-000-investment-into-the-rookery) (Aug 2025)
- [$750K investment into 3AM Innovations](https://www.wnyimpact.com/blog-posts/wny-impact-investment-fund-announces-750k-investment-into-3am-innovations) (Jan 2025)
- [$250K investment into Arbol](https://www.wnyimpact.com/blog-posts/wny-impact-investment-fund-makes-250-000-investment-into-arbol) (Jan 2025)
- [WNY Impact Investment Fund sets new high with five deals in 2024](https://www.wnyimpact.com/blog-posts/wny-impact-investment-fund-sets-new-high-with-five-deals-in-2024) (Jan 2025)

## Press features

- [Forbes: Place-based impact investing takes off in Buffalo, NY](https://www.forbes.com/sites/annefield/2022/10/24/placed-based-impact-investing-takes-off-in-buffalo-ny/) — Profile of the Fund as a leading example of place-based impact investing
- [The Buffalo News: Tom Quinn aims to make an impact with startup investment fund](https://buffalonews.com/news/local/business/article_7fad24bc-a43a-11ee-bbb4-d7a899f469d4.html) — Profile of founding CEO Tom Quinn
- [The Foundation Review: A Place-Based Collaborative Strengthens Community and Informs Philanthropic Practice](https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1631&context=tfr) — Academic white paper on the Fund's model

## Optional

- [LinkedIn: WNY Impact Investment Fund](https://www.linkedin.com/company/wnyiif/): Company page and updates
- [Earlier news archive (2018–2024)](https://www.wnyimpact.com/news): Full list of historical press releases and insights, including Series 2 closing announcements, individual investment rounds, and Foundation Review feature
- [Contact / Let's Talk](mailto:info@wnyimpact.com?subject=WNIIF%20Inquiry): Direct contact for fund inquiries and idea submissions