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A Fort Worth investment firm is putting big money behind a major cause: stopping human trafficking.
Eagle Venture Fund has officially closed its newest fund — the Eagle Freedom Fund — with $18 million raised. The fund is the first of its kind, fully dedicated to backing tech companies that develop tools to fight labor and sex trafficking.
So far, the fund has invested in 16 for-profit startups that work with police, nonprofits, and rescue teams to prevent trafficking, track offenders, and support survivors.
“These companies aren’t just doing good — they’re growing fast and making real money,” said Wes Lyons, a general partner at Eagle Venture Fund. “This proves that you can invest in businesses that make a difference and still deliver returns.”
In just the first few months, the companies in the fund’s portfolio have helped serve 149 victims and contributed to the arrests of 39 traffickers, according to Eagle.
Also involved is Tim Tebow, the former football star and philanthropist, whose Tebow Group is a partner in the effort.
“We’re scaling serious solutions to a serious problem,” said Tebow, founder of The Tebow Group. “Fighting human trafficking requires so many people taking action together — counselors, innovators, investors, and operators. It’s an honor to partner with so many amazing leaders in our mission to protect the most vulnerable.”
Wealth management firm Keel Point also helped connect the fund to investors looking to put their money into mission-driven companies.
The Eagle Freedom Fund focuses on early-stage tech companies — including those using artificial intelligence and financial technology. In addition to Fort Worth, the fund has offices in Singapore and Switzerland. Its broader mission is to invest in solutions to human trafficking, poverty, and economic injustice.
“We have been energized by our partnership with the Eagle Freedom Fund,” Keel Point CIO Lyle Minton said. “The fund has been a successful addition to our values-based investment platform, and the portfolio companies are already producing tangible impact results for investors who want to align investment capital with their values and mission.”