May 24, 2021 (Brunswick, ME)–CEI Ventures, Inc., the Brunswick, Maine-based impact venture capital firm, announced the addition of a new Board Member, Uche Osuji. Osuji is a Managing Director at Arctaris Impact Investors, LLC, a privately held investment firm that invests in growth oriented operating businesses and infrastructure projects located in underserved communities.

“CEI Ventures sought to add to the board a new member with expertise in venture capital experience with an impact investing lens,” said Nat Henshaw, Managing Director of CEI Ventures. “Uche’s 20 years of corporate finance investment and advisory experience across consumer product, real estate, technology and manufacturing, in addition to his leadership of projects that support equity and inclusion, will strengthen our fund management and investment process. His community investment experience aligns with our mission to grow good jobs and environmentally sustainable enterprises, and we look forward to working closely with and learning from him.”

Since 1996, CEI Ventures has raised over $60 million and invested in 64 companies across five funds, helping to create 2,700 new jobs in geographic regions and with demographic populations often overlooked by traditional venture capital investors. The firm recently announced the initial closing of Coastal Ventures V LP, the Good Jobs Fund, at $14.85 million.

“I am humbled and honored to join the CEI Ventures board,” said Uche Osuji.  “CEI shares our mission to promote financial inclusion and create equitable opportunity for underserved communities by investing in growth-oriented businesses that result in quality jobs for residents.”

Prior to Arctaris, Osuji worked in finance for 13 years with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp., The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), and Bear Stearns. He held various positions in relationship management, corporate credit, and portfolio management. At RBS, he managed a credit portfolio with over $2.0 billion of committed bank capital to customers in the consumer, industrial, and manufacturing industries. Additionally, Osuji co-led for several years the bank’s recruitment and retention program for analysts focused on equity and inclusion. He currently sits on the Board of Directors in an advisory role for Norwich Technologies and AFCO Manufacturing. He holds a B.S.E. in Electrical Engineering from Duke University and an M.B.A. from Duke’s Fuqua School of Business.

ABOUT CEI VENTURES

CEI Ventures, Inc., manages socially responsible venture capital funds. A wholly owned subsidiary of community development financial institution, Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI), CEI Ventures has successfully identified and cultivated growth-oriented businesses that create good jobs for people living in rural towns and small gateway cities, primarily in the Northeast. Learn more at www.ceiventures.com.