Benjamin Cohen

Numerous studies have demonstrated that strong financial performance of securities is correlated with strong performance on environmental and social indicators. This research project unpacks this relationship, evaluating disaggregated correlations between specific environmental indicators (GHG intensity, water efficiency, etc.) and specific financial metrics, getting at underlying drivers of sustainable finance strategies.

Built a model to optimize sustainable harvesting decisions in a real Yale-owned forest, based on market prices for carbon offsets and timber, and logistic growth equations and carbon sequestration models for constituent species

Sourced, researched and conducted extensive due diligence on early-stage social enterprises for an equity seed investment of up to $50,000. Identified an investable universe within the fintech sector in emerging markets, and refined down based on market potential, impact theory of change, and additionality. Selected one mobile lending platform in Kenya for final diligence and financial valuation, and pitched the deal to an "Investment Committee" comprised of professors and professionals in the… Show more

Sourced, researched and conducted extensive due diligence on early-stage social enterprises for an equity seed investment of up to $50,000. Identified an investable universe within the fintech sector in emerging markets, and refined down based on market potential, impact theory of change, and additionality. Selected one mobile lending platform in Kenya for final diligence and financial valuation, and pitched the deal to an "Investment Committee" comprised of professors and professionals in the impact investing field. Practical component of the program was complemented by online course training on impact investing. The MIINT program is run in partnership between Wharton and Bridges Ventures. Show less

Consulted for Dow Chemical to evaluate operational risks from climate change and natural disasters to a processing plant in southern Louisiana, as well as risk mitigation options and resilience strategies for the site. Consulting project was conducted through a partnership between Dow, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), and the Center for Business and the Environment at Yale (CBEY).

Over the course of four months, constructed and actively managed a global long-short portfolio of public equities and green bonds under an explicit mandate to minimize carbon emissions while maximizing alpha and portfolio returns. Utilized the latest thinking on sustainability and materiality, combined with both quantitative and qualitative analysis, to determine security selection and exposure. Rebalanced portfolio and tracked returns through portfolio management tools in Bloomberg Terminal.

Team consulting project for Ignitia, a Ghana-based social enterprise which uses mobile technology and advanced meteorological models to broadcast highly accurate weather forecasts to rural farmers, to advise a customer acquisition strategy and help them scale throughout Ghana and West Africa. Constructed an Excel VBA-based modeling tool allowing our client to understand and evaluate the impact of various marketing, pricing, and delivery strategies on subscription rates, cash flows, profits, and… Show more

Team consulting project for Ignitia, a Ghana-based social enterprise which uses mobile technology and advanced meteorological models to broadcast highly accurate weather forecasts to rural farmers, to advise a customer acquisition strategy and help them scale throughout Ghana and West Africa. Constructed an Excel VBA-based modeling tool allowing our client to understand and evaluate the impact of various marketing, pricing, and delivery strategies on subscription rates, cash flows, profits, and customer lifetime value. Show less