NYSIF encourages participation by New York State Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) in its procurement projects. NYSIF is committed to achieving the statewide goal of increasing opportunities for MWBEs and helping these businesses thrive. NYSIF has established an MWBE participation goal of at least 30 percent for all NYSIF contracts, and has exceeded this goal for the last several years.
NYSIF Private Markets Program
NYSIF has instituted an aggressive asset management and financial institution strategy to increase use of MWBE investment and financial services firms. As stated in the latest Investment Policy Statement (IPS), NYSIF is committed to provide ongoing opportunities for MWBE firms. NYSIF seeks to work with a variety of general partners in alternative investment partnerships in which NYSIF would have a passive role as a limited partner investor.
If you are a General Partner and meet the MWBE criteria outlined in NYSIF’s IPS, NYSIF invites you to submit any marketing decks/pitchbooks on alternative investments for Private Equity, Credit and Real Asset investments via Limited Partnership Agreements.
NYSIF Hosts 15th Annual MWBE Investment Symposium
NYSIF hosted its 15th annual Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) Investment Symposium on February 11, 2025. More than 200 investment professionals attended the event, which was held at New York Law School in Manhattan. The event provided an informative and engaging space for attendees to hear from industry leaders about some of their successes but also challenges of finding diverse managers.
The symposium opened with a fireside chat featuring Kenneth Theobalds, Chair of the NYSIF Board of Commissioners; Gaurav Vasisht, Executive Director and CEO of NYSIF; David Ourlicht, NYSIF Board member; and Gregory Francis, Chief Investment Officer at NYSIF. (L-R: Francis, Vasisht, Theobalds, Ourlicht)
“Diversity is one of NYSIF’s greatest strengths and the MWBE Investment Symposium enables us to share these strengths with others,” said Chairman Theobalds. “Over the past 15 years, ever since the inaugural symposium, we continue to make great progress in MWBE procurement, hiring and asset management.”
“Built over a generation of strong leadership, NYSIF’s MWBE program is not only central to the organization but essential for our long-term success,” said Executive Director Vasisht. “Leveling the playing field to include a diverse of mix of voices and perspectives leads to better analysis, decisions, and outcomes, enabling NYSIF to better pursue the long-term sustainable growth of our investment portfolio.”
Need More Information?
- View our latest procurement opportunities, including several investment and asset management RFPs.
- Complete our Procurement Bidders form to be added to our bidder database. NYSIF notifies bidders by email when a NYSIF solicitation is released for public bidding. We encourage certified MWBE businesses, especially asset managers, broker-dealers and emerging managers, to contact NYSIF to be considered as a future vendor.
- Not sure if your business qualifies? Visit Empire State Development for more information about becoming certified as an MWBE business.
- Contact us with any questions.
- View previous symposiums on our YouTube page.