Justin Tien is an Investment Manager at Invest Appalachia, where he is responsible for sourcing, evaluating, and executing investments across a range of community-aligned sectors, including climate resilience, inclusive entrepreneurship, and sustainable infrastructure. He plays a key role in structuring investments that balance financial performance with measurable social and environmental impact.
Before joining Invest Appalachia, Justin worked in investment banking at Deutsche Bank. He later transitioned into private equity, where he focused on evaluating and executing investments across a range of industries, including mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, and growth equity. He also supported portfolio companies on strategic initiatives and operational improvements to drive long-term value creation.
Justin brings a performance-driven approach to mission-aligned investing, combining analytical rigor with a commitment to deploying capital in ways that support long-term, inclusive economic development. At Invest Appalachia, he is focused on using flexible, place-based investment tools to bridge capital gaps, support locally rooted enterprises, and advance economic equity in Central Appalachia.
Justin graduated from Emory University with a B.S. in Mathematics and Economics. While at Emory, he was named an Academic All-American as a member of the men’s basketball team.
“For me, impact investing is about shifting who has access to capital and reshaping the assumptions that drive investment decisions. Too often, traditional finance overlooks communities that don’t fit a narrow risk profile, despite their resilience, innovation, and potential. What excites me about working at Invest Appalachia is the opportunity to challenge those norms and help build investment strategies that are not only financially sound but also inclusive, locally rooted, and transformative.”
