Our Vision

We envision a world where communities and individuals are able to reach their full potential and contribute to the common good.

 
 
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About

NaHCO3, otherwise known as sodium bicarbonate … baking soda. We liked it as a name because it’s an unassuming ingredient, usually hidden in the back of every refrigerator. Though unassuming, it packs a lot of punch. It freshens, exfoliates, deep cleans, and can literally change the chemistry of basic ingredients to give it form and substance it didn’t have before. And without it, those ingredients wouldn’t reach their full potential. With it, awesome things are possible.

We believe that with a little levity and elbow grease, we all have the power to move humanity forward. Because we believe in the potential of people, our work is focused on removing obstacles between teams, communities, or individuals and the awesomeness they might be able to create. Through the businesses we lead and the individuals and organizations we support, we hope to accelerate change in the world that cultivates more self-actualization and innovation that will make the world a better, cleaner, fresher, place. And we hope to enjoy life along the way.

 

Team

 

Ashley Merrill / Principal

As founder of Lunya and Lahgo, Ashley Merrill is reinventing sleepwear for modern women and men, respectively. Both brands share a simple mission: to champion rest in people’s lives.

Beyond Lunya and Lahgo, Ashley is principal at impact investing firm NaHCO3, where she leverages her background in venture, technology, and the arts to invest in ways that utilize business to create opportunity and move humanity forward. Ashley is also cofounder of The Deep, a media platform that makes philosophy and personal exploration accessible through thought-provoking questions, and the Chairwoman of Outdoor Voices.

Both personally and professionally, she is an active supporter of organizations like SoLa, Upstream, and United Medical Corps.

She is a Southern California native and resides there with her husband and their two young children.

 
 
 

Marc Merrill / Principal

Marc Merrill is the Co-Founder, Co-Chairman and former Co-CEO of Riot Games, the game developer and publisher behind League of Legends. Marc co-founded Riot – along with Brandon Beck – in 2006 with the vision and commitment to drastically change the way video games are developed, delivered, and supported for players. Since then, he’s helped League of Legends become the most-played online game in the world and the world's largest esport with over 100m monthly active players. Riot continues to uphold their "player first" vision by devoting the entire company's activity around prioritizing the player experience, and has been acclaimed for its focus on balanced game design, community engagement, and pioneering work in establishing games as a service.

Marc also serves on the board of several non-profit organizations, including: Unite America, focused on addressing the polarized gridlock in Washington; City Year Los Angeles, focused on lowering the dropout rate in the worst performing schools in the nation's toughest neighborhoods; Represent.US which seeks to eliminate corruption in American politics, and the Seal Family Foundation. Marc has also been recognized with several awards such as the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award, several Game Developers Choice Awards, including the 2014 GDC Pioneer award and a BAFTA.

Marc lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Ashley and their two children. Outside of work, Marc enjoys having fun and challenging himself with games, sports, philosophy and great friends.

 
 

Devin Wagman, CFA / Managing Director

Devin Wagman leads day-to-day operations for NaHCO3, managing the investment and impact efforts of the office. He began his career working in group homes with foster kids and later broadened this impact as a social worker in South Florida. After his time in the social service world, he spent 14 years in finance, most recently as a senior advisor with Bessemer Trust in LA, San Francisco, and Palm Beach. Prior to that, he worked as a Merrill Lynch financial advisor, supporting private clients and charitable institutions.

In addition to his focus on finance and philanthropy, Devin is a husband, father, maker, designer, full-stack developer, musician, woodworker, and visual artist. He received his MBA from the University of Florida, BSBA from the University of Central Florida, and is an active CFA Charterholder.

JOHN JARJOURA, CFA / VICE PRESIDENT

John Jarjoura supports NaHCO3’s investment activities and social initiatives. Prior to joining the office in 2022, John had spent 5 years at Bessemer Trust in Los Angeles serving in various roles, most recently as an analyst. He began his career as a Capital Markets Analyst with Wells Fargo Securities in San Francisco.

In addition to his work with the office, John sits on the Associates Board of the Exceptional Children’s Foundation, which provides important services and support to children with developmental disabilities and their families. He also volunteers with Wags and Walks, a West LA animal shelter focusing on rescuing, and rehoming dogs. John completed his undergraduate studies at UCLA, graduating Cum Laude, and is a CFA Charterholder. In his free time, John enjoys fishing, camping, offroading, video games and sports.