PLUS: Croatia’s first social impact fund, $100m financing partnership for emerging market ventures, new ‘repayable grants’ for Scottish environmental businesses, Canada’s MaRS Catalyst Fund rebrands and expands, and more.
The Global Impact Investing Network co-founder and CEO on balancing hope and fear, bringing ordinary citizens into the fold, and growing the industry “with integrity”.
Any part of the social investment market that isn’t helping charities and social enterprises to access the right finance needs a rethink, writes The Social Investment Business CEO, as he picks up on the debate on reshaping social finance.
Some claim Big Society Capital’s current form – and its implications on the cost of finance – is actually holding back social investment. But, while lending all its money cheaply may be tempting, it would be a serious mistake, writes CEO Cliff Prior.
In spite of all the hype around social investment, only a tiny proportion of the UK’s social enterprises and charities have made use of it. If things are going to change, Big Society Capital must rethink its role, says Eastside Primetimers' CEO.
Has the UK lost its leadership position on impact investing? Does it actually matter? If the new Impact Investing Institute is to retake the lead for the UK, it will first need to establish the direction it wants to lead in, points out our columnist.
PLUS: New $40m fund to bridge short-term financing gaps, Social and Sustainable Capital makes first investment from its housing fund, tech startup OpenSC raises $4m, CIC secures £250k through social investment tax relief, and more.
Plus: Bridges raises £35m for second social outcomes fund, Palladium's first impact fund targets $40m for African small businesses, Scotland's first community-owned school building and impactful chocolate in Indonesia...
Everyone agrees we need more risk finance – so why are social investors still so bad at providing it? Our ‘Equalizer’ David Floyd asks if investors have the bottle to take big risks on ventures that could deliver major social impact.
