Venture capital funding towards impact startups continues a sharp downward trend as VC investors lose appetite for climate tech, the latest Dealroom figures reveal.
Running a venture that helps both people and planet is hard. Amid inflation, instability and even war, it sounds almost impossible. But, for the pioneers of green business in Palestine, Lebanon and Egypt, sticking to the mission makes sense.
Big Society Capital impact report reveals it has channelled £2.6bn of investment to more than 3,500 enterprises, highlights growing interest from venture capital firms, but points to need for more efforts to reach underserved communities.
Development finance institutions say they invest where others will not. Yet they've set up investment standards that all but guarantee that their dollars flow to megafunds and big, profitable companies that don't really need their help.
The age of the unicorn – startups valued at US$1bn or more – is over, some say. Enter the zebra: businesses that pursue purpose and profit, and that show resilience in times of crisis. But to flourish, they'll need a big mindset shift among VCs.
Legal action accusing a US venture capital fund of racial discrimination, because it invests in Black women business owners, prompts anger – and raises questions about the future of race-based policies.
Investing in an emerging manager means taking a bet on someone with less obvious track record. But there may be good reasons to invest – not least because a first- or second-time fund manager is likely also from an underrepresented background.
