Investing in Impact | Impact Investing

In this episode, I speak with Hardika Shah, Founder and CEO of Kinara Capital, on transforming lives and local economies, by providing access to capital for small business entrepreneurs.

Armed with a mission to empower the 70 million small business entrepreneurs in the country, Kinara has embarked on a journey to provide fast and flexible collateral-free business loans. Leveraging cutting-edge technology and a dedication to customer service, Kinara Capital revolutionized the lending landscape with its digital processes and doorstep assistance.

Over the years, the company has disbursed more than $300 million to over 40,000 small business entrepreneurs, ushering thousands into the realm of financial inclusion. This transformative journey has not only created jobs and spurred economic growth but has also generated over $100 million in incremental income for MSMEs across India.

Before embarking on her entrepreneurial journey, Hardika honed her skills as a management consultant, working on projects for global companies across the USA, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. Her passion for social impact led her to devote nearly a decade to mentoring emerging social entrepreneurs.

At Kinara Capital, the mission is clear: to transform lives, livelihoods, and local economies by providing access to capital for every entrepreneur. With a vision of a financially inclusive world, Hardika and her team continue to pave the way for a brighter future for small business entrepreneurs across India.

I hope you enjoy the conversation, until next time, stay humble and stay creative.

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In Episode 68 of the Investing in Impact podcast, I speak with Robert Keith, the Founder and Managing Principal of Beartooth, on how environmental stewardship can be synonymous with financial gains.

Robert holds a strong belief that the diverse financial tools and innovative growth/exit strategies available to small business owners should also be accessible to ranch owners. With this vision, he co-founded Beartooth in 2005 to empower ranchers with these resources.

In his role at Beartooth, Robert oversees all operations, with a particular emphasis on cultivating meaningful relationships in capital sourcing, investment structuring, and management.

Before establishing Beartooth, Robert gained valuable experience at various financial institutions, including an agricultural investment company, a private equity investment firm, and Morgan Stanley, an investment bank. He holds a degree in Economics from Yale University and a business degree from Stanford University.

Despite his academic and professional pursuits, Robert consistently found himself drawn back to his family's ranch near Cody, Wyoming. Eventually, he made the decision to cease commuting to coastal regions for work and instead founded Beartooth to pursue his passion for supporting ranchers and their communities.

About Beartooth

Beartooth Group is a Bozeman-based conservation investment firm. Founded in 2004, Beartooth partners withranch sellers, owners, investors, and buyers to restore and steward the lands,waters, and wildlife of theAmerican West.Beartooth does this by crafting creativesolutions to conservation and economicchallenges.

In Episode 67 of the Investing in Impact podcast, I speak with Erin Siestra, Head of Investments at Hopelab Ventures, on her journey, Health Tech, Medicare startups, and the mission and vision of Hopelab.

Erin is responsible for the development and oversight of Hopelab’s work investing in organizations and companies that aim to improve the health and well-being of teens and young adults. In her role, she sources, executes, and manages investments, positioning Hopelab as both a financial and a strategic partner to entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and innovators.

As a social impact investor, Hopelab Ventures invests in companies that support the mental health and well-being of adolescents, particularly in underserved communities. The organization backs founders with lived experience related to the youth and mental health topics it supports. The team believes those founders are uniquely equipped to develop effective solutions.

Hopelab Ventures’ investment approach combines early-stage capital with expertise in research, design, youth co-creation, and payment models to support the development and adoption of better, more diverse, and accessible mental health and well-being solutions for young people at scale.

When you get a chance, please share, rate, and subscribe to the podcast. Enjoy the interview.

Hi everyone, this is Grant at Causeartist, welcome to this weeks Investing in Impact Brief. This week showcases some significant capital injections into the fields of climate tech and affordable housing.

In our first piece of news, Satgana, a venture capital firm prioritizing climate tech solutions, has completed the final close of its first fund. Falling short of its €30 million target due to challenging fundraising conditions for first-time fund managers, they've nevertheless accrued €8 million. The company plans to back up to 30 early-stage climate-tech startups in Africa and Europe.

Moving along, we look at New Summit Investments, which has entered the fundraising arena with ambitions to raise a new $100 million impact fund. Signaling a robust confidence in the continuous attractiveness of environmental and social impact ventures, New Summit's latest fund represents a significant leap from their previous $40 million.

Up next, the state of Texas makes headlines with its bold decision to sever ties with BlackRock, withdrawing a massive $8.5 billion in assets. At the heart of the matter is the controversial and increasingly politicized ESG investing strategy. While ESG principles have been praised for promoting sustainability, Texas officials are pushing back, viewing it as an ideological maneuver that jeopardizes the traditional energy sectors.

Lastly, we report on ABP, one of the largest global pension funds. They have declared a reduction in investments that significantly affect the climate, aiming to allocate more capital to companies and projects that are socially and environmentally positive. The Dutch fund, managing approximately 502 billion euros ($545 billion), intends to invest a minimum of 30 billion euros in "impact investments" by 2030, particularly in affordable and sustainable housing and energy projects.

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Hi everyone, this is Grant at Causeartist, welcome to the Investing in Impact Brief. This week showcases some significant capital injections into the fields of climate technology and regenerative agriculture.

First up, Montauk Climate, a new incubator committed to pioneering climate, infrastructure, and energy solutions, has made headlines with an $8.5 million launch. The incubator is set on assembling the finest tech minds to spur the transition to a sustainable, electrified future. Their focus is on harnessing experienced talent to turn innovative technologies into scalable companies.

In the agriculture sector, The Rockefeller Foundation joins Mad Capital's Perennial Fund II with a focus on expanding regenerative organic farming. They've invested $50 million to support American farmers aiming for both ecological and financial strength. With less than 1% of U.S. farmland certified organic, access to capital stands as a formidable barrier. Funds like Perennial Fund II are integral to meeting the spike in consumer demand for regenerative organic products. Since its advent in 2019, Mad Capital has committed over $25 million to 30 farmers, supporting more than 10,500 acres transition to organic.

In other developments within the climate technology sector, Silence, an innovative venture capital firm specializing in climate technology, has unveiled its strategy to support environmental initiatives. Their investment fund, totaling $35 million, oversees a diverse portfolio encompassing virtual power plants and circular economy marketplaces.

Moving to Asia, where Fullerton Fund Management has attracted $100 million in their quest to accelerate decarbonization across emerging markets. The fund explicitly targets investments in companies that are not only committed to but are also actively lowering their carbon footprint. This initiative represents a concrete effort in aligning financial growth with environmental responsibility, an essential consideration in today's impact investment landscape.

Engaging primarily with Asian companies, the Fullerton Carbon Action Fund has a unique strategy. It concentrates on a specific niche in the market that has so far been underserved: businesses with high carbon emissions that are on a clear trajectory towards reducing their environmental impact. It's about fueling the transition of these companies, and effectively, the industry at large.

Finally, we arrive in Brussels, where World Fund has grown to 300 million euros. This venture capital firm is dedicated to supporting startups that develop technologies to combat climate change. Even with economic turmoil affecting private equity, major players like BPI France and PWC Germany have invested in World Fund, signaling a strong conviction in the dual potential of profitable investments and environmental benefits.

Thank you for tuning in. Until next time, stay humble and stay creative.

What's up everybody this is Grant at Causeartist, welcome to the Investing in Impact podcast, where we interview Impact Investors, General Partners, and Family Offices from around the world.

Each week conversations will bring on industry insiders to discuss the latest news, topics, and trends in impact investing.

My apologies for the delay on new episodes, but the Investing in Impact podcast is back with weekly episodes this year! And when there's big news in the industry, I'll be hopping in with quick updates on those interesting topics.

As always, if you have any questions or thoughts, shoot me an email at [email protected].

In Episode 66 of the Investing in Impact podcast, Causeartist contributor, Rafael Aldon, speaks with Anshul Magotra, cofounder and partner at Social Innovation Circle. Anshul shares her journey from a career in banking to working in the impact venture sector.

She also talks about how she stumbled into the world of social innovation through volunteering at Ashoka, where she discovered the power of social entrepreneurs and their innovative solutions.

This experience led Anshul to co-found Social Innovation Circle, an organization that supports social entrepreneurs and impact investors. Anshul emphasizes the importance of funding for social entrepreneurs and the need for expertise in finance and business to help them scale their impact.

She also highlights the role of angel investors and the creation of a syndicate to increase the flow of capital into social enterprises. Anshul also touches on their unique business model, which revolves around coaching, capital, concepts, and community.

When you get a chance, please share, rate, and subscribe to the podcast. Enjoy the interview.

Addy is a dynamic Investment Manager at Regenerate Ventures, focusing on fundraising, deal flow, and portfolio management. With her diverse experience across agri-tech, VC, and regenerative agriculture, she excels at bridging the gap between investors and entrepreneurs.

Previously, Addy built her own grab-and-go restaurant business in London, giving her valuable insight into the challenges facing startups seeking funding. She leverages this entrepreneurial spirit in her work sourcing and evaluating high-potential investments.

Prior to joining Regenerate, Addy held positions at Imprimatur Capital, Forward Food Tech, and Europe's largest regenerative farming project, Wildfarmed. In these roles, she developed specialized skills in agriculture technology, venture capital, and sustainable food systems.

Addy thrives on making connections between investors and world-positive startups. With her well-rounded background, she is a trusted partner for building regenerative portfolios.

About Regenerate Asset Management

Regenerate is actively involved in a global network bridging the gap between natural capital and the international finance community. In areas such as sustainable agriculture, the right approach creates opportunities to positively impact the environment while producing high quality food and fiber.

Regenerate's agricultural investments focus on improving soil health, which has positive ripple effects on biodiversity, water quality, and farming economics. Through its network, Regenerate is linking the worlds of finance and regeneration to fund scalable and impactful solutions.

With a mission to heal the planet, Regenerate makes investments that restore natural systems while delivering competitive financial returns.

The company is at the forefront of driving capital towards regenerative projects that benefit both people and planet.

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This content is for informational purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

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Alina serves as the CEO and Managing Partner of The Radical Fund, an early-stage VC fund with a unique mission – investing in and supporting entrepreneurs who are driving rapid solutions for an inclusive climate transition, strengthening the foundations of a more resilient Southeast Asia. Connect with Alina on LinkedIn.

In addition to her role at The Radical Fund, Alina is a Co-Founder and former Chief Strategy Officer of Founders Factory Africa, a powerhouse in early-stage venture investment across the African continent, headquartered in Johannesburg. With a track record of raising over $140 million from LPs and investors for the Africa funds, the organization now boasts a portfolio of more than 55 companies and a dedicated team of over 45 professionals working across the continent.

One of Alina's recent achievements is securing a groundbreaking partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, worth $107 million, with a primary focus on driving increased investment and support to the early-stage ecosystem. This initiative aims to create over 2.7 million jobs and empower over 1500 inspiring entrepreneurs to become fully fledged founders, shaping a more inclusive and sustainable future.

But Alina's impactful journey doesn't stop there. Prior to her role at Founders Factory Africa, she spearheaded corporate partnerships at SPRING, an organization dedicated to scaling over 75 Pre-Seed tech ventures in nine countries across East Africa and South Asia. Working alongside a team of 40+ local and global experts, SPRING reached over 2.5 million adolescent girls and women, a feat independently evaluated by Tetra Tech Impact Management.

Before her work at SPRING, Alina dedicated seven years to the World Bank Group, where she forged critical collaborations with governments, corporations, and other multilateral development agencies, contributing to the advancement of social and economic development.

Alina's career began in Australia, where she honed her skills at two global companies within the WPP Group, operating across the Asia Pacific region and serving renowned clients such as BP, Kodak, GE Money, and Fosters Group.

About The Radical Fund

The Radical Fund is an early-stage VC fund dedicated to investing in founders who are actively advancing climate resilience in Southeast Asia. Their portfolio comprises a spectrum of adaptation and mitigation ventures, fostering an inclusive climate transition toward a sustainable future.

The fund recognizes that climate mitigation and decarbonization efforts, on their own, are insufficient to address the unique challenges faced by emerging markets in coping with climate change. These nations, disproportionately affected by environmental shifts, require more comprehensive solutions that go beyond emissions reduction.

The Radical Fund's investments are directed towards early-stage entrepreneurs who possess an intimate understanding of their customers - their needs, behaviors, and specific market or industry challenges. These founders have not only identified a pressing issue within their domain but have also rolled up their sleeves to actively seek innovative solutions.

Their Vision:

The Radical Fund envisions a future where, by 2030, Southeast Asia emerges as the world's premier hub for early-stage climate ventures. This vision hinges on the development of scaled products and services, thoughtfully tailored to the requirements of individuals residing in countries like Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, and Malaysia. In this vision, climate mitigation efforts are seamlessly integrated with climate adaptation solutions.

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Sign up here for updates on impactinvestor.io

Thanks to all the Causeartist Partners - Check them out here.

Subscribe to our Causeartist newsletter here.

This content is for informational purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

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Krisztina Tora, as the Chief Market Development Officer at GSG, plays a pivotal role in mobilizing capital for positive impact across 70 nations. Her expertise extends to advising governments, financial institutions, and other stakeholders on strategies to accelerate capital flow, ultimately benefiting both people and the planet. She champions the cause of systemic change, with a particular emphasis on addressing the financing gap for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in emerging markets. Krisztina also leads efforts to drive policy transformations and the establishment of innovative financial instruments and impact funds.

Before joining GSG, Krisztina was a co-founder and leader of the Global Social Entrepreneurship Network (GSEN), a worldwide network of organizations dedicated to supporting early-stage social entrepreneurs across more than 50 countries, impacting the lives of over 2.5 million people globally.

Krisztina's unwavering passion for making a difference has been a constant throughout her career. Prior to 2013, she held the position of Director at a prominent strategy consultancy, specializing in forging partnerships between multinational corporations and NGOs or social enterprises. Earlier in her career, she served as the International Projects Manager at Veolia, a global utilities company.

She holds an MBA from ESSEC Business School in Paris, is fluent in French, Hungarian, English, and Spanish, and possesses proficient skills in German and Portuguese.

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Sign up here for updates on impactinvestor.io

Thanks to all the Causeartist Partners - Check them out here.

Subscribe to our Causeartist newsletter here.

Sign up here for updates on impactinvestor.io

Thanks to all the Causeartist Partners - Check them out here.

Subscribe to our Causeartist newsletter here.

This content is for informational purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

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In Episode 62 of the Investing in Impact podcast, Causeartist contributor, Rafael Aldon, speaks with Jessica Burley, Investor at Planet A Ventures, on investing in early-stage startups that are developing climate change solutions.

Jessica Burley is an investor at Planet A Ventures, a venture capital firm that invests in climate tech startups. She holds a Politics degree from Cambridge University and has a background in climate finance and sustainable development. Prior to joining Planet A, she worked as an analyst at a climate VC firm and as a researcher for the United Nations.

What is Planet A Ventures?

Planet A Ventures is a venture capital firm that invests in climate tech startups. The firm was founded in 2022 and has raised €160 million for its first fund, which it plans to invest in early-stage startups that are developing solutions to climate change.

Planet A's Investment Thesis

Planet A invests in climate tech startups that are working to decarbonize the economy. The firm's investment thesis is based on the following pillars:

• Science-based targets: Planet A only invests in startups that have set ambitious science-based targets to reduce their emissions.
• Impact: Planet A measures the impact of its investments on the environment.
• Diversity: Planet A is committed to investing in a diverse set of startups, including those founded by women and people of color.

Some of the Companies in Planet A's Portfolio

Some of the companies in Planet A's portfolio include:

• Carbon Re: Carbon Re is a company that uses artificial intelligence to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
• Makersite: Makersite is a company that helps companies manage their product supply chains in a sustainable way.
• one.five: one.five is a company that makes circular biomaterials that can replace single-use plastics.

Planet A Ventures is a leading venture capital firm that is investing in climate tech startups. The firm's mission is to accelerate the transition to a sustainable economy. Fridtjof Detzner and the team at Planet A are passionate about making a positive impact on the planet, and they are committed to investing in the next generation of climate tech innovators.

If you are a startup that is developing solutions to climate change, I encourage you to reach out to Planet A Ventures. The firm is always looking for new investment opportunities.

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