The Week’s Podcast
🎧 Impact Briefing: Building the next generation of diverse climate fund managers. “My question when I'm really quiet, or even when I'm talking to close friends and colleagues, is one word: Why? Why does this continue to happen?” On this week’s podcast, VC Include’s Bahiyah Yasmeen Robinson (right, above) shares with host Monique Aiken her feelings in the wake of the racist attack in Buffalo. “Why does our community continue to be and has for so many hundreds of years been targeted, particularly with all the contributions we've made to this country, and to its building and its maintaining and its innovation?”
The Week’s Dealflow
Deal spotlight: Clean energy abundance. Clean energy efforts in Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Africa, Turkey and Vietnam will get $242 million in support from Bloomberg Philanthropies. Bloomberg will work with ClimateWorks Foundation and Sustainable Energy for All to expand access to renewables and phase out coal.
The Week’s Talent
Troy Spence, ex- of PwC, joins Reinvestment Fund as managing director of risk and compliance… Victor van Hoorn steps down as executive director of Eurosif this summer... Nuveen’s Nadir Settles is appointed to lead Nuveen Real Estate’s new impact investing strategy. Pamela West, managing director of Nuveen’s affordable housing portfolio, becomes impact investing senior portfolio manager.
The Week’s Jobs
Eurosif is recruiting an executive director… PCV is hiring a research analyst in its Good Jobs Innovation Lab and a senior credit underwriter, among other roles… Fish Choice seeks a fishery improvement project analyst… Windward Fund’s Sunrise Project seeks an auto supply chain senior strategist… Steans Family Foundation is looking for a director of operations in Chicago… Candide Group is hiring a principal and a senior associate for its climate justice fund in Oakland.
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Podcasts | May 20, 2022
Briefing: Building the next-generation of diverse climate fund managers with Bahiyah Robinson
“My question when I’m really quiet, or even when I’m talking to close friends and colleagues, is one word: Why? Why does this …
photo: Chris Kendig
Impact Investing | May 19, 2022
Overheard at Total Impact: Diversify decision-making and shift power to communities
ImpactAlpha, May 19 – Agents of Impact convened upon the City of Brotherly Love, even as some unbrotherly events unfolded across the country …
Photo credit: Yilun Cheng/MEDILL
Opportunity Zones | May 19, 2022
How Opportunity Zones can accelerate American Rescue Plan projects
American Rescue Plan, meet Opportunity Zones. Last year’s American Rescue Plan sent $350 billion in direct, flexible funding to state and local governments. …
Editor's Picks
Podcasts | May 20, 2022
Briefing: Building the next-generation of diverse climate fund managers with Bahiyah Robinson
“My question when I’m really quiet, or even when I’m talking to close friends and colleagues, is one word: Why? Why does this …
photo: Chris Kendig
Impact Investing | May 19, 2022
Overheard at Total Impact: Diversify decision-making and shift power to communities
ImpactAlpha, May 19 – Agents of Impact convened upon the City of Brotherly Love, even as some unbrotherly events unfolded across the country …
Photo credit: Yilun Cheng/MEDILL
Opportunity Zones | May 19, 2022
How Opportunity Zones can accelerate American Rescue Plan projects
American Rescue Plan, meet Opportunity Zones. Last year’s American Rescue Plan sent $350 billion in direct, flexible funding to state and local governments. …
Top Stories
Overheard at Total Impact: Diversify decision-making and shift power to communities
Entrepreneurship | May 19, 2022
How Opportunity Zones can accelerate American Rescue Plan projects
Inclusive Economy | May 19, 2022
Infinitum Electric raises $80 million to commercialize electric motors
Clean Energy | May 19, 2022
Generation Investment Management raises $1.7 billion sustainable solutions fund
2030 Finance | May 19, 2022
In Buffalo and across the country, grocery stores have become pillars of health and community development.
Community Finance | May 18, 2022
Bloomberg Philanthropies commits $242 million for clean energy in developing countries
Africa | May 18, 2022
Soluna scores $35 million from Spring Lane Capital to use wasted clean energy for crypto mining
Blockchain/AI/IoT | May 18, 2022
Ownership economy gets a payday as factory workers share in KKR’s exit
Inclusive Economy | May 17, 2022
Sustain.Life secures $16 million to help small businesses take climate action
Climate and Clean Tech | May 17, 2022
Sencrop secures $18 million to help farmers manage ‘ultra-local’ weather risks
Agrifood Tech | May 17, 2022
Climate Finance
Photo by ANDREAS PEIN/LAIF/REDUX.
2030 Finance | May 19, 2022
Generation Investment Management raises $1.7 billion sustainable solutions fund
ImpactAlpha, May 19 — Generation Investment Management has raised $1.7 billion for its fourth Sustainable Solutions Fund. The private equity fund is Generation’s …
Photo by Infinitum Electric.
Green Infrastructure | May 19, 2022
Infinitum Electric raises $80 million to commercialize electric motors
ImpactAlpha, May 19 — Austin-based Infinitum says its low-carbon air-core motors are more energy efficient and half the weight and size of conventional …
Photo credit: VOS.
Blockchain/AI/IoT | May 18, 2022
Soluna scores $35 million from Spring Lane Capital to use wasted clean energy for crypto mining
ImpactAlpha, May 18 — If crypto doesn’t save the earth, it may destroy it. By some estimates, Bitcoin and other crypto mining consumes …
PHOTO BY ROY ROCHLIN/GETTY IMAGES.
Dealflow | May 18, 2022
Bloomberg Philanthropies commits $242 million for clean energy in developing countries
ImpactAlpha, May 18 — With $164 million in commitments, Michael Bloomberg’s foundation says it has helped close down more than two-thirds of coal …
Illustration by World Bank Blogs.
Climate Finance | May 17, 2022
Sustain.Life secures $16 million to help small businesses take climate action
ImpactAlpha, May 17 — The combined carbon emissions of the 90% of the world’s businesses that are small and mid-sized exceeds that of …
Photo credit: Sencrop.
Agrifood Tech | May 17, 2022
Sencrop secures $18 million to help farmers manage ‘ultra-local’ weather risks
ImpactAlpha, May 17 — French agtech venture Sencrop provides microclimate information to 20,000 farmers in Europe from its network of ultra-local weather stations. …
Photo credit: MEbA
Features | May 16, 2022
YAPU is giving microfinance a digital upgrade with a climate twist
ImpactAlpha, May 16 – Beekeeping in Colombia. Greenhouses in Peru. Biogas stoves in Benin. Small upgrades can increase resilience to climate change for the …
Illustration by Cornelia Li/The Counter.
Regeneration | May 16, 2022
AXA, Unilever and Tikehau Capital seed regenerative agriculture fund with €300 million
ImpactAlpha, May 16 — Paris-based Tikehau Capital and AXA and U.K.-based Unilever are joining forces to launch a regenerative agriculture fund, which seeks …
Amazon forest | Photo credit: Brastock
The Reconstruction | May 11, 2022
Seven or more ways to lead with justice in climate investing
Black and Indigenous communities live on the front lines of the climate crisis – where negative health, quality of life, and economic outcomes of …
Photo credit: Equity Group.
Dealflow | May 11, 2022
Equity Group secures $165 million to finance small businesses and climate projects in Africa
ImpactAlpha, May 11 — Through a partnership with IFC, Nairobi-based Equity Group will invest $80 million in equity in climate projects over five …
Catalytic Capital | May 10, 2022
Catalytic investors sharpen their tools to accelerate commercialization of climate solutions
ImpactAlpha, May 10 – The stubborn gap in financing for early-stage innovations for years was an obstacle to the development of breakthrough climate …
Photo credit: Group14 Technologies.
Climate and Clean Tech | May 10, 2022
Group14 Technologies rakes in $400 million to commercialize silicon batteries
ImpactAlpha, May 10 — Battery tech ventures are raising big rounds in the race for better lithium batteries. Seattle-based Group14, which developed a …
Frontier and Growth Markets
Catalytic Capital | May 19, 2022
British International Investment provides $100 million guarantee for supply-chain financing in Africa
ImpactAlpha, May 2 – A $100 million guarantee from the U.K. ‘s development finance institution (formerly called CDC Group) will enable Citi to boost …
PHOTO BY ROY ROCHLIN/GETTY IMAGES.
Dealflow | May 18, 2022
Bloomberg Philanthropies commits $242 million for clean energy in developing countries
ImpactAlpha, May 18 — With $164 million in commitments, Michael Bloomberg’s foundation says it has helped close down more than two-thirds of coal …
Photo credit: MEbA
Features | May 16, 2022
YAPU is giving microfinance a digital upgrade with a climate twist
ImpactAlpha, May 16 – Beekeeping in Colombia. Greenhouses in Peru. Biogas stoves in Benin. Small upgrades can increase resilience to climate change for the …
Photo credit: BRAC
Frontier and Growth Markets | May 12, 2022
BRAC International Microfinance taps capital markets for $40 million for households in poverty
ImpactAlpha, May 12 – BRAC International Microfinance, the non-governmental organization’s international arm, worked with Seattle-based Global Partnerships and Proparco, the French development bank, …
Photo credit: Equity Group.
Dealflow | May 11, 2022
Equity Group secures $165 million to finance small businesses and climate projects in Africa
ImpactAlpha, May 11 — Through a partnership with IFC, Nairobi-based Equity Group will invest $80 million in equity in climate projects over five …
Photo credit: Manara
Good Jobs | May 10, 2022
Manara scores $3 million to upskill tech workers in North Africa and the Middle East
ImpactAlpha, May 10 — Former engineers Iliana Montauk and Laila Abudahi launched Manara last year to offer coding classes for engineering students from …
Motorists line up to wait for fuel in Nairobi | Photo credit: Abraham Namiti
Frontier and Growth Markets | May 9, 2022
High fuel prices spur Africa’s transition to electric mobility
ImpactAlpha, May 9 – Long lines at Nairobi’s gas pumps last month put the spotlight on rising prices and fuel shortages caused by …
Photo credit: BURN Stoves.
Frontier and Growth Markets | May 5, 2022
BUILD fund raises $60 million for small and growing businesses in Africa
ImpactAlpha, May 5 — BUILD, a fund launched by the U.N. Capital Development Fund and Bamboo Capital Partners, will invest in impact-focused projects …
Photo by Joao Marcelo Marques on Unsplash.
Agrifood Tech | May 3, 2022
Lightsmith Group backs Brazil’s Solinftec’s precision agriculture-as-a-service
ImpactAlpha, May 3 — New York-based private equity firm Lightsmith Group raised $186 million to invest in companies with data and technology for …
Photo credit: Dell Foundation.
Financial Inclusion | May 3, 2022
Open secures $50 million for small business services in India
ImpactAlpha, May 3 — Bengaluru-based Open provides digital banking, payments, invoicing and automated bookkeeping services to more than two million small and mid-sized …
Photo credit: Solar Sister
Frontier and Growth Markets | May 2, 2022
Can off-grid solar keep focus on energy access for the poor as commercial capital arrives?
ImpactAlpha, May 2 – It’s one of the conundrums of the pandemic: commercial capital is pouring into off-grid electricity companies in Africa and …
Photo credit: Sun King
Frontier and Growth Markets | April 28, 2022
Sun King scores $260 million to ramp up off-grid solar access in Africa
ImpactAlpha, April 28 – The off-grid solar sector in Africa is growing up. Sun King, launched (as Greenlight Planet) in Chicago 15 years …
Dealflow
Catalytic Capital | May 19, 2022
British International Investment provides $100 million guarantee for supply-chain financing in Africa
ImpactAlpha, May 2 – A $100 million guarantee from the U.K. ‘s development finance institution (formerly called CDC Group) will enable Citi to boost …
Photo by ANDREAS PEIN/LAIF/REDUX.
2030 Finance | May 19, 2022
Generation Investment Management raises $1.7 billion sustainable solutions fund
ImpactAlpha, May 19 — Generation Investment Management has raised $1.7 billion for its fourth Sustainable Solutions Fund. The private equity fund is Generation’s …
Photo by Infinitum Electric.
Green Infrastructure | May 19, 2022
Infinitum Electric raises $80 million to commercialize electric motors
ImpactAlpha, May 19 — Austin-based Infinitum says its low-carbon air-core motors are more energy efficient and half the weight and size of conventional …
Photo credit: VOS.
Blockchain/AI/IoT | May 18, 2022
Soluna scores $35 million from Spring Lane Capital to use wasted clean energy for crypto mining
ImpactAlpha, May 18 — If crypto doesn’t save the earth, it may destroy it. By some estimates, Bitcoin and other crypto mining consumes …
PHOTO BY ROY ROCHLIN/GETTY IMAGES.
Dealflow | May 18, 2022
Bloomberg Philanthropies commits $242 million for clean energy in developing countries
ImpactAlpha, May 18 — With $164 million in commitments, Michael Bloomberg’s foundation says it has helped close down more than two-thirds of coal …
Photo credit: Sencrop.
Agrifood Tech | May 17, 2022
Sencrop secures $18 million to help farmers manage ‘ultra-local’ weather risks
ImpactAlpha, May 17 — French agtech venture Sencrop provides microclimate information to 20,000 farmers in Europe from its network of ultra-local weather stations. …
Illustration by World Bank Blogs.
Climate Finance | May 17, 2022
Sustain.Life secures $16 million to help small businesses take climate action
ImpactAlpha, May 17 — The combined carbon emissions of the 90% of the world’s businesses that are small and mid-sized exceeds that of …
Illustration by Cornelia Li/The Counter.
Regeneration | May 16, 2022
AXA, Unilever and Tikehau Capital seed regenerative agriculture fund with €300 million
ImpactAlpha, May 16 — Paris-based Tikehau Capital and AXA and U.K.-based Unilever are joining forces to launch a regenerative agriculture fund, which seeks …
Photo credit: Qoala.
Impact Tech | May 16, 2022
Qoala secures $65 million to make insurance affordable and accessible in Southeast Asia
ImpactAlpha, May 16 — Insurance penetration in Southeast Asia lags the global average. Jakarta, Indonesia-based Qoala is looking to make affordable home, vehicle …
Photo credit: BlackRock
Return on Inclusion | May 12, 2022
BlackRock raises an $800 million impact fund to invest in communities of color
ImpactAlpha, May 12 — BlackRock’s $330 billion alternatives investment group aims to raise $1 billion to invest in housing, financial services, education and …
Photo credit: Greenwood.
racial-equity | May 12, 2022
Greenwood acquires The Gathering Spot to build a community for minority professionals
ImpactAlpha, May 12 — Atlanta-based neobank Greenwood has raised $43 million on the promise that it can deliver better banking services for Black …
Photo credit: BRAC
Frontier and Growth Markets | May 12, 2022
BRAC International Microfinance taps capital markets for $40 million for households in poverty
ImpactAlpha, May 12 – BRAC International Microfinance, the non-governmental organization’s international arm, worked with Seattle-based Global Partnerships and Proparco, the French development bank, …
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Climate scientists
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Cathy Clark, Duke’s Fuqua School of Business
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Briefing: Investing trends in Africa
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TPG seals its Rise Climate Fund at $7.3 billion
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Circular Innovation Fund secures €50 million from L’Oréal
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The Week in Impact Investing: Earthlings
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