United Kingdom
Climate Finance | February 29, 2024
Can the UK’s market for trading nature credits deliver ‘biodiversity net gain’?
The global economy is built on natural capital. Without an abundance of water, soil, and biological diversity, businesses and societies can’t function, much …
Dealflow | January 8, 2024
Bridges Fund Management sells stake in UK energy retrofitter AgilityEco
ImpactAlpha, January 8 — Bridges Fund Management acquired a “significant minority stake” in AgilityEco in 2019 to accelerate residential adoption of heat pumps …
Ownership Economy | December 14, 2023
With employee trusts, Canada opens a pathway to worker ownership
ImpactAlpha, December 14 — Expect to see a surge in Canadian companies converting to employee ownership in 2024. Legislation set to go into …
United Kingdom | December 13, 2023
British insurance broker Thomas Carroll Group transitions to an employee ownership trust
ImpactAlpha, December 13 — Employee ownership trusts are inexpensive to execute and flexible in design compared to other structures like employee stock ownership …
Dealflow | September 26, 2023
Environment Bank offers biodiversity credits to catalyze corporate investment in nature restoration
ImpactAlpha, September 26 — Global conservationists and policymakers are working to develop an economically-viable market for biodiversity credits, also known as biocredits, to …
Gender Smart | May 3, 2023
Anthemis scores backing from Visa and BMO for women-focused fintech fund
ImpactAlpha, May 3 – Despite growing recognition of gender-based investing, the needle on how much women-led startups raise hasn’t moved in years. In …
Return on Inclusion | April 3, 2023
No Label Ventures to channel capital to immigrant-led businesses in Europe
ImpactAlpha, April 3 – People who uproot their lives in one place are uniquely compelled to succeed in another. That’s the premise of …
Clean Energy | March 27, 2023
Mixergy raises £9.2 million to convert hot water tanks into energy storage systems
ImpactAlpha, March 27 – Individuals wanting to lower their carbon footprints – and energy bills – are adopting solar panels, electric vehicles, heat …
Dealflow | March 23, 2023
Piclo raises £8.3 million to add clean energy sources to electricity grids
ImpactAlpha, March 23 – London-based Piclo has developed a marketplace to help electricity system operators, which balance supply and demand on local electricity …
Climate Finance | September 12, 2022
God save the King – and planet
In 1952, the 25-year-old Princess Elizabeth of York stepped down from her treetop camp in Kenya’s Aberdare National Park and became Queen Elizabeth II. On …
Impact Management | June 13, 2022
Bridges Fund Management closes £350 million property fund
ImpactAlpha, June 13 — U.K.-based impact investor Bridges Fund Management has raised £350 million ($425 million) for its fifth property fund. The fund …
Entrepreneurship | April 28, 2022
J.D. Vance, the impact fund manager his partners would rather forget
ImpactAlpha, Apr. 28 – Before he got Donald Trump’s nod in the Republican primary for Ohio’s U.S. Senate seat, J.D. Vance was – briefly …
Dealflow | December 6, 2021
Republic buys U.K. equity crowdfunding platform Seedrs
ImpactAlpha, December 6 – London-based Seedrs, one of the world’s first regulated equity crowdfunding platforms, has channeled £1.5 billion to startups since 2009. …
2030 Finance | August 26, 2021
Gresham House sustainable forest fund raises $175 million
ImpactAlpha, August 26 — Investors are starting to stockpile carbon as prices per ton curve upward (see, “Forget crypto: Here’s how to play …
Dealflow | August 24, 2021
Bridges Fund Management sustainable growth fund completes three exits in three months
ImpactAlpha, August 24 — The three companies created about £170 million ($233.7 million) in market value under Bridges’ ownership, according to the U.K.-based …
Dealflow | June 29, 2021
Impact tech VC firm Bethnal Green Ventures acquired by Connected Asset Management
ImpactAlpha, June 29 — London-based Bethnal Green Ventures has been acquired by Connected Asset Management. Bethnal’s Paul Miller said the acquisition “opens up …
Dealflow | February 9, 2021
Ada Ventures invests £2.5 million in Tickr to expand retail impact investing in Europe
ImpactAlpha, February 9 — Tickr’s app allows users to invest as little as £5 ($7) in companies expanding access to education, clean water, …
Dealflow | December 23, 2020
Liberis secures £70 million in debt to finance small businesses in the U.K.
ImpactAlpha, December 23 — Like small businesses around the world, small businesses in the U.K. are struggling to survive the impact of COVID. …
Dealflow | December 21, 2020
The Renewables Infrastructure Group secures £500 million ESG-linked line of credit
ImpactAlpha, December 21 – The Renewables Infrastructure Group has secured a £500 million ($663 million) line of credit from a consortium of global …
Catalytic Capital | December 14, 2020
MacArthur Foundation, Big Society anchor UK’s Women in Safe Homes fund
ImpactAlpha, Dec. 14 – Through a lease-to-own model, Women in Safe Homes fund, a residential property investment fund, will acquire properties and lease them …
Community Finance | December 1, 2020
Ethical Housing raises £7.5 million for affordable housing in the U.K.
ImpactAlpha, December 1 — The Ethical Housing Company snagged £7.5 million ($10 million) from Teesside Pension Fund and Big Society Capital to acquire …
Catalytic Capital | March 4, 2020
UK’s Nesta raises £20 million impact fund for the creative arts and culture
ImpactAlpha, March 4 – The creative economy in the U.K. contributes more than $10 billion and generates some 364,000 jobs. Nesta’s new £20 million …
2030 Finance | January 30, 2020
Pension funds get tough on climate laggards
ImpactAlpha, Jan. 30 – As CO2 levels this week were projected to see their steepest annual rise ever, three large pension funds warned …
Climate Finance | November 20, 2019
Stock market climate mandates are on the ballot in U.K. election
ImpactAlpha, Nov. 21 – Companies that are not adequately addressing the “existential crisis” of climate change could be delisted from the London Stock …
Impact Voices | November 4, 2019
Lessons from the U.K.: Seven ways to catalyze social investments in high-impact enterprises
ImpactAlpha, Nov. 4 – Social enterprises and nonprofits can reach into complex areas, target underserved markets and work over the long term to achieve …
2030 Finance | October 10, 2019
Bristol’s place-based fund secures £10 million to tackle hunger, inequality and climate
ImpactAlpha, October 10 – The city of Bristol, U.K. has a hopeful vision for its 500,000 residents: it strives to be “a fair, …
Catalytic Capital | September 30, 2019
An investor’s journey: How CDC Group is innovating with catalytic capital
ImpactAlpha, Sept. 30 – How can investors innovate for impact without sacrificing rigor? As institutions from Prudential Financial to family office Ceniarth LLC will testify, there are some …
Dealflow | July 29, 2019
Schroders acquires majority stake in BlueOrchard Finance
ImpactAlpha, July 29 – London-based investment manager Schroders, with more than $500 billion in assets under management, took a majority stake in the …
Africa | July 24, 2019
SteamaCo raises $5 million for off-grid energy monitoring
ImpactAlpha, July 24 – Off-grid energy sources have come a long way in accelerating access to energy. The solar sector, for instance, has brought …
Features | July 10, 2019
Bridges raises £35 million for second pay-for-success fund
ImpactAlpha, July 10 – Bridges Fund Management has raised £35 million ($44 million) to orchestrate and launch pay-for-success initiatives in partnership with government backers. The …
2030 Finance | July 3, 2019
Bridges acquires Maven Capital’s stake in wind energy company GEV
ImpactAlpha, July 3 – GEV Wind Power literally keeps the turbines turning in the 565-gigawatt global wind energy market. The U.K.-based maintenance and repair company …
2030 Finance | June 5, 2019
City of London invests £100 million in local venture and loan funds to cultivate entrepreneurship
ImpactAlpha, June 5 – London-based tech investor MMC Ventures and social enterprise lender FSE Group have clinched £100 million ($127 million) from London’s Mayor’s office …
Dealflow | May 21, 2019
Wagestream secures £40 million in debt and equity to quell payday lending
ImpactAlpha, May 21 – The number of high-cost payday loans Britons are taking out is on the rise, suggesting that consumers in the U.K. are …
Dealflow | May 1, 2019
We Are Digital raises £1.5 million to bridge digital and financial skill gaps in the UK
ImpactAlpha, May 1 – Almost 13 million people in the U.K. lack basic digital skills. Another 40% are ‘living on the edge’ financially. …
Dealflow | April 18, 2019
“Alternative” credit bureau Credit Kudos secures £2.2 million
ImpactAlpha, April 18 – Numerous financial tech companies are using alternative credit scoring metrics to drive financial inclusion and lower borrowing rates for …
2030 Finance | April 15, 2019
Household energy trading startup Verv secures £6.5 million
ImpactAlpha, April 15 – U.K.-based startup Verv makes a home-energy monitoring system designed to help people save on energy consumption. It also helps those …
Dealflow | April 3, 2019
Elvie clinches $42 million for women’s health apps and devices
ImpactAlpha, April 3 – London-based Elvie addresses the gap in healthcare products designed for women. “Whether it’s menstruation, pregnancy or menopause, women’s bodies …
2030 Finance | April 2, 2019
Oxford PV raises €36 million to commercialize super-efficient solar cells
ImpactAlpha, April 1 – Oxford PV’s solar cells set a world record for solar power efficiency in December. Now the firm has raised …
Gender Smart | January 28, 2019
Digging for diversity in U.K.’s social investment landscape
ImpactAlpha, January 18 – Boards and leadership teams at social investment firms in the U.K. are overly white, male and “Oxbridge”-educated. And the …
Agrifood Tech | January 14, 2019
LettUs Grow secures funding for indoor farming tech
ImpactAlpha, January 13 – Bristol, U.K.-based LettUs Grow aims to accelerate food cultivation closer to the point of consumption in order to “reduce …
Dealflow | December 4, 2018
U.K. housing associations launch community impact loan fund
ImpactAlpha, December 3 – Four large housing associations in the U.K. have launched a loan fund to boost community services offered by social …
Blockchain/AI/IoT | November 27, 2018
Big Issue launches blockchain-based Big Exchange for SDG investing
ImpactAlpha, November 26 – Big Issue, a London-based poverty alleviation organization, is partnering with asset managers Aberdeen Standard, Columbia Threadneedle, Alliance Beinstein and …
Dealflow | November 20, 2018
Fluidly raises £5 million to help small businesses manage their money
ImpactAlpha, November 18 – Small businesses are the economic and job creation engines all over the world. In the U.S. and U.K., small …
Dealflow | October 4, 2018
Bridges backs healthy school lunch partnership in the U.K.
ImpactAlpha, October 3 – London-based impact investor Bridges Fund Management has invested an undisclosed amount in a new initiative to serve healthy school …
Climate Finance | August 8, 2018
FloodFlash raises £1.9 million to meet growing demand for flood insurance
ImpactAlpha, August 8 – Only $9 billion of the $50 billion in flood-related damage caused every year is covered by the insurance industry, …