Impact Investing

Laurie Lane-Zucker, Founder & CEO of Impact Entrepreneur Center based in Massachusetts, USA participates in Risk Roundup to discuss “Impact Investing”. Overview Investors have a power to change the world as they influence not only the growth and development of any idea, innovation, business, industries or nations, but human society and our planet ecosystem: its sustainability and survival. It is said that the cost of solving the world’s most critical problems today runs into the trillions of dollars. So, then the obvious question comes is, whether nations: its governments and philanthropists are allocating appropriate funding that is needed today? Probably not– as by some estimates there is a funding gap that runs in trillions of dollars. So how do nations, individually and collectively bridge the gap to solve world’s most critical problems and meet the goals of sustainable development? The answer perhaps lies in impact investing, an investment approach that expects not only reasonable financial return but also positive social impact that can be actively and accurately measured. Across nations, there seems to be a great hope in the promise of “impact investing” as it has a potential to resolve key shortcomings and gaps of sustainable development goals brought on by traditional financial investment markets. As growing number of investors are stepping up to give back to society and do good while doing well financially, the rapid growth of the field of impact investing raises many complex questions. It is therefore important to understand and evaluate- * What is impact investing? * How to evaluate social impact? * Why is there a need for new investment approach? * What is forcing the change in approach? * Why impact investing? * What are some core characteristics of impact investing? * What is the range of return expectations and asset classes? * How is the impact measured? * How is the approach to impact measurement decided? Who decides it? * What are the emerging impact financing/investment models? * What areas/sectors/industries/nations/regions are considered attractive for impact investing? * Can impact investing deliver on the expected social and financial returns? * What drives the impact first investors? * How big is the impact investment ecosystem? * What kind of investors do impact investing? * Who is making impact investments? * What are the key challenges that remain for impact investing?? * What is the future of impact investing? * When will impact investing create real impact? * What is the process to decide whether an investment actually has social impact? Impact investing is a growing global necessity as how money is invested today will decide and determine what the world will look like in the coming tomorrow. Time is now to talk about Impact Investing! For more please watch the Risk Roundup Webcast or hear Risk Roundup Podcast About the Guest Laurie Lane-Zucker, is the Founder & CEO of Impact Entrepreneur Center based in Massachusetts, USA. He is a systems thinker, impact entrepreneur and internationally recognized leader, lecturer, and spokesperson on entrepreneurial, environmental and educational issues. Over the years he has- • Led international environmental organization through 13 years of sustained, dynamic growth • Founder of Founding B Corp & “global impact” digital media company and an int’l think-tank • Completed first-ever shares transaction on a designated online impact investment platform • Currently pioneering “Regional Impact Economy” and “Public Benefit Enterprise Zone” models for &...