Top 10 impact VCs
2021-09-01
Confido
6 minutes
As we’ve discussed in a previous blog post, securing funding is a continuous task for startups as they expand. There are plenty of funding routes to explore, but for this blog post we’re focusing on Venture Capital financing.
As demonstrated in Tech Nation’s ‘Tech for Social Good’ report, there is a growing demand for investment routes that positively impact society whilst providing market-rate returns. That’s where impact VCs come in!
Here are our top 10 impact VCs...
About: BGV are Europe’s leading early-stage tech for good VC. They back ambitious founders using technology to tackle big social and environmental problems that aim to radically improve millions of lives. They also gained B Corp certification in 2015.
Ventures backed: 141
Investment focus: Early-stage
Portfolio: LetUs Grow, Birdsong, Bright Little Labs
About: ClearlySo is a leading corporate advisory firm specialising in impact investment. ClearlySo works with high-impact businesses and funds and supports their capital raising activity through financial advisory work, and introduction to investors. The company has also been certified as a B Corp since 2015.
Ventures backed: Over 150
Investment focus: Seed to Series B
Portfolio: Oddbox, onHand, bio-bean
About: The Big Issue Invest empower sustainable business solutions to deliver real social change. They currently manage or advise on £250m worth of social funds.
Ventures backed: Over 400
Investment focus: Social enterprises and charities of any size
Portfolio: AMAT, Projekt42, Circle Collective
About: Acumen is changing the way the world tackles poverty. Their vision is a world based on dignity, where every human being has the same opportunity. Rather than giving philanthropy away, they invest it in companies and change makers.
Ventures backed: Over 120
Investment focus: Seed and Early-stage
Portfolio: Easy Solar, Ignis Careers, Runa
About: Mustard Seed is a principal investor in world-class early-stage businesses that generate compelling financial and societal returns. They believe solving the greatest of societal ills drives commercial success in the long run.
Ventures backed: 25
Investment focus: Seed-stage and early-stage
Portfolio: Winnow, Mush, Beulah
About: Emerge Education is a European seed fund investing in founders solving the $8.5tn skills gap. Backed by world-class education entrepreneurs and leaders, they provide the best environment in which to start global education companies.
Ventures backed: Exact number unknown
Investment focus: Pre-seed and seed-stage
Portfolio: Academy, The London Interdisciplinary School, yoto
About: Sustainable Ventures’ vision is a world where climate change and resource scarcity are addressed by commercial innovation. They want to develop 1,000 cleantech businesses by 2025.
Ventures backed: Over 250
Investment focus: Early-stage
Portfolio: Good Club, Vendi, Agile Charging
About: Obvious Ventures believe the largest companies of our time will utilize breakthrough technologies to solve systemic problems in a profitable and scalable way. Their purpose is to support the world’s positive entrepreneurs building these disruptive solutions. They gained B Corp certification in 2017.
Ventures backed: Exact number unknown
Investment focus: Early-stage and Growth-stage
Portfolio: Beyond Meat, Change.org, Lilium
About: For almost 20 years, Bridges have been investing in solutions that support the transition to a more inclusive and sustainable economy. They are driven by a clear conviction: that building a better future for people and the planet is also a unique opportunity to create lasting economic value.
Ventures backed: Exact number unknown
Investment focus: Growth-stage
Portfolio: Vegetarian Express, Alina Homecare, World of Books
About: Nesta make long term investments in organisations creating innovative products and services that aim to deliver social or environmental impact, improving outcomes for people and planet.
Ventures backed: Over 30
Investment focus: Seed to Series A
Portfolio: Third Space Learning, BibliU, Ai-Media
Have we missed anyone? Let us know on Twitter or LinkedIn, we’d love to hear from you!