The age of the unicorn – startups valued at US$1bn or more – is over, some say. Enter the zebra: businesses that pursue purpose and profit, and that show resilience in times of crisis. But to flourish, they'll need a big mindset shift among VCs.
A toy maker, a ceramics business and a branding-savvy “social concept store” are all helping to raise public awareness of social enterprise in the Georgian capital – and challenging the notion that buying social means compromising on quality.
The EU's eastern and southern neighbours gather in Tbilisi to trade their best ideas for developing a nascent impact economy, backed by a “huge” European Commission presence. Plus, we meet the “human switchboard”, Suzanne Biegel.
We talk with some of Europe's most forward-looking corporate foundations at the EVPA Business of Impact conference. Plus other highlights from this week in the Pioneers Post newsroom.
He’s spent two decades building the infrastructure for venture philanthropy. As he retires at last, Doug Miller reveals what triggered his passion, why “skin in the game” matters – and why today's “1920s model” of funding needs to ramp up fast.
The global impact deals, reports and initiatives you need to know this month – all in one place: welcome to Pioneers Post's Impact Investing Newsflow. This month featuring Nesta, Leapfrog, Stella McCartney, BlueMark and many more.
A defiant Anna Gulevska-Chernysh tells of new business ideas, a growing fund – and a demo day during a blackout. Plus, investors with experience in other fragile states share hard-learned lessons.
The impact investment market still represents only 0.5% of the €17.8tn investment market in Europe – still not enough, warn EVPA and GSG, as they present the first harmonised market sizing of the continent.
The institute launches this week in Brussels, together with landmark research on the Belgian market to kickstart Impact Week, which also includes the Ashoka Changemaker Summit and EVPA’s conference and C-Summit.
