In an investment space that is still young, Ananda Impact Ventures can boast a rare feat: the full realisation of an impact venture capital fund. 'Look, cash over cash, this has worked,' says founder Johannes Weber.
Nearly half of portfolio companies in impact funds exceed GPs' financial performance targets at exit, which is 'encouraging for a traditional investor who's thinking about investing in impact'.
Balancing risk, return and maximum impact is ‘a lot of work’ and doable, says Matt Christensen, the asset manager’s global head of sustainable and impact investing.
Pensions have a fiduciary duty to invest for impact – and can blend risk and return projections to meet portfolio-level thresholds while achieving impact, said panelists at the Impact Investor Global Summit.
There has been a 'complete failure' to convince the wider market of the financial returns of impact investment, says Trill Impact founder Jan Ståhlberg.