From Ideation to Investability: Building Early-Stage Impact Ventures that Attract Capital
What does it take to turn a bold idea into an investable impact venture? This session dives into the early stages of venture creation – from founder selection and venture studio models to the role of grantmakers, and early-stage investors. Panelists will explore what is needed to balance business and impact and how different actors help impact ventures become commercially viable. This conversation is for anyone serious about moving early-stage impact ventures from ideation to investability, especially in emerging markets.
Framing this topic
This short section provides context for the event to ensure all participants, regardless of prior knowledge, are equipped to engage with the discussion.
Impact investing needs a stronger pipeline of impact ventures that are truly ready for commercial capital. But how do we build and support these investable businesses on their development journeys?
This session brings together perspectives from across the early-stage ecosystem: venture studios, foundations, and catalytic impact investors. Together, we’ll explore:
· What “investment-readiness” really means – and how to get there
· When and how to deploy different types of capital (grants, recoverable grants, seed funding, impact-linked finance)
· Where tensions arise between mission and scale, and how to manage them
· What “proof of concept” means to investors along the investment continuum
· Different models for sourcing and supporting the right entrepreneurial talent