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A key part of our mission at VentureWave Capital is to increase awareness of the philosophy and practice of Impact Investing. As Sir Ronald Cohen, one of the founders of the movement, claims we are in the midst of an Investment Revolution.  The Assets Under Management in Impact Investing funds has grown by 50% in the last two years.  It is imperative that entrepreneurs, investors and the public become more familiar with this new way of guiding enterprise to deliver both private and public gain.

On April 14th 2021, we launched our Global Roundtable Series with a Seminar entitled Impact Investing; Substance or Hype.  Over 1,000 delegates from 33 countries registered to listen to hear an opening address by the Taoiseach (Prime Minister), Micheál Martin, who outlined the case for Ireland to become a global centre of Impact Investing.

The core of the event was an absorbing discussion among our outstanding panelists:

• Anne Finucane, Vice Chair of Bank of America.
• Gillian Tett, Editor-at-Large, the Financial Times.
• Edge, U2 and Chair, Endeavor Ireland.
• Enda Kenny, Former Taoiseach and Chairman, Global Advisory Council.

Gillian Tett stated that this revolution is real because it is now being embraced at all levels of business with a narrow view of returns being replaced with a much more lateral approach to achieving profit and public benefit.

Anne Finucane stated that there is no tension between private gain and the public good and that Impact Investments achieve market returns.  She stated that Bank of America envisages investing $1 Trillion in sustainable businesses.

Edge said that our current way of conducting commerce was just insufficient with some much positive change being achieved through greater transparency and technology.  Impact Investing represents the long term “Cathedral Thinking” that consumers and investors were increasingly demanding.

Enda Kenny reflected on how Impact Investing was changing the relationship between business and governments.  Enterprise can now cooperate with public bodies to benefit society.

The Roundtable closed with messages from Martin Shanahan, CEO of the IDA and Julie Sinnamon, CEO of Enterprise Ireland, who extolled Ireland’s virtues as a place to invest and grow a business.  

Thanks to all our speakers the Roundtable has advanced the debate and understanding of Impact Investing.  If you would like to discuss any if the issues raised or any other thoughts on Impact Investing please contact us.  We would be delighted if you joined us in our mission of increasing awareness of how Impact Investing can change society…for the better.