Impact investing, sustainable investing or even social impact investing–all names that might mean different things to different people. However, they are, generally speaking, trying to achieve the same end: sustainable social and environmental change, while still generating returns for their investors.
The topic has received a lot of column space of late, as well as a lot of committed capital. Recently, Switzerland’s Partners Group announced a $1 billion vehicle that will seek investments that help alleviate poverty and back companies developing affordable and clean energy technology.
What actually defines impact investing has been the topic of much debate, but the consensus that it is investing under the umbrella of the UN Sustainable Development Goals is gaining traction and appears to be the most commonly agreed upon definition.
One player in this space is Mustard Seed, founded in 2015 by Alex Pitt and Henry Wigan. The London-based firm invests in early-stage businesses with global commercial potential that are addressing significant social or environmental challenges.