Source: Spring

Background:

Last year Spring hosted the first Impact Investor Challenge. This program trained and supported a group of investors to make their first early stage impact investment. From a group of 20 businesses, the group selected 5 finalist companies and more than $100,000 was invested in the winning company (Open Ocean Robotics of Victoria!), with two other companies also receiving investment. 

This year they're running the program online, and that's created the opportunity for the program to have companies and investors from across the province participate in the program. They're looking for impactful companies from the Victoria area participate in the program, and if there are investors looking to step into impact investing they'd love to talk to them.

Sectors considered impactful include: Cleantech, EdTech, FinTech, Circular Economy, Renewable Energy, Circular Economy, Sustainable Food and Ag, Agri-tech, Impact Marketplace and Impact E-commerce. 

The Program:

Spring’s 2020 Impact Challenge is now open for registration.

The Impact Challenge is a 10 week impact investor training program that empowers investors in the process of investing in early stage purpose driven companies. The program spans all aspects of impact investing so you become empowered to invest in businesses that align to both your values and your target return.

Sessions are lead by prominent global and local speakers with topics including:

• Defining your investment thesis to reflect what impact means to you
• How to find great impact companies and screen pitches
• What to look for when evaluating startups
• The due diligence process, including investor portfolio and taxation strategies
• Assessing the market opportunity and measuring impact
• Evaluating the team
• Funding venture scale businesses
• Exits and alternative returns for companies that may not exit
• Negotiations and paperwork

The speakers and Spring will help you navigate pitfalls, mitigate risk, develop your impact investment thesis, and make your first impact investment.

At the end of the two months, the group will use their learnings through the intense training program to negotiate and close a combined $100,000+ investment in the company or companies the group selects.

The Impact Challenge will leave the group with a network of Impact Angels and key players in B.C.’s impact startup ecosystem.

For more information, to register, or to share with someone you know who is interested or curious, visit our website at https://spring.is/impact-investor-challenge/ or to find out how to get involved, email Mari directly at mari@spring.is.