The Killer Whales in the Room: What Is Stopping Early-Stage Impact Ventures from Scaling?
What becomes possible when organisations name the problems everyone knows but nobody says aloud?
There's an "elephant in the room" — except in impact investing, it swims. It circles. It's the barrier everyone sees but rarely names out loud.
This candid, interactive session — led by 1000 Ocean Startups, the World Economic Forum, and Climate KIC — drags those killer whales into the open. Through live polling and honest, unscripted conversation between founders and investors, participants will confront what's really stalling early-stage impact ventures: funding that isn't fit for purpose, impact evidence no one can agree on, and partnerships that never quite materialise.
No panels. No pitches. Just the questions the ecosystem keeps avoiding — and the people willing to answer them.
Breakout discussions turn naming into action, and the session closes with real commitments: one thing you can offer the room, one thing you need from it.
Because the only way past a killer whale is to look it in the eye.
Session is followed by networking.
This session is jointly hosted by WEF OS 1000, Uplink and ClimateLaunchpad.