Hitting the Reset Button: Unlocking the Next Era of Impact Investing
About the session
What does it really take to finance impact-first investing?
This session takes an honest look at the financial realities of managing impact-first investment funds, particularly those supporting early-stage enterprises in emerging markets. Drawing on shared data and experience from a group of funders and practitioners, the conversation will examine why the “valley of death” continues to persist and what it actually costs to support social enterprises at this stage.
A central insight has emerged: traditional finance metrics do not fit this work. This session will explore what it means to rethink efficiency, return, and risk in ways that better reflect the realities of impact-first investing.
The discussion will also highlight how philanthropic capital can play a catalytic role in enabling a new generation of funds that support enterprises often excluded from both traditional impact investing and venture capital.
The session will combine a panel conversation with small group discussions, creating space for participants to engage with the challenges, share perspectives, and explore practical next steps.
Who this is for
This session is for funders, fund managers, entrepreneurs, and advisors interested in aligning capital with impact and understanding how to build and support more effective investment vehicles.
What you will get out of it
A clearer understanding of the true costs of managing impact-first investment funds
Insight into why traditional financial metrics fall short in this space
Perspectives on how philanthropic capital can catalyze more effective investment models
Practical ideas for structuring, funding, and engaging with impact-first funds
This session is for those interested in moving beyond current models and exploring what a more effective and sustainable approach to impact investing could look like.
Location & access
Accessibility matters deeply to us, and we do our best to choose spaces that reflect that. That said, some of our Oxford venues are in historic buildings without lifts. This room is unfortunately not accessible for wheelchair users, those with mobility challenges, or anyone needing step-free access.