Imène Maharzi’s Post

“Founders building impactful, venture-scale companies can deliver outlier returns and outlier positive outcomes for people, the planet and the systems that dominate society today.” Insightful piece from Connect Ventures sharing its experience of building an impactful portfolio and how we’re working together to drive positive change. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gEPK4ETJ #impactvc #techforgood #venturecapital #socialimpact

At Future Planet Capital, we prioritise investing in businesses with the potential to solve the world’s greatest challenges. We look beyond the commercial opportunities of investment in order to assess and help spinouts, startups and growth companies to unlock positive impact.   As an impact-led investor, creating positive outcomes for people and the planet, we put these concerns at the core of our work, incorporating our ESG commitments into our investment processes.   Recently, we hosted a Sustainability 101 webinar for our portfolio companies alongside our ESG partner, Plan A, which explored all aspects of sustainability for startups. Among other things, we explored the three pillars of ESG, (Environmental, Social, and Governance), emphasising their relevance to overall business operations and shared practical steps for start-ups to measure and reduce emissions. This is just a small way that we continue to support our portfolio companies after investment.   #Sustainability #ESG #VentureCapital #Impact 

Looking to the future, every business will need to be an impact business. Venture capital fund Amplify Capital is forging this path by investing in companies that are not only profitable and scalable, but also bring about positive societal and environmental changes. Their focus areas include health, education, and climate action. Particularly in the world of work, approaching business from this angle is no longer a 'nice-to-have' but a necessity. Is your enterprise ready to adapt to this changing landscape? Consider this as you strategize for the future. This calls for a new mindset on what constitutes 'good business', not forgetting the value of employee skills and knowledge in areas of social and environmental impact. #FutureOfWork #ImpactInvesting #EnvironmentalSustainability #SocialImpact.

🌟 Unlock the secrets to successful ESG reporting with our latest article: "ESG Reporting 101: Essential Tips for a Successful Implementation" Learn how to integrate sustainability into your business strategy, engage stakeholders effectively, and leverage data for transparent reporting. Whether you're a large corporation or a small startup, these tips will guide you towards sustainable success. Check it out now and take your ESG journey to the next level! 👉🏻https://lnkd.in/gx4C8_5B #intengine #theengineforgood #ESGReporting #Sustainability #BusinessStrategy

As an investor/venture capital firm seeking to invest in start-ups that demonstrate a genuine commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, here are nine factors to consider while conducting due diligence on the start-up: 💡 Does the startup integrate clear ESG strategies into its business model and core values? Is there a visible commitment to ESG starting from the leadership? 💡 How transparent is the company about its operations and supply chain impacts on the environment and society? Is ESG reporting part of their regular disclosure? 💡 Evaluate the company's environmental policies. Do they prioritize waste reduction, energy efficiency, sustainable sourcing, and minimizing their carbon footprint? 💡 Assess the startup's adherence to human rights and labor practices. Look for evidence of fair wages, safe work environments, diversity, inclusion, and active employee engagement. 💡 Can you see a tangible, positive impact the company is making on society? 💡 Examine the robustness of the company's corporate governance. How does it make decisions, what does its board look like, and is there a culture of transparency and accountability? Ensure they comply with regulations and internal policies. 💡 Determine if the company actively engages with stakeholders to address ESG concerns and incorporates their feedback into its strategies. 💡 What are the environmental and societal impacts of the company's activities, products, and services? 💡 Look for independent ESG ratings or certifications from reputable agencies demonstrating the company's compliance with ESG standards. Remember, ESG commitment transcends policy documentation; it's about actionable progress toward ESG objectives. I invite you to share additional insights. What other factors should be considered when performing due diligence on startups with an ESG focus? #esg #venturecapital #sustainability #esginvesting #duediligence

A unique function of sustainability in venture capital is the ability to use standard documentation to enhance ESG and impact activities within portfolio companies. From a firm perspective, you can update existing investment clauses to include ESG and strengthen the #sustainability performance of companies. Investment sustainability clauses' best practices include: - A commitment to measuring CO₂ emissions and to actively work on reducing them - A commitment to hiring, cultivating, and retaining diverse teams  - Policies and best practices the company should have in place Here are some examples and resources: 💫   Leaders for Climate Action have an environmental sustainability clause sample: https://lnkd.in/dpKn_pU  💫   Sifted has an article outlining best practices and examples of clauses from Norrsken, blisce,  HV Capital, Picus Capital, AENU, Pale blue dot, Astanor Ventures, Northzone, and others: https://lnkd.in/d_p2NPjx 💫  VentureESG and Diversity VC  have teamed up to share a diversity clause: https://lnkd.in/e2VctVZ5 Do you use an investment clause that includes sustainability metrics, activities, or commitments? #venturecapital #ESG #sustainability #SFDR #investmentclauses

In today's fast-paced landscape, understanding and reporting your sustainability credentials is paramount for Startups, SMEs and larger businesses alike. Whether you’re writing tenders, communicating to stakeholders, looking to secure investment, or keeping up with regulatory compliance, the demand to showcase your sustainability efforts is ever-increasing. FuturePlus is your key to future-proofing your positive impact, helping you integrate sustainable practices into your operations, communicate your intent, and report on your progress. ➕ Find out how FuturePlus can help your business make a positive impact 👉 https://lnkd.in/dvxv8ggG - #Sustainability #SustainabilityReporting #ESG #ESGReporting

One of the key resources that we get asked about recurrently at Kara is if we have recommendations for term sheet clauses on sustainability. Here are some of our favorite resources on the topic. 🌏 🌿

In this interview with McKinsey & Company’s Gisa Springer and Harry Forbes, Emerald’s Managing Partner, Gina Domanig, discusses Emerald's experience in bridging the gap between start-ups and corporations, its approach to prudent business models, and its ability to navigate economic cycles without excessive cash burn. 💡 Key insights: 1. Funding innovation can drive sustainable technologies forward. 2. Create a clear structure for intellectual property creation. 3. Understand what metrics matter and when to be flexible. 4. Make investments based on economic viability, not market conditions. 👉 Read more: https://lnkd.in/eYKr2E2k #industrialinnovation #sustainableinvesting #corporateventurecapital #sustainableinnovation #greeninvesting

#NEW Confused or skeptical when it comes to Sustainability or Impact in VC? Now is the time to talk about it! I am offering this week 4 slots of Dedicated Office Hours for VC Partners Why? To help VC players make progress in Sustainability & Impact by asking any question or concern, as #TimeIsNow for all of us... but even more so for the ones who source, select, finance and support the emergence of decisive technologies and innovation. Whether for adaption, mitigation, fair transition, etc. How? You're familiar with the office hours drill, so no need for an elaborate explanation: 30-minute slots, entirely devoid of greenwashing or BS, one-on-one. What for? After our session, you can anticipate: - Enhanced clarity on your chosen topic, - Perhaps more questions (a positive indicator in my perspective), - Hopefully, a realization or two as we engage in discussion, - A handful of unconventional ideas and tactics - consider it my distinctive touch. Any question is valid, whether practical or foundational. -- For some reason, my Friday post about this opportunity went sideways in terms of visibility (100 views for a 7K+ network hahaha!), so let me show you what some talented people in the VC space said about me in the comments of said post... Super grateful for their kind words <3 "The clarity that just one session with you can bring is exceptional. So grateful to have been at the receiving end of one of these" Yonca Braeckman (founder Impact Shakers - European VC with genuine impact thesis) "Definitely recommend! 🤩 #oneofakind opportunity to get real feedback on everything from investment thesis / scope to impact approach and execution. 🔥 What I definitely like: #thinkingoutsidethebox. Imène has a natural talent to uncover what makes you unique and bring it into the perfect message towards investors and startups alike... " Sabine Flechet (co-founder Masawa - European VC focused on mental health, proponent of "nurturing capital") "Rare opportunity ! Imène you bring a unique combination of no BS, strategic advice and operational approach, always pointing on what bring real sustainable value. 4 lucky happy few !" Isabelle Albert d'Argenson (Climate resilience VC, ex COO at Satgana) "Get ready for some insights, market intelligence.and practical distinct feedback… 🏎️🏁" Florence His 🐬(Global VC / impact fundraising expert, among many other hats) -- Curious? Fantastic! Reach out via email or in my DMs to secure your spot. When? 2 slots available Tuesday 12 morning, 2 slots Thursday 14 afternoon First come, first served [EDIT: 1 slot left on Tuesday am, 2 still available on Thursday pm]. Where? Online - expect a calendar invite post-confirmation. Questions? ---> Fire them my way :) Photo Credit: Authentic Emotion Christine Huet-Morio 🍎 #SustainableFinance #ImpactInvesting #InvestInWomen #TimeIsNow