EUVC VC | E479 | Cyril Gouiffès on What It Takes to Be a Real Impact Fund Manager
May 30, 2025
Cyril Gouiffès, the Head of Social Impact Investments at the European Investment Fund, discusses the vital role of team dynamics in impact fund management. He emphasizes the importance of aligning impact metrics with business models and how LPs can maintain engagement after fundraising. Cyril also tackles the issue of 'impact washing' and shares insights on lessons learned from failed NGO models. With the growth of impact venture capital, he calls for a return to original impact theses and highlights the need for innovative financing in underserved sectors.
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Cyril's Unique Impact Path
- Cyril Gouiffès shared his unique path from political science to microfinance and finally impact investing.
- His journey was shaped by a commitment to fairness and practical social impact grounded in understanding local contexts.
Explosion of Impact Funds
- Impact investing was niche 10 years ago, with fewer than 50 funds and generally more generalized approaches.
- Today it has grown to about 800-1000 funds, showing a $supercharged$ expansion and diversification in impact VC.
Team Quality is Paramount
- The quality of the team is the most crucial factor to gauge an impact fund's potential.
- Teams must blend investment savvy and deep impact commitment with complementary skills and long-term cohesion.