This Week in Impact

Mapping the capital providers betting that the next wave of AI returns will come from making the technology more trustworthy; how the US Development Finance Corp. has shifted its priorities during the second Trump administration; and, two impact finance firms joined forces to give emerging fund managers the back office muscle they need to land bigger investors.Story links:“⁠Investing in AI 2.0: Mapping new investment opportunities across the trustworthy AI stack⁠,” by Paul Fehlinger.“⁠US Development Finance Corp. moves toward critical minerals and away from… development⁠,” by Jessica Pothering."⁠Mission Driven Finance and Known Holdings team up to provide infrastructure for impact fund managers⁠," by David Bank.

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: Family Office Ceniarth finds that their impact-first portfolio is not making money… but that's been their plan all along; a new Latin American investor rewards founders with better terms when they deliver more impact; And finally a climate justice fund raises $71 million to back clean energy projects the banks won't touch.Story links:“⁠Ceniarth’s impact-first portfolio is not making money. That’s the point⁠,” by Diane Isenberg and Greg Neichin"⁠To upgrade food systems in Latin America, Capibara adds impact incentives for founders, and for itself⁠," by Jessica Pothering“⁠Afterglow Climate Justice Fund raises $71 million to finance community-owned green projects⁠,” by Amy Cortese

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: From Galveston to Kansas City, overlooked cities are getting organized and making themselves investment ready; investing in the economic determinants of a healthy democracy; And a deal spotlight on Blue Earth Capital, which is unsticking impact capital.Story links:“⁠Power of place drives impact in a national movement of overlooked cities like Galveston⁠,” by Dennis Price“⁠Investing in shared prosperity, broad ownership and other economic determinants of a healthy democracy,⁠” by David Bank“⁠Blue Earth Capital on ‘unsticking’ impact capital and the rise of an impact secondaries market (Q&A)⁠,” by Danielle Rossingh

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: As President Trump calls climate change a “con job” at the UN, investors and philanthropies are raising money and building projects anyway; development banks abroad and Asia's asset owners are stepping up on climate finance –  is it enough; And this week's deal spotlight shines on Celsius Companies, a Philadelphia-area holding company buying up clean energy contractors to turn their workers into owners.Story links:“⁠Hoax this! Climate Week NYC showcases real solutions to real (really!) climate change⁠,” by Amy Cortese“⁠Development finance institutions rally private climate capital as US threatens multilateral banks⁠,” by Jessica Pothering“⁠As US retreats, Asia's investors take the lead on climate financing⁠,” by Dennis Price“⁠Holding company for clean energy contractors in Philadelphia aims to turn workers into owners⁠,” by Roodgally Senatus

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor Jessica Pothering. Up this week: Ahead of New York Climate Week, why ⁠investors are getting down to business⁠, even as AI sucks up the oxygen (and the capital) in the room; why ⁠African pension funds⁠ — sitting on $600 billion in assets — are starting to dip into private equity and private debt to fund small businesses back home; and, with ⁠batteries as a service⁠, how gas stations in Nigeria and South Africa are becoming an unlikely source of power for small businesses.

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: ⁠Restructuring and layoffs⁠ hit Pro Mujer, as gender lens and development funders pull back; how ⁠faith-based investors⁠, from Catholic sisters to family offices, are quietly building some of the most values-driven capital in private markets; and, spotlighting a floating ⁠modular nuclear reactor company⁠ that just landed $50 million seed round.

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week:“⁠Revenue-based financing helps create wealth with anti-dilution protection for founders, not investors⁠,” by Roodgally Senatus“⁠How revenue-based finance can help close the racial wealth gap⁠, by Carrie Endries“⁠Investing in Resilience: Why America's overlooked businesses matter more than ever⁠,” by Kim Folsom"⁠S2G Investments seeks alpha in impact – without the label⁠," by David Bank"⁠Wavemaker Partners is writing early, small checks for ‘difficult’ deep tech⁠," by Jessica Pothering

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week:“⁠Patient capital to establish trust, efficacy and potential for scale in youth mental health startups⁠,” by Hopelab’s Nathaan Demers"⁠After a commercial failure, AIM Horizon goes all in on impact for maritime decarbonization⁠," by Jessica Pothering

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor Jessica Pothering. Up this week: “⁠As Norges Bank warns of potential losses, can impact investments provide a hedge?⁠” by Amy Cortese"⁠Investors find opportunities in South Africa's rush to renewables⁠,” by Marilyn Waite“⁠Murdoch heir seeks to set All Aboard climate coalition up for long term impact⁠,” by Amy CorteseTo try ImpactAlpha Edge, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: “⁠Power for AI, mostly renewable, tops the shopping list for big asset managers⁠,” by Amy Cortese, with reporting from Erik Stein“⁠Of agents and agency: An investor’s guide to choice and control across the AI stack,⁠” by Paul Fehlinger"⁠WovenEarth raises $155 million fund-of-funds for early-stage cleantech⁠," by Roodgally Senatus