This Week in Impact

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: How the devastating LA wildfires are putting a spotlight on wildfire prevention tech and what the disaster means for California's fragile insurance market; examples of outcomes-based financing driving systemic change in education; and Colossal Biosciences’ $200 million raise to revive the wooly mammoth among other lost species. “ ,” by David Bank and Roodgally Senatus. “ ,” by Louie Woodall “ ,” by Jenny Berg and Inês Charro of Education Finance Network ,” by Amy Cortese ⁠In the age of fire, tech solutions can help but not heal⁠⁠LA wildfires push California’s insurance market to the brink⁠⁠How outcomes-based financing can drive systemic change in education⁠⁠Wild and woolly: Colossal Biosciences raises $200 million to revive the mammoth and other lost species⁠

Host Brian Walsh takes up the week’s top stories with ImpactAlpha’s Jessica Pothering. They discuss Jessica's takeaways from her analysis of ImpactAlpha's 2024 set of actively raising impact funds, how catalytic capital is unlocking regenerative agriculture opportunities in Brazil, and why drones are taking off in India for agriculture and economic inclusion. "⁠Glimmers of hope for impact fund managers shine through the fundraising fog⁠," by Jessica Pothering. "⁠How catalytic capital helped unlock ecosystem regeneration in Brazil⁠," by Dario Parziale. "⁠Investors bet on drones to lift agricultural productivity and women’s livelihoods in India⁠," by Shefali Anand.

In the final podcast episode of the year, host Brian Walsh takes up the trends that ImpactAlpha will be following in 2025 with editor David Bank. On our radar: Impact investors lean into economic populism with the ownership economy; climate gets a new narrative for the Trump era; and emerging markets attract local capital for local needs as better data rebuts misperceptions of risk. Check out all of this year's ⁠lookaheads on ImpactAlpha⁠.

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: How lobbying and advocacy are being used by family offices for “policy enhanced impact investing.” “⁠These investors are raising their lobbying game to enhance their social impact⁠,” by David Bank. How a California community lender is focusing on community ownership models to combat the displacement of small businesses and nonprofits. “⁠Community Vision’s ownership strategy for combating displacement of small businesses and nonprofits in California⁠,” by Roodgally Senatus. “⁠How community ownership benefits investors and communities⁠,” Aisha Benson and Christina Hollenback. And, a look at the rapidly evolving off-grid solar industry in Africa. “⁠Commercial lenders wake up to Africa's fastest-growing solar sector⁠,” by Lucy Ngige.

David Bank, Editor of Impact Alpha and expert in employee ownership and the care economy, joins Brian Walsh to explore how different models of ownership can enhance employee wealth. They discuss how private equity is shifting from layoffs to profit-sharing, empowering workers through innovative structures like ESOPs. Bank also delves into the U.S. care economy's investment opportunities, emphasizing quality and accessibility while highlighting the importance of equitable development strategies, particularly for women-led initiatives.

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: Highlights from this week’s post-election ⁠Agents of Impact Call⁠; the news that ⁠Donald Trump Jr⁠. is joining a quasi-impact investing fund targeting an underserved market –  conservative consumers; and, how ⁠catalytic capital warehousing⁠ could help emerging managers finance the sustainable development goals.

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: Previewing next week's Agents of Impact Call (⁠RSVP NOW!⁠) The search is on for ⁠global climate leadership⁠ at COP29-- and ⁠women are front and center⁠. How ⁠hospitals are partnering with community lenders⁠ to invest in the social determinants of health Plus, a look at some of our ⁠top deals of the week⁠.

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: Initial reactions from agents of impact to President Trump's re-election; an update on some of the funding already being distributed from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund; and how a mutual aid network in Asheville, North Carolina is helping overlooked entrepreneurs rebuild after Hurricane Helene.

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: The ImpactAlpha team was at the ⁠SOCAP conference in SF⁠, where the focus was on systemic change; how private investors are pouring more money into ⁠blended finance transactions⁠; and, why global ⁠family offices⁠ are slowly warming up to climate investments.

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank, dialing in from Amsterdam. Up this week: The GIIN’s new report pegs the impact investing market at ⁠$1.5 trillion…ish⁠; the reasons for and significance of the news that the ⁠Catalytic Capital Consortium⁠ is doubling down rather than shutting down its efforts to expand the use of the financing tool; and, a preview of ImpactAlpha’s ⁠new documentary⁠ on the North Carolina model, premiering at SOCAP next week. Check out ⁠the trailer⁠. Register for ⁠SOCAP24⁠ using the code “s24_ImpactAlpha” to save $250.