This Week in Impact

This week, Brian and David discuss the resilience of impact investing amidst political upheaval, focusing on emerging markets, small businesses, and climate strategies. Also, the evolving dynamics between limited partners (LPs) and general partners (GPs) in the investment landscape, particularly through co-investments. Finally they cover the University of Utah's new initiative to become a hub for impact investing education.00:00 Impact Investing Amidst Political Turmoil07:30 The Evolving LP/GP Relationship14:27 University of Utah: A New Epicenter for Impact InvestingRelevant links:Sign up for the LP/GP newsletter.⁠⁠“⁠⁠EPA’s efforts to claw back ‘green bank’ funds hit a snag⁠⁠,” by Amy Cortese.“⁠African leadership is reshaping the continent’s small business investing ecosystem⁠,” by Lucy Ngige.“⁠Climate and development challenges spur development finance institutions to unlock private capital⁠,” by Leslie Maasdorp of British International Investment.“⁠Why TPG’s Jim Coulter is bullish on impact⁠,” by Amy Cortese.“⁠That (mixed) feeling when your LP co-invests in the sweet deal you’ve just negotiated⁠,” by David Bank.

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: An innovative investment vehicle turns a strip mall in Portland into a community investment trust that’s helping local renters build family wealth; the Liist gets a facelift and the importance of highlighting the raises of emerging fund managers; plus, why impact investors are split on President Trump's proposal to axe the carried interest tax loophole.Links: Timestamps:

On this episode of 'This Week in Impact' Brian Walsh and Jessica pother discuss the implications of the Trump administration's freeze on development finance, the evolving landscape of voluntary carbon markets driven by corporate buyers, and the challenges facing private equity in the healthcare sector. 00:50 Impact of the Trump Administration on Development Finance 10:09 Corporate Buyers and Voluntary Carbon Markets 20:55 Addressing Private Equity's Challenges in Healthcare Story links: “⁠US development financing freeze puts private investments in Africa in peril⁠,” by Jessica Pothering "⁠Corporate buyers nudge voluntary carbon markets toward higher-quality projects⁠," by Jessica Pothering “⁠An allocators guide to reigning in private equity’s worst excesses in healthcare⁠,” by Ibrahim Rashid

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Stories featured in this week's episode: ⁠Mission-driven funders scramble to respond to federal funding freeze⁠⁠, by Amy Cortese and David Bank Call roundup: ⁠https://impactalpha.com/calls/⁠ ⁠How machine learning and AI can be harnessed for mission-based lending⁠⁠, by Mar Diteos Rendon, Nicole Jansma and Sachi Shenoy

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Stories covered this: “⁠Trump’s executive orders will affect investments in climate, equity, AI and global development⁠,” by Dennis Price, Isaac Silk and Amy Cortese “⁠Investors look for Opportunity Zones to get an extension and a fresh dose of tax-advantaged capital⁠,” by Roodgally Senatus “⁠Adding a dash of guaranteed liquidity to impact funds to attract more institutional LPs⁠,” by David Bank.

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.