ImpactAlpha Podcasts

ImpactAlpha
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Apr 25, 2025 • 16min

Climate tech is weathering political turbulence.

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: How climate tech founders and funders are planning to ride out the political storm. What the lackluster fundraising totals for TPG NEXT means for emerging and diverse managers (07:00). Plus, five promising pages in the playbook for shared prosperity (11:56).Relevant links:Climate tech is counting on falling costs, rising demand to ride out the political stormLackluster fundraising for TPG NEXT sends mixed signals to emerging and diverse managersRe:Construction: Five promising pages in the playbook for shared prosperityContribute to the playbookRSVP for the call
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Apr 18, 2025 • 17min

A call to action in response to US political risk

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: A call to action from impact investors in response to the growing political risk in the US market. Plus, how the idea of employee ownership is bringing lawmakers together across the aisle (7:55). And the strategies and structures LPs are using to get their money back in a volatile market environment (11:55).Story links:“In a polarized US Capitol, employee ownership brings lawmakers together,” by Roodgally SenatusRestive LPs look to secondaries and other creative exits to recoup their capital,” by Amy Cortese
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Apr 11, 2025 • 20min

A tarrifying week for investors + what's next for global AID

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank, live-ish from the Re:Construction road show. Up this week: How impact investors are reacting to a tariffying week for Wall Street and global trade. What comes next for foreign aid in the wake of the Trump administration’s dismantling of USAID (7:10). And, why it’s critical to continue assembling a playbook for shared prosperity (12:15). Relevant links:“Rebuilding global aid was the (mostly) talk of the town at Skoll World Forum,” by Caroline BressanCould trade chaos cut emissions and make impact investments the safer bet?” by Amy Cortese and David Bank“People, purpose and perseverance: Assembling the playbook for shared prosperity,” by David BankSubmit your plays for shared prosperity.
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Apr 4, 2025 • 18min

Insurance incentives for wildfire prevention + smarter subsidies for agribusiness

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor Jessica Pothering. Up this week: Climate insurance in California that incentivizes landowners to reduce wildfire risks. Plus, making subsidies smarter by targeting the operating needs of agriculture businesses and the funds that support them.Chapters(00:00) Innovative Climate Insurance Pilot in California(08:17) Concessional Capital and Africa's FarmersStory links:“Innovative climate insurance in California gives landowners incentives to reduce wildfire risks,” by Jessica Pothering“Making subsidies smarter by targeting Africa’s farmers and the funds that support them,” by Jessica PotheringEvent RSVPs:Boston: Saturday, April 12 - ⁠Boston International Film Festival⁠North Carolina: Friday, April 4 - ⁠Building models for shared prosperity⁠, UNC Chapel HillWashington, DC: April 8 - ⁠Purple Party⁠,
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Mar 28, 2025 • 20min

Proxy battles for universal owners & new models for employee ownership

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: With proxy season here, how shareholders can apply a system stewardship model for the companies they own; why strategies to share the wealth via employee ownership are attracting popular support, and a look at our spring “Re:construction” tour, which offers a playbook for shared prosperity.Chapters(00:00) Proxy season insights(06:00) Employee ownership models(11:50) Re:construction and shared prosperityEvent RSVPs:North Carolina: Friday, April 4 - Building models for shared prosperity, UNC Chapel HillWashington, DC: April 8 - Purple Party, Boston: Saturday, April 12 - Boston International Film FestivalStory links:“Shareholders can fight back with system stewardship,” by The Shareholder Commons’ Frederick AlexanderOwnership Call: impactalpha.com/calls and Youtube“A playbook of what and who is working to build prosperity for all,” and “‘Special Purpose Credit Programs’ face the axe,” by David Bank
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Mar 21, 2025 • 19min

Bipartisan support for CDFIs under Trump, and Canada's first Employee Ownership Trusts

🎧 This Week in Impact. Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: Why Trump's order to cut a Main Street lending program led to a rare GOP rebuke. How Canadian employee ownership trusts offer a path to shared prosperity along with protecting national sovereignty (06:17). And finally, as private equity fundraising becomes more competitive, how GPs can differentiate on impact (12:53).RSVP for the call:⁠https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3AUkUaVZTyivXhXx0oVsrw⁠Story links:“⁠⁠Threat to CDFI Fund gives community lenders a chance to flex bipartisan support⁠⁠,” by David Bank and Amy Cortese“⁠In Canada, employee ownership trusts offer a path to shared prosperity and national sovereignty⁠,” by Roodgally Senatus.“⁠Differentiating on impact, tapping retail investors: Charting the changing private equity landscape⁠” by Amy Cortese
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Mar 13, 2025 • 19min

A new era for climate leadership (in Canada, at least)

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: The significance of noted green banker Mark Carney’s new role as Canadian Prime Minister; what’s at stake as US climate policy heads to the courts (06:41); and, why one impact fund manager says low-income customers are more profitable – and has the data to prove it (12:25).Story links:"⁠Canada puts a green banker in charge of its response to Trump⁠,” by Amy Cortese and David Bank.“⁠EPA raises the stakes in battle over $20 billion in green bank grants⁠,” by Amy Cortese and Isaac Silk.“⁠Climate United carries legal banner in battle for the green bank⁠,” by David Bank and Amy Cortese."⁠Elevar Equity says low-income customers are more profitable – and has the data to prove it⁠," by Shefali Anand.
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Mar 7, 2025 • 25min

Local institutional capital for small and medium sized businesses in Africa

Host Brian Walsh chats with ImpactAlpha’s emerging markets reporter Lucy Ngige. Up this week: Why the mood at two impact investing conferences in Nairobi was hopeful, despite the US foreign aid freeze. Plus, a roundup of some of the most interesting recent emerging markets deals. Check out all of the deals here:https://impactalpha.com/browse/beats/dealflow/
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Feb 28, 2025 • 22min

Seeing East African agri-food tech in action, plus the EU walks back sustainability disclosure

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor Jessica Pothering. Up this week: Jessica digs in on food and agriculture in East Africa. Emerging fund managers in the ownership economy deliver returns to investors by sharing the wealth with workers, families and communities. And, what the EU Commission’s revamped rules mean for climate and sustainability disclosure.Timecodes: 00:00 Impact Investing Insights from East Africa 11:04 Emerging Trends in the Ownership Economy 17:39 EU Climate Regulations: A Shift in Strategy Links: "⁠GPs deliver ownership investing strategies for LPs of all sizes⁠," by Jessica Pothering “⁠The European Union is poised to scale back its ambitious climate finance regulations, too,⁠” by Louie Woodall.
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Feb 21, 2025 • 19min

Navigating the new era for emerging markets, climate and small business investing

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.

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