Impacc

Join me again on a whirlwind tour of East Africa as we meet the founders of our existing ventures and scout for new ones. Africa is full of amazing entrepreneurs - here‘s one of them: Eric Onchonga , co-founder of Irri-Hub KE on one of their clients‘ farm outside Kenya.

What if „aid“ was run like a business? That‘s the question I raised at Boehringer Ingelheim the other day. Some of you have expressed interest in the talk, so here comes the link to the video recording (in the first comment). Perhaps you want to have a look and hear some anecdotes about water kiosks without water entrepreneurs, about spotless toilets that have never been used and about what I call „The Land Cruiser Test“.

What if the freshest food in town was just a rooftop away? #Urban farming is trending increasingly in African cities. Sustainable agricultural methods in confined spaces, not only for self-provision, but also to produce affordable fresh, local food for the fast-growing urban population. Prognoses show how important urban farming will become in the near future: 🌿 While more than half of the world's population currently lives in cities, this figure will rise to around 68% by 2050, especially in the Global South 🌿 #Urban farming therefore not only helps to secure the food supply of urban populations 🌿 but also makes cities more sustainable 🌿 & creates jobs for young city dwellers Whether as #Rooftop Gardening, #Vertical farms, #Green walls, #Aquaponics, or #Street landscaping in the neighbourhood, the options are versatile. We invest in start-up’s such as #IRRIHub, that offer sustainable technologies to urban farmers

What if "aid" was run like a business? October was a whirlwind of inspiring events focused on global and social entrepreneurship, where industry experts, entrepreneurs, challengers and change-makers gathered to explore the future of sustainable social impact. Naturally, our founder, Till Wahnbaeck, was right at the heart of these conversations, sharing his insights on leveraging business as a tool for lasting social change. One of these impactful stages was Boehringer Ingelheim's - Making More Health Conference - a gathering dedicated to identifying new and better ways to improve health globally. In his keynote, Till boldly asked, "What if "aid" was run like a business?" We would love to hear YOUR thoughts on this?! At IMPACC, we thrive on these exchanges and wholeheartedly believe in the transformative power of teamwork and partnership to drive sustainable impact. Thank you for having us Boehringer Ingelheim.

When Climate Change meets Agriculture - What role does tech play when climate change challenges the future of farmers? Africa’s agriculture is seasonal and depends on rain. Changing rainfall patterns and unpredictable seasons due to climate change are therefore a tremendous challenge for farmers. 97% of Africa's smallholder farmers rely on rain-fed agriculture for living. They have limited access to modern irrigation systems and knowledge regarding optimal farming practices crucial for transitioning to sustainable, climate-resilient agriculture. Local development of modern agricultural technology is therefore becoming increasingly important. Satellite and GPS technologies, sensors, smart irrigation, drones, and automation help to overcome unfavourable climate effects and to use resources effectively. IMPACC's partner Irri-Hub KE is at the forefront to empower Kenyan farmers through ⤵

I recently had the chance to give the keynote speech at Boehringer Ingelheim's #MakingMoreHealth conference. Given the host is one of Germany's most successful pharma businesses, I asked a somewhat provocative question: what if "aid" was run like a business? I think it would be different in four areas: 1️⃣ We would be much more strategic: we would say yes to some things, and no to many others. We would choose our playing fields much more carefully - not in terms of “health” or “girls’ rights” or “hunger”, but in terms of hero products and solutions and what makes them unique.   2️⃣ We would spend our money much more carefully. Of course you need money to deliver results. But the aid industry is the only industry I know where we celebrate costs - in the sense that we talk about project spending as opposed to the results we achieve with as little money as possible.    3️⃣ We would be much more accountable. I know the attribution gap is real, and it's difficult to measure impact. And often, what’s most easily measurable isn’t what drives the biggest change. But that shouldn’t be an excuse. We need to move away from statements like “we have contributed towards” and start measuring really specific results - not at the input/output level but through proxies. A good proxy for poverty is jobs, a good proxy for hunger is the number of meals per day. I know this isn’t perfect, but it’s clear. And if you are transparent about your reasoning, most people will follow you.   4️⃣ - and probably most controversially - we would stop stuff when there is no "product-market fit", when the products and solutions don’t solve the problem of the people we are trying to support. And that can be as big as “promoting democracy” in regions where that isn’t desired and as small as stopping water kiosks when there is no entrepreneur to take it over, or stopping toilet projects when people don’t use them.   Don’t get me wrong - I left the private sector for a reason. I don’t think we should manage aid like a Fortune 500 company. But I still think there's a thing or two we can learn to make us better. What do you think?

October focuses on #WorldFoodDay. The topic: #RighttoFood. In support of this event, what could be more important for us than those who are producing food? Farmers are the backbone of many African economies. About 60% of the continent's labor force works in #agriculture. It contributes around 23% to the GDP. However, smallholder farmers, who constitute 80% of all farms in Africa, face numerous challenges, including limited access to modern farming technologies, inadequate irrigation infrastructure, and lack of market access. Addressing these challenges is crucial for improving food security and boosting economic growth. Therefore, we are committed to investing in green agricultural startups in Africa, such as #IRRIHUB in Kenya. Stay tuned for more news, facts and stories about our projects and investments in innovative agricultural ventures.

Kicking Off the Weekend with Exciting News! P4G (Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030) has just announced their 12 new partnerships, and we are thrilled to share that our Irri-Hub KE - Impacc partnership has been selected for their program! P4G Partnerships supports early-stage climate businesses through grants and technical assistance. Why are programs like this so important? Small and medium-sized enterprises represent about 90% of all businesses and create 9 out of 10 jobs in emerging markets. However, they often struggle to secure funding due to high-risk perceptions of international investors. Additionally, they face regulatory challenges and high commercial uncertainty, among other obstacles. By highlighting and supporting the immense potential of early-stage startups like Irri-Hub KE , initiatives like P4G align perfectly with the vision we have at Impacc. Congratulations to the team - this recognition is very well deserved! Stay tuned for more updates and let's watch Irri-Hub KE thrive on their mission to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers! 💧🌱

We’re Hiring! Our application for the Venture Builder position to join our team in Ethiopia is still open! Apply today! If you're passionate about supporting innovative ventures, scaling impactful businesses, and driving positive social change, we’d love to hear from you! Know anyone perfect for this role? Tag them in the comments 💪

A global event that connects social entrepreneurs, impact investors, NGOs, and governmental organizations to unite and create sustainable solutions for social challenges? COUNT US IN! We are excited to be part of the Boehringer Ingelheim's Making More Health Together conference on the 10th of October. Our founder Till Wahnbaeck will be speaking about the topic 'Rethinking Development Aid' and be part of the panel discussion 'Change Must Change'. It’s time to challenge the status quo and explore innovative solutions for sustainable impact #together. Looking forward to connecting with fellow changemakers and creating a path forward. Who will join us? #MMH #DevelopmentAid #SocialImpact #MakingMoreHealthTogether