Impact Investors Council (IIC)

🔔 Insights and Inspiration from Prabhav 2024: Unveiling the Proceedings Report We are delighted to announce the release of the comprehensive Proceedings Report from Prabhav 2024, India's premier impact investing conference. This report encapsulates the essence of the two-day event, held in New Delhi on September 12th and 13th, where over 565 attendees from 20+ geographies came together to discuss how to drive meaningful change through impact investments. Prabhav 2024 explored critical topics shaping the future of sustainable development and impact investing. The report offers in-depth descriptions of key sessions on Climate Finance, Inclusive Finance, Equity and Debt Impact Investing, Gender-Lens Investing, Blended Finance, Material Circularity, and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH). With more than 1,100 meetings and over 30 hours of content, the discussions were vibrant, reflecting the growing momentum in mobilizing capital for social and environmental outcomes. From climate-tech innovations to gender-focused investing, Prabhav 2024 has become a cornerstone for forging cross-sectoral partnerships and deepening impact. We invite you to dive into the report and gain insights from expert speakers, innovative case studies, and discussions that are set to redefine the role of impact investing in India’s sustainable future. Stay inspired as you explore how these pivotal conversations can translate into actionable strategies for creating a positive and lasting impact.

We are happy to share Somerset Indus Capital Partners' Impact and Sustainability Video.  Impact and sustainability are central to Somerset’s mission, with its portfolio’s impact spanning  700 of the 788 districts across India. Our Companies cover 103 of the 112 most underdeveloped  districts, highlighting a remarkable reach of 92% in these areas. The Impact and Sustainability  framework supports 15 of the 17 UN SDGs and aligns with global standards, including IRIS+,  SASB, GRI, IFC Performance Standards, ILO, UN PRI, and various global DFIs. Somerset's approach is straightforward: It invests in small and mid-sized Indian healthcare  companies that innovate and improve health outcomes. Impact and sustainability are woven  into our investment decisions. Whether through operational support, talent acquisition, or  strategic planning, these principles are embedded in every step to ensure that our investments  are both effective and sustainable. By focusing on five key impact pillars—Accessibility,  Affordability, Job Creation, Quality, and Innovation, Somerset enhances lives and achieves  lasting positive outcomes. The integration of ESG considerations into every investment  decision, along with regular monitoring of portfolio companies, underscores Somerset’s  commitment to sustainable healthcare investments.

📖 The India Room at the GIIN Impact Forum 2024: A Full House of Insight & Impact The India Room at The Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) Impact Forum 2024 was a resounding success, with a full house of over 25 Global Limited Partner (LP) organizations and 28 Indian General Partner (GP) organizations and Ecosystem Players supporting us to showcase India at its best, joining us for an engaging and insightful session. A heartfelt thanks to the GIIN team for their exceptional support in making this possible. The session began with GIRISH AIVALLI, CEO of the Impact Investors Council (IIC), setting the stage by outlining the vast opportunities within India's impact sectors, with a particular emphasis on climate tech and sustainable finance. His remarks provided a clear and compelling vision of India's potential as a global leader in impact investing. Of particular importance had been the impact investing data and statistics presented, which was lauded by the LPs as they often have trouble getting access to such authentic figures. Shilpa Kumar, Partner at Omidyar Network India and Executive Council Member at IIC, delivered the keynote address, where she underscored the need for scalable, inclusive financial solutions to address India’s unique development challenges. Nirav Khambhati, Partner at The Blended Finance Company, spoke about the blended finance landscape in India, discussing how innovative financial structures are unlocking larger pools of capital for high-impact sectors. Mark Kahn, Managing Partner at Omnivore, then took the stage to showcase the pioneering work they are doing in agri-tech, transforming India’s agricultural sector with cutting-edge technologies in exactly 45 seconds :) The session concluded with an engaging open dialogue, sportingly moderated by Mark, between LPs and GPs, who discussed several critical issues. A key point of discussion was the need for robust impact measurement frameworks to enhance accountability and transparency. Participants also emphasized the importance of expanding blended finance structures to de-risk investments and bring in more capital for high-impact sectors. There was a consensus on the need for technical assistance to support early-stage enterprises, as well as the necessity of crowding in private capital, given the current capital constraints in the sector. Other points included the need for cross-border collaboration and knowledge-sharing to scale impactful solutions effectively. IIC's 9th India Room effort was extremely successful, and we will continue to bring such platforms together for our members and the India impact industry! We sincerely hope to continue our collaboration with the The Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) team and look forward to more opportunities to strengthen the global impact investment community. A special thanks to our patrons who supported our efforts: Omidyar Network India, The Blended Finance Company and Omnivore Sapna Shah Amit Bouri

📌 The India Room at The Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) Impact Forum 2024 – Happening Today! The Impact Investors Council (IIC)'s India Room at the GIIN Impact Forum 2024 is happening today, 24th October 2024, from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM CET. The session will explore India’s unique positioning as a resilient and trusted destination for impact investments amidst global volatility. Themed "Stability Amidst Volatility – Unleashing the Potential of the World’s Largest Impact Market", the session will focus on India’s rapidly growing impact investing landscape and its role in addressing pressing global challenges. As the world grapples with economic instability and climate disruptions, India is emerging as a leader in sustainable and inclusive investments, driven by innovation across sectors such as clean energy, financial inclusion, healthcare, and agriculture. Key highlights include: - Opening Remarks: GIRISH AIVALLI, CEO, Impact Investors Council (IIC) - Keynote Address: Shilpa Kumar, Partner, Omidyar Network India & Executive Council Member, Impact Investors Council (IIC) - Sectoral Insights by Nirav Khambhati, Partner, The Blended Finance Company - Moderated Open Dialogue: Mark Kahn, Managing Partner, Omnivore - Vote of Thanks: Neha Bhatnagar, Vice President - Partnerships, Impact Investors Council (IIC) The session will culminate in an open dialogue, offering attendees the chance to engage directly with experts and peers. The day will conclude with networking over cocktails, providing an informal setting to continue discussions. We eagerly look forward to the session as we unlock the vast potential of India’s impact market!

In the 2024 edition of The India Climate Finance Report, launched by Green Artha, Neha Bhatnagar, Vice President of Partnerships, and Divya Pinge, Head of Research at the Impact Investors Council (IIC), shed light on the transformative trends in climate tech investment, in India. The report delves into the capital continuum for climate tech investments in India, shedding light on the various trends and stakeholder insights which have transformed it from a niche sector to a widely recognized market. Neha and Divya share about IIC’s observations and experience with this space, bringing to light the investment trends researched by IIC and the nuanced perspectives that we continue to observe from a growing base of investors. The insights shed light on fast growing and evolving spaces like sustainable mobility and waste management, whilst also looking at the growing synergies of climate with other impact focus areas, such as health, water and hygiene. IIC shares about the rising interest from newer classes of investors, including domestic and international family offices, who have been expressing a keen interest to drive positive climate action, emphasizing the importance of sustainable ecosystem relationships and knowledge-sharing to fuel investor confidence in India’s evolving climate tech landscape. You can read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gn_8DDrd A big thank you to Green Artha and Maya Chandrasekaran for the opportunity to share our insights and experience.

📢  Session Moderator: The India Room at The Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) Impact Forum 2024 | October 24th, 2024 | 3:00 p.m. CET onwards We shall be having an open dialogue at the India Room at the GIIN Impact Forum 2024, moderated by Mark Kahn, Managing Partner at Omnivore. Mark will lead a dynamic discussion, bringing together top voices from the impact investment community to explore the opportunities and challenges in India’s fast-evolving investment landscape. With his expertise in sustainable agriculture and tech-driven solutions, Mark will guide the conversation towards practical strategies for navigating the complexities of today’s global environment, while leveraging India’s unique strengths as a premier destination for impact capital. As part of the 9th edition of the India Room, themed “Stability Amidst Volatility: Unleashing the Potential of the World’s Largest Impact Market,” this open dialogue will highlight India’s resilience amidst global economic uncertainty. Participants will hear from industry leaders on key sectoral trends, emerging opportunities, and the expanding impact ecosystem. The session will provide valuable insights into how private capital can play a transformative role in driving sustainable growth and scaling impactful ventures across India. If you’re attending the GIIN Impact Forum 2024, be sure to join this open dialogue session. With Mark moderating, participants will walk away with actionable insights into how India is shaping the future of inclusive and sustainable investment strategies, making it a must-attend event for those looking to engage with the world’s largest impact market.

📢 Speaker Announcement: The India Room at The Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) Impact Forum 2024 | October 24th, 2024 | 3:00 p.m. CET onwards Nirav Khambhati, Partner at The Blended Finance Company, will bring his deep expertise as a sector specialist to the India Room at the GIIN Impact Forum 2024. With years of experience navigating the intersection of public and private capital, Nirav will shed light on the current state of the blended finance landscape in India. His insights will focus on how blended finance can effectively bridge funding gaps in critical sectors, leveraging both impact capital and philanthropic funding to drive scalable solutions for social and environmental challenges. During his address, Nirav will highlight the growing relevance of blended finance in India’s evolving impact market. He will discuss innovative financing models that combine development and commercial capital to unlock investments in underserved areas such as climate resilience, affordable healthcare, and financial inclusion. His perspective will provide attendees with a comprehensive understanding of the role blended finance plays in catalyzing large-scale investments that balance risk and impact, particularly in a volatile global environment. The India Room at the GIIN Impact Forum 2024 marks the 9th chapter in the India Room series. Themed “Stability Amidst Volatility: Unleashing the Potential of the World’s Largest Impact Market”, the session will explore India's unique position as a trusted and resilient destination for impact investments, even amidst global uncertainties. Industry leaders will share their insights into sectoral trends, growth opportunities, and the impact ecosystem, providing participants with a clear view of how India continues to thrive as a hub for sustainable investments. The discussion will shed light on the country's ability to adapt and grow despite the challenges posed by today’s volatile global landscape. Join us at the India Room for thought-provoking presentations and an open, moderated dialogue that will provide attendees with invaluable perspectives on India’s role in shaping the future of sustainable and inclusive investment strategies. If you're attending the GIIN Impact Forum 2024, this is a must-attend session for those looking to understand the opportunities within India’s impact market and connect with leading voices in the industry.

🏠 Apply now for the Sankalp Awards for ShelterTech and win INR 5,00,000 to scale your affordable housing innovation! Deadline: 21st October. Apply here: https://bit.ly/3U9417l Priya Mohan

📢 Speaker Announcement: The India Room at The Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) Impact Forum 2024 | October 24th, 2024 | 3:00 p.m. CET onwards The keynote address at The India Room at the GIIN Impact Forum 2024 will be delivered by Shilpa Kumar, Partner at Omidyar Network India and Executive Council Member of the Impact Investors Council (IIC). Shilpa will offer a deep dive into the evolving impact investment landscape in India, emphasizing the power of innovative capital to tackle the nation’s most critical social challenges. She will highlight how the convergence of financial returns and social impact is reshaping the market, making India a key player in the global impact ecosystem. Her address will also underscore the importance of technology and climate resilience in driving future investment opportunities. The India Room at the GIIN Impact Forum 2024 marks the 9th chapter in the India Room series. Themed “Stability Amidst Volatility: Unleashing the Potential of the World’s Largest Impact Market”, the session will explore India's unique position as a trusted and resilient destination for impact investments, even amidst global uncertainties. Industry leaders will share their insights into sectoral trends, growth opportunities, and the impact ecosystem, providing participants with a clear view of how India continues to thrive as a hub for sustainable investments. The discussion will shed light on the country's ability to adapt and grow despite the challenges posed by today’s volatile global landscape. Join us at the India Room for thought-provoking presentations and an open, moderated dialogue that will provide attendees with invaluable perspectives on India’s role in shaping the future of sustainable and inclusive investment strategies. If you're attending the GIIN Impact Forum 2024, this is a must-attend session for those looking to understand the opportunities within India’s impact market and connect with leading voices in the industry.

We at Impact Investors Council (IIC) had the honor to collaborate with ET Edge for the 6th edition of The Global Sustainability Alliance’s SDG Summit 2024, held on October 16th, 2024 in New Delhi, India.                The Investors Roundtable Discussion on: Investor's Vision: Embracing a Brighter Future: Investment Priorities for 2024” moderated by Ms. Ranjna Khanna, Senior Director- Programs at Impact Investors Council (IIC) delved into the critical topic of sustainable financing and the need to bridge the funding gap for Climate-tech startups.                       The discussions revolved around expanding perspective on emerging business models in climate tech investing, the challenges faced by enterprises in these sectors and the structural interventions required to scale these startups effectively.                     Some of the key takeaways included: ➡ Financing challenges: The urgent need for innovative financing structures, especially for commercial EVs, and the absence of a well-established secondary market for EV value chain. ➡ Regulatory and Policy hurdles: The complexity of the regulatory framework for climate-tech startups and the need for more patient capital. ➡ Capital structure and diversification: The importance of innovative financing mechanisms, a diversified pool of capital, and blended finance structures. ➡ Legal and tax considerations: Potential regulatory hurdles, contractual complexities, and tax challenges faced by climate-tech startups. ➡ Impact Investing: The potential of Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) for climate-tech investing, along with the need for policy changes. Overall, addressing these challenges is crucial to fostering the growth and scalability of climate-tech startups.