The first steps

🌍 What is an impact company?

We define an impact company as one where the product’s outcomes intentionally create a measurable, positive environmental or social benefit. This impact is:

Intentional (part of the core mission)
Demonstrable (evident in how the product functions)
Quantifiable (trackable through metrics)
Eventually verifiable (can be independently assessed)

Impact companies typically tackle major sustainability challenges like:

Climate change & biodiversity loss
Access to education, finance, and healthcare
Inclusive technologies and resilient infrastructure
Online safety, cybersecurity, and data equity

🚀 Why investors care about impact

Impact companies aren’t “nice to have” anymore. They’re shaping markets and investment flows reflect that.

What’s driving momentum?	Why it matters for founders
🌱 Founder & employee purpose	Helps attract and retain top mission-aligned talent
🏛️ Policy tailwinds	Green subsidies and incentives (e.g. EU Green Deal, IRA)
📈 Performance resilience	Many impact sectors outperform in downturns
🛍️ Consumer pull	Customers prefer values-aligned brands
📋 Regulation	Ethical/sustainable practices are becoming minimum expectations
💰 LP demand	Funds are allocating more capital to impact strategies

The Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) definition of impact investing is also a useful reference .

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🛠️ How to build an impact company

1. Get clear on your mission and vision

Even with a team of two, define:

The societal or environmental problem you’re solving