Returns On Investment

Hopelab’s Margaret Laws and Amy Green join ’s David Bank on the latest episode of the Agents of Impact podcast. See all of ImpactAlpha's Healthy Youth coverage: https://impactalpha.com/browse/inclusion/healthy-youth/

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: What the $785 billion private equity giant Apollo has learned in the five years since launching its $1 billion private impact fund; from MasterCard Foundation's Africa Growth Fund to local African funders, a look at the small business investing landscape on the continent (07:45); and to mark this year’s Juneteenth commemoration, contributing editor Napoleon Wallace makes the case for shared prosperity his new remix, ‘The Reconstruction Will Not Be Televised’ (15:20).Relevant links:⁠RSVP for next week's Call⁠.“⁠Ownership, collinearity and KPIs: Apollo’s impact strategy turns five⁠,” by Amy Cortese"⁠Mastercard Foundation knows how stakeholders feel about its Africa Growth Fund⁠," by Jessica Pothering“⁠‘The Reconstruction Will Not Be Televised’ remixes a classic to build the movement for shared prosperity,⁠” by David Bank. Listen to the song on ⁠YouTube⁠.

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: Turning the stranded pipeline of green loans into investable deal flow for private capital. Plus, for European investors, material risks are still… material (10:30). And, Taylor Swift, Ryan Coogler, and the emerging ownership economy in music and film (15:10).Story links:Green lenders are all dressed up and ready to rollFor European LPs, material risks are still material, and American GPs come callingTaylor Swift, Ryan Coogler and the emerging ownership economy in music and film

In this special episode of This Week in Impact, Brian Walsh discusses the evolution of ImpactAlpha with editor-in-chief David Bank and newly named CEO Dennis Price. The discussion centers on the leadership transition and the new teams and tools being developed at ImpactAlpha to support Agents of Impact. Read the full announcement.

David catches up with Navajo Power CEO Brett Isaac and COO Michael Cox to learn how the indigenous-owned company is building out utility-scale solar projects, not just in Navajo Nation but on tribal land across the country.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Navajo Power and Its Mission03:11 The Transition from Fossil Fuels to Clean Energy05:45 Community Engagement and Project Development09:11 Navigating Regulatory Challenges12:10 Financing the Future of Navajo Power14:57 Building a Sustainable Economic Ecosystem18:08 The Role of Indigenous Sovereignty in Energy Projects20:55 Future Prospects and Community Impact

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: Pegasus Capital’s contrarian play for orphaned climate projects in emerging markets. How a Ugandan pension fund is creating its own new savers with investments in small business and agriculture (07:45). And, should impact have a veto in investment decisionmaking (12:20)?Story links:“Ever contrarian, Pegasus Capital eyes orphaned climate projects in emerging markets,” by David Bank and Amy Cortese“Uganda’s pension fund is creating new savers with investments in small business and agriculture,” by Lucy Ngige and David Bank“Should impact have a veto in investment decisions?” by Blink’s Ana Pimenta

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: Unsolicited advice for the Gates Foundation following the announcement that it would increase its giving and spend down its endowment by 2045; How California's massive public pension funds find alpha in emerging fund managers (09:45); And, glimmers of hope for blended finance in the face of a global foreign aid pullback (15:27).Story links:

There are nearly as many people in the US over 65 years old as there are under 18, and we’re not getting any younger.  “It's genuinely a mega trend that's going to impact every aspect of our economy,” Next50’s Peter Kaldes tells David Bank on this Agents of Impact podcast. “We would be missing out on a profound investment and impact opportunity if we don't build this framework.”

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: Two views on the future of impact investing from Calvert Impact and Innovative Finance Initiative. Temasek makes the case for the private equity opportunity in climate adaptation and resilience (09:10). And, how Mati Carbon plans to leverage its  $50 million X-Prize to remove carbon and support farmers in tropical zones (14:15).Story Links:“Calvert Impact’s market-shaping strategy for the future of impact,” by Calvert Impact’s Jenn Pryce.“Innovative Finance Network’s fund designs for radical impact,” by Innovative Finance Network’s Aunnie Patton Power and Doughnut Economics Action Lab's Erinch Sahan.“Temasek on hot sectors for PE investment in climate adaptation and resilience,” by Amy Cortese and Jessica Pothering“Mati Carbon leverages its $50 million XPRIZE to remove carbon and support farmers in tropical zones,” by Jessica Pothering.

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor Jessica Pothering. Up this week: With US markets all over the place, investors at the Milken Global Conference shift their focus to ownership, AI, and the rest of the world. How impact investors are responding to proposed cuts to health and medical research (8:33). And, forget your astrological sign – Phenix Capital proposes four archetypes for impact fund managers (15:23).Story links:“With markets down, up and sideways, investors look to ownership, AI and the rest of the world,” by Amy Cortese and David Bank“KKR’s Pete Stavros: Employee ownership is a competitive advantage in private equity (Q&A),” by David Bank and Roodgally Senatus"With medical research funding in peril, one biotech VC firm pushes innovation forward," by Jessica Pothering"Illusionist, Learner, Achiever or Champion: What kind of impact fund manager are you?," by Phenix Capital’s Daniel Moreno and Mohit Saini

JFF Ventures’ Yigal Kerszenbaum joins David Bank on the latest Agents of Impact podcast. The venture capital fund is betting on a high-road vision of workforce innovation – and AI – to expand economic mobility for workers amid technological disruption and economic uncertainty.Read Kerszenbaum's op-ed on ImpactAlpha.Timecodes:00:00 The Role of Impact Investing in Economic Mobility04:44 Navigating the AI Landscape for Job Security08:13 Creating Pathways to Higher Wage Jobs10:31 Supporting Non-Traditional Workers and Solopreneurs14:23 The Shift in Education and Entrepreneurship16:38 Investability of Wealth Building Strategies

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: Some initial entries into the playbook for shared prosperity. How inflation and economic instability is affecting pay-as-you-go financing in the off-grid solar market (08:40). And, why Tom Steyer see now as a buying opportunity for climate investors with dry powder to deploy (13:50).Relevant links:“Galvanize’s Tom Steyer on why now is a good time for climate investors with cash (Q&A),” by David Bank“⁠Defaults on pay-as-you-go solar tick up with income pressure and financial literacy challenges⁠,” by Lucy NgigeContribute a strategy to the playbook through this short form

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

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

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.

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,

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

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.

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/