Impact investing, sitting at the intersection of capitalism and charity, has grown explosively. As the industry surges ahead, complex questions are emerging around innovative financing models, exit strategies, social impact measurement and, of course, the interaction between social enterprises and the public sector. Join us at this Acumen Debate, a "vigorous discussion amoungst friends" in the social impact community, to address these complexities and more. The Debate will be followed by a cocktail and canapé reception.
Chloe is a social enterprise and portfolio management expert working at the Social Business Trust (SBT) as Portfolio Director. Working in collaboration with its eight corporate partners, including EY, SBT applies the principles of private equity investing to fund and scale a select number of high growth potential social enterprises to achieve national scale. Prior to SBT, Chloe worked at national education charity Teach First which she joined to support the charity in building its national strategic partnerships and alliances. She subsequently moved to the Teach First Innovation Unit where she led the accelerator programme for a portfolio of fast growth education social enterprises. Chloe began her career in local government as a political and policy advisor and led on high profile initiatives including inquiries into education standards in North London and the 2011 Tottenham Riots.
Florian is CEO of Aquiva Foundation, providing sustainable desalination solutions to fight the growing water crises due to the depletion of sweet water resources in the developing world. He has been an entrepreneur and investor for most of his career, active in the film industry, port development and the construction of giant observation wheels. Florian is co-founder of Memsys clear water, a membrane distillation technology for water treatment, and the potential of this technology for relief in water distressed situations has been one of his driving motivations. Memsys has pledged preferred access to its technology to the projects of Aquiva.
Sasha is the Chief Innovation Officer at Acumen where he oversees Acumen’s work in Leadership and the spread of ideas. This encompasses Acumen’s Lean Data work, the Acumen Fellows Programs, +Acumen and other efforts to help Acumen change the way the world tackles poverty. In his previous role as Acumen’s Director of Business Development, Sasha led global fundraising and executed a successful $100M capital raise. Sasha is a noted speaker and blogger on generosity, philanthropy and social change. He has been recognized as an Innovation Agent by Fast Company magazine, and has contributed to Harvard Business Review, Stanford Social Innovation Review and other leading publications. Sasha serves on the Executive Committee of the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs.
Cliff, CBE, is CEO of Big Society Capital, the wholesale investor and market champion for UK social investment. Previously he was CEO of UnLtd for social entrepreneurs, supporting 13,000 new startups, and building a 50-country Global Social Entrepreneurship Network. Cliff was CEO of Rethink, for people affected by severe mental illness, and earlier work included counselling, youth, civil rights, social housing, supported housing, community care, offender resettlement, learning disability, dementia, and R&D. Cliff is involved in the Global Steering Group on social impact investment and a non-exec at UCLPartners. He was a founding trustee of Clore Social Leadership and Local Trust, a member of Comic Relief’s UK Grants Committee, an adviser to Government, and a serial social entrepreneur.
Jon leads Enterprise Growth Services: a heavily-subsidised, non-profit extension of EY's consulting business. EGS teams are drawn from EY offices across the world, and work hands-on on 3-6 month projects with small and growing social-impact businesses in low- and middle-income countries, including, to date, several Acumen portfolio companies. We look for entrepreneurial businesses which create jobs and bring clean water, clean energy, affordable sanitation, education and healthcare to marginalised communities. Through EGS, we help them better position themselves for growth, and give our people extraordinary opportunities for personal and professional development as part of an EY career.
Acumen is changing the way the world tackles poverty by investing in companies, leaders and ideas. We invest patient capital in businesses whose products and services are enabling the poor to transform their lives. Founded by Jacqueline Novogratz in 2001, Acumen has invested more $106 million in 103 companies across Africa, Latin America, South Asia and the United States. We are also developing a global community of emerging leaders with the knowledge, skills and determination to create a more inclusive world. In 2015, Acumen was named one of Fast Company’s Top 10 Most Innovative Not-for-Profit Companies.
EY is proud to host this event in collaboration with Acumen. We believe that aid and governments play vital roles, but in the long run, enduring paths out of poverty and inequality also depend on sustainable, purpose-led businesses. Through our non-profit consulting programme, Enterprise Growth Services, we work with Acumen and other leading impact investors to help the social entrepreneurs who are building these businesses and changing lives.
