Ascension’s Post

Hope you enjoy our latest Ascension Newsletter!

📢 Announcing our 2024 Progress Update! 📢 We are thrilled to share our 2024 Progress Update, a concise version of our annual Progress Report. For the past three years, we’ve been committed to transparently sharing our journey and impact through these reports. Moving forward, we will alternate between a shorter Progress Update and a comprehensive Progress Report every other year. This year’s update provides insights into: 💚 The latest achievements of the grantees of our affiliated foundations, 836M and Erol. 📈 The performance of the investment strategies we operate for our LPs, including NextWorld Evergreen. 🌿 Our ongoing ESG initiatives. 👥 Developments within the dedicated teams of our ecosystem. For the second consecutive year, we are also honored to feature artwork from one of 836M’s talented artists. This year, our report showcases the captivating work of Paz de la Calzada 🎨 We invite you to dive into this update and see the progress we’ve made. Thank you for your continued support and collaboration as we strive to make a meaningful impact. #ProgressUpdate #IntegratedCapital #Philanthropy #Investments #ESG #StakeholderEngagement https://lnkd.in/dGU5E5JV

In the words of Gal Beckerman, the kind of change that uproots orthodoxies happens slowly. We usually are gripped by THE moment: the street protests, the revolutions. But the foundations of transformational change are laid by groups of people talking. Last week, TransCap Initiative's Systemic Investing Summit at MIT Sloan School of Management had all the conditions for the incubation of transformational ideas: a tight community, lots of passion and energy, open discussion, and a common aim of field building. MC-ing this event was such a pleasure! For me, the Summit made it clear that the moment for systemic investing has arrived, as evidenced by the range of organisations that answered the call to attend this event: TWIST: Investing for Systems Change, Toniic, FEST, The Global Impact Investing Network, Katapult Foundation, Big Society Capital, The ImPact, Generation Pledge, Centre for Public Impact, New Capitalism Project, Meridian Institute, THE OMIDYAR GROUP LLC, Dark Matter Labs, Builders Vision, CO_Capital, Encourage Capital, McKnight Foundation, MIT Sloan School of Management, Aviva Investors, CapShift, ClimateWorks Foundation, Walton Family Foundation, Transformational Investing in Food Systems, Oogway Capital, Cinereach, Pollex GmbH, Regenerative Investment, Obsidian Investment Partners, Funders for Regenerative Agriculture, Ontario Trillium Foundation, Capital for Climate, Deep Transitions Lab, The Predistribution Initiative, The Rippel Foundation, UNDP, ACCELR8, Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation. And I'm sure I've missed many! Here's to the movement building to come... #systemicinvesting #sustainablefinance #impactinvesting #systemsthinking

What's the best way to ensure that the capital for climate helps to provide a more complete solution? Big news with Galvanize Climate Solutions and The Rockefeller Foundation both announcing $1billion climate funds. These are massive wins for catalyzing capital for climate innovation to get back to a healthier planet while backing great businesses that can provide solid returns. While this is true, these funds have a scale that requires focus on later stage deals, likely B rounds and later. This means that there can still be a gap at the earlier stages: from pre-seed to A round. Without funds at the early stages the pipeline will not be strong enough for the big funds. This is why it's critical to support and amplify the stories of funds in that space, including folks like Innovobot Resonance Ventures, Active Impact Investments, Spring Impact Capital, Amplify Capital, and more examples in the chart - especially those who are committed to measuring the impact of their portfolio and helping those ventures to commit and deliver on returns and impact. #climatesolutions #cleantech #circulareconomy #alternativeenergy #decarbonization #impactinvesting #venturecapital #familyoffices #foundations https://lnkd.in/g34DHE2N

Founded in 2019, London Climate Action Week is the largest independent climate gathering in Europe, and we're thrilled to be hosting a key event this June - Blue Earth Forum. What is Blue Earth Forum? A two day gathering designed to connect business solutions with impact investment, guided by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). During London Climate Action Week, Blue Earth Forum is your go-to event whether you're seeking to raise capital, invest, uncover new trends, or create meaningful connections. Join 40+ high-growth, solution-based businesses in pursuit of funding from 200+ leading impact investment funds, private equity houses, VCs, and private investors. What to Expect? 🌱 Founders: We understand the hurdles you encounter in seeking investors who share your passion for driving sustainable change. Forum is your chance to connect with investors who are equally passionate about making a positive impact. 💼 Investors: We understand the difficulties you face when searching for innovative, solution-based businesses in crowded markets. Forum streamlines your search, helping you discover high-growth businesses efficiently. 🚀 We've created a comprehensive network of carefully selected businesses and investors and Forum is a platform for creating meaningful connections that foster positive change, all within a single, unified ecosystem. Here’s a quick glimpse at who's joining us: Go Jauntly - a walking and wayfinding app, Yum Bug, ape2o, Square Mile Farms, W'ZIS Dog Treats, WaterBear Network, Magical Mushroom Company®, OceanSaver, Canopey, Sand River, Active Partners, Redrice Ventures, Treebeard Trust, Pentland Group Limited, Elbow Beach Capital, Yeo Valley Associates, Fuel Ventures 🚀, Ocean 14 Capital , Sustainable Ventures, Eka Ventures and many more. 👉 Learn more or apply to attend: https://lnkd.in/gJQrdHdm

After 2021 and 2022 we are again in 2023 amongst the most active European Climate Tech VC's. This makes me proud, because it shows, that we are putting our money, where our mouth is :) We urgently need more stringent regulation and lots of capital to decarbonize the world. This is a bet that will pay off handsomely. For us, the world and all future generations.

It was an honor speaking today with Meredith Sumpter, CEO and President of the Board at the Council for Inclusive Capitalism; Teresa Barger , CEO of Cartica Management, LLC; and Sarah Keh, VP of Inclusive Growth at Prudential Financial on how institutional investors are and can promote sustainable growth. More than 70% of global business leaders believe that eventually, no investment decisions will be made without considering ESG criteria. Amidst climate change and rising inequality, unpacking all the ways in which institutional investors can really rise to this moment is crucial. Loved the authenticity and global focus of our discussion, and diving into how institutional capital can fuel the growth of an inclusive, global start-up ecosystem that is transforming industries in ways that are better responding to consumer needs, and demonstrating how sustainability is the business model. Thank you 500 Global for this opportunity and for hosting the #UpNext summit focused on #RiseNations. Great seeing friends and making new connections. CC: Susan McPherson Gillian Marcelle, PhD Cameron Rogers, CFA Emily Green Wenyi Cai Peter Ostroske Shelly Porges Sarah Chen-Spellings Magdalena Coronel Eleni Gabre-Madhin LaToya Wilson Sean McManus Chris Yeh Saskia Howard Christopher M. Schroeder Christine Tsai Susana Garcia-Robles Julia Wilkinson Jessica Gisondo Rafia Qureshi Hannah Kovich Dr Sophie Chandauka MBE #sustainablefinance #climatechange #venturecapital

🚀💡Friday Funding Alert! 🚀💡 Having followed World Fund for a little bit of time, I was very excited to see the news of their successful funding round this morning! As they look to further invest in companies who are saving the world, or even making it a slightly better place, how can you not get excited to hear about their recent backing! If you're looking for a soul warming read, I've copied the full article in the comments below! #Education #Innovation #WorldFund #TechForGood

Kudos, Tom! 🌎🌍🌏 We need more investors to focus their funds on our climate. The Guardian link below highlights that “six out of nine “planetary boundaries” [have] been broken because of human-caused pollution and destruction of the natural world.” Coinciding with climate change impacts like rising sea levels, is our planet’s diminished resilience. The sooner we mitigate greenhouse gases, the better our chances for sustaining life in the long term. https://lnkd.in/grft6A2A?

Agtechs are working at pace to embed a #climate lens into their services & optimize their impact. Explore our #VenturePlatform Impact Measurement & Management engagement with Verqor. https://ow.ly/hx0r50Pvp7I