4 reasons why you should apply for Impact Collective
Advice from alumni and venture partner
Impact Collective (IC), an investment and acceleration program for impact makers seeking opportunities in Asia-Pacific, is now accepting entries for Impact Collective 2021: Cohort 2.
If you are an early-stage startup that has launched a product or service that aligns with one of the program’s six themes under the framework of UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), then look no further! This is the perfect accelerator and investment program to boost your business, and below you can find out why.
Here is what our Venture Partner Songyi Lee, and alumni of the first cohort, Ali Shabbar, and Shariff Raffi, had to say at the first Ask Me Anything session.
Investment and pilot opportunity
IC is a no-fee nor equity required program. If your startup provides innovative business models, excellent execution capability, and measurable impact potential — a Fast Track investment opportunity is offered from Day One. The final top 10 teams are guaranteed to receive USD 50K investment increasing up to a possible USD 500K.
Even if you don’t receive an investment opportunity, you will be connected to an amazing community of entrepreneurs, investors, local government officials, researchers, students, conscious consumers, and developers who are involved in the startup and impact scene in the Asia-Pacific region! You will gain access to the network and have a chance to pilot your solution, receive feedback, consultation, and even gain advocates and fans along the way (for FREE)!
Be a part of a global tribe
As mentioned above, IC has an amazing community from around the world called the ICC (Impact Collective Community). More than 1,100 people are on the platform and members of the community will become your mentors, fans, and advocates not only throughout your impact journey but even after the program.
One of the most unique features of IC is that experts and community voters are involved in the investment decision process. ICC is open to anyone who wants to support Impact Makers, play an active role in the impact innovation scene, and discover, connect, and collaborate with like-minded people! Imagine your team being a part of this tribe of innovators and impact makers, co-creating the future together!
“It’s not a matter of whether we reach the top 10 to receive investment or not, it’s about being a part of the community because the experience was so enriching — in terms of the knowledge, resourcefulness, skill set, and the network. This community is a great source for startups like us who are always looking for opportunities to scale globally.” — Ali Shabbar, CEO of DeafTawk
A clearer path down the line
According to Shariff, CEO of Outpos, even the process of applying will help startups to think through certain, but critical aspects, that will be relevant in the due diligence process or investor relations.
Shariff also mentioned the importance of mentoring sessions, where he learned how to refine every aspect of his business from the pitch to the business model. The interactions helped him solve common problems faced by startups and down the line, this support allowed him to answer the tough questions during due diligence.
Impact strategy on another level
Both Ali and Shariff highlighted how they were able to bring their impact strategy to the next level. The session with Charlotte Arribe, a program officer at Ctiypreneurs, a UN-backed ecosystem building and growth platform for startups, not only helped them fine-tune their impact profit alignment, but also measure their impact in-depth, based on the framework of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“We thought the impact measurement solution we were using was sufficient. However, as we went along the program with Charlotte, I was like ‘Wait a minute. We can go to another level with this subject!’ and that was an aha moment for me!” — Shariff Raffi, CEO of Outpos
Are you still hesitant? Then check out what Songyi said during the AMA session below.
“Just apply and there is so much you can get — the global network, consultation from the mentors, and investment opportunities. You name it and we have it all here, so just apply! We can guarantee you that after an extensive 10 weeks you will be surprised to see how much you and your team have grown. All you need is your time and dedication.”
📌 Interested in joining the 2nd cohort? Apply by August 15th for a chance to be a part of the 50 startups selected for up to USD 100K in Fast Track investments and up to USD 500K in program investments. 👉 http://impactcollective.earth/
📌 Interested in connecting with Impact-Enthusiasts? Join ICC, our online community platform, where industry leaders, budding entrepreneurs, and user communities converge and make positive impacts together. 👉 https://impactcollective.moim.co/
