Start Here: Corporate Investment in Social Innovation

Learn more about how companies are using corporate venture capital to promote social impact and drive business results.

If you want to know more about how companies are using corporate venture capital to promote social impact and drive business results, we suggest you read Investing in Breakthrough: Corporate Venture Capital first.

This research report “reveals how some leading corporate venture capital (CVC) funds are investing in deals that provide financial return as well as social and/or environmental impact — and how, over time, more might do so.”

The report was published by Volans, “a certified B Corporation dedicated to driving market-based solutions to the future’s greatest challenges,” in partnership with Global Corporate Venturing, “ a monthly magazine and a website written for the in-house venture capital units of businesses.”

Based on interviews with key CVC players, including Intel, Patagonia, Pearson, Suez and GE, the report identifies:

• Some of the sectors that have a high propensity for long-term thinking and acting, including cleantech, education, health, urban infrastructure and transportation, financial inclusion, agriculture and food.
• Novel approaches to impact innovation in terms of timing horizons, strategy and operations by corporate venture capitalists.
• Key take-aways for corporate venture capital and impact funds to consider when building successful investment partnerships and syndicates.