Comments on: Why we need Social Investors http://blog.ambientengines.com/2009/08/20/why-we-need-social-investors/ Exploring Entrepreneurial Ideas that Address Social Issues, Enhance the Environment, Sustain Development and Transform the Developing World Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:12:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Tom http://blog.ambientengines.com/2009/08/20/why-we-need-social-investors/#comment-733 Tom Tue, 25 Aug 2009 10:15:21 +0000 http://blog.ambientengines.com/?p=525#comment-733 Great post, although I'm not sure that there necessarily has to be a trade-off between economic rate of return and social/environmental impact - ideally the two can co-exist quite happily. ClearlySo has set up investor speed dating evenings to stimulate just this sort of early-stage social investment (http://www.clearlyso.com/sbblog/?p=422) - we've another one coming up in Sept. I agree that the market does need socially-conscious investors to get more involved (or maybe just more investors to become socially-conscious?) - but entrepreneurs also have a responsibility to be 'the best they can' when it comes to communicating their proposition to investors. To that end we're running 'investment readiness workshops' so that social entrepreneurs can learn how to pitch more effectively. It's all about fostering excellence in the social business sector. If we can bring the good ideas and the good capital together and help them communicate, that will be a job well done. Great post, although I’m not sure that there necessarily has to be a trade-off between economic rate of return and social/environmental impact – ideally the two can co-exist quite happily. ClearlySo has set up investor speed dating evenings to stimulate just this sort of early-stage social investment (http://www.clearlyso.com/sbblog/?p=422) – we’ve another one coming up in Sept.

I agree that the market does need socially-conscious investors to get more involved (or maybe just more investors to become socially-conscious?) – but entrepreneurs also have a responsibility to be ‘the best they can’ when it comes to communicating their proposition to investors. To that end we’re running ‘investment readiness workshops’ so that social entrepreneurs can learn how to pitch more effectively. It’s all about fostering excellence in the social business sector.
If we can bring the good ideas and the good capital together and help them communicate, that will be a job well done.

]]> By: Daniel Epstein http://blog.ambientengines.com/2009/08/20/why-we-need-social-investors/#comment-731 Daniel Epstein Sat, 22 Aug 2009 20:33:47 +0000 http://blog.ambientengines.com/?p=525#comment-731 I couldn't agree with you more Raj. The need for early stage and startup stage social investors is incredible. I'm excited to learn more of your thoughts to this regard as setting up such a fund is of primary interest of Unreasonable. Thank you for your well thought out and well articulated posts! I couldn’t agree with you more Raj. The need for early stage and startup stage social investors is incredible. I’m excited to learn more of your thoughts to this regard as setting up such a fund is of primary interest of Unreasonable. Thank you for your well thought out and well articulated posts!

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