The for-profit case for impact

The impact investing case is clear, it’s for profit, and it’s being built in Europe.

Last week at ChangeNOW, several critical insights stood out:

🔹 Impact Delivery:
Managers must show why they act, how they deliver, and where they differentiate. Methodology, depth, and care are what convince leading institutions.

🔹 Value of Early Institutional Involvement:
Institutions bring more than funding — they add governance expertise, credibility, and create bridges to broader private capital networks.

🔹 Patient vs. Traditional Capital:
According to the GIIN, patient capital still accepts longer cycles, higher risks, and less liquidity to achieve meaningful impact. Successful families embrace this, owning risks and normalizing open conversations about fears and failures across generations.

🔹 Bridging the Knowledge Gap:
A wide gap remains between traditional LPs and the impact community. Education platforms and associations remain essential to accelerate mutual understanding.

🔹 Talent & Purpose:
Emerging talent is drawn to mission-driven organizations. Smaller structures must be ready to attract them by matching purpose with professionalism.

🔹 Theory of Change & Additionality:
As Arnaud Gillin emphasized: true impact investing requires a clear understanding of the gap a manager addresses — not just passion (which drives many families).

🔹 Profitable Sustainability:
Bertrand Piccard reminded us: over 1’600 viable solutions already exist. Protecting the environment today drives profitability — it no longer costs it.

A pleasure to reconvene with Robin Henri and Bertrand Piccard, meet Michèle Piccard (Solar Impulse Foundation), Ana Pimenta, Arnaud Gillin (Innpact), Carola von Schenk, Dr. Melody Lang and seeing Jekabs Vinauds (ICFA – International Climate Finance Accelerator & 📸 photo credit on SNCF Réseau) highlighting the momentum we are building for meaningful change.