Social Impact Investors & VC Firms

What You Must Know About Social Impact Funding

When it comes to social impact funding, things look a bit different from traditional venture capital. While the goal of any business is to grow and scale, social impact investing firms are uniquely focused on the dual aim of achieving strong financial returns and creating measurable positive change.

Whether you’re tackling climate change, promoting education accessibility, or improving healthcare access, social impact investors are looking for founders who drive purpose and profit hand-in-hand.

Social impact venture capital is more than doing good. It’s also proving that the solution is scalable and sustainable. These investors want to know that the impact you’re making can reach a global scale, while also creating substantial returns.

What is Social Impact Investing?

Social impact investing goes beyond traditional investment strategies that focus solely on profit generation. It involves placing capital into businesses that are committed to solving social issues while still maintaining a path to financial success.

Social impact investment firms often look for companies working in sectors such as sustainable energy, affordable healthcare, education, and financial inclusion—areas where positive change is needed and where the business model can still be profitable.

For a startup to qualify for this kind of funding, it needs to demonstrate more than just financial viability; it must also show tangible social impact (meaning the business is making a real difference in people’s lives).

What is a Social Venture Capitalist Focused On?

A social venture capitalist is focused on how a company’s mission is embedded into the fabric of the business model. They want to see how your solutions not only address a societal problem but also whether they can scale, with measurable impact. Investors in this space believe that it’s possible to solve big problems while achieving financial success, and they seek businesses that align with these principles.

Top Social Impact Venture Capital Firms

There are several leading social impact venture capital firms that are actively backing startups focused on making a real difference. These firms understand that social good can coexist with financial growth, and they’re investing in companies with potential to scale and create lasting change.

• Acumen: A global leader in social impact investing, focused on businesses that aim to lift people out of poverty while offering a financial return.
• Blue Horizon: Focuses on the sustainable food and agriculture sectors, supporting businesses that are working to create a healthier planet and more sustainable food systems.
• Toniic: A network of investors backing social impact funds across sectors including healthcare, education, and environmental sustainability.
• DBL Partners: Known for investing in businesses that create both financial returns and social value, particularly in clean tech and renewable energy.

Top Social Impact Startups

These are some of the leading social impact startups that are catching the eye of investors for their innovative solutions and positive contributions to society:

• Rubicon Global: A tech company focused on waste management and creating a circular economy, turning waste into valuable resources.
• Benevolent: A platform that connects donors with people in need, enabling individuals to receive direct financial support to improve their lives.
• Ceres: A nonprofit that works with businesses to accelerate sustainability efforts, helping organizations reduce their environmental footprint.

Emerging Trends in Social Impact Investing

Several trends are emerging in the social impact space that investors are particularly excited about. The intersection of technology and social good is expanding rapidly, and these trends are shaping the future of social investment firms:

• Tech for Good: Artificial intelligence and blockchain technologies are being used to solve problems in healthcare, supply chain transparency, and financial inclusion.
  Sustainable Fashion: Consumers are demanding more ethical and environmentally friendly clothing options, and investors are backing startups that offer sustainable fashion solutions.
• Clean Energy: The shift toward renewable energy is accelerating, with startups focused on solar, wind, and energy storage solutions drawing significant interest from impact investing firms.

Keys to a Social Impact Pitch Deck

When preparing a pitch deck for social impact venture capital firms, founders should focus on several key elements that will grab an investor’s attention:

1. Problem Slide: Clearly articulate the social problem you’re solving and explain how your product or service directly addresses it.
2. Market Slide: Showcase the size and growth potential of the market you're targeting, and why it’s ripe for a solution like yours.
3. Impact Slide: Investors in social impact funds want to know how you’ll measure the positive change your business is creating.
4. Financial Slide: Present a solid financial model that proves financial viability and scalability, alongside your social mission.
5. Team Slide: Highlight the expertise of your team, especially if you have experience in both the social impact sector and business growth.

Know that a strong pitch deck is your best chance to convey how your startup will create measurable impact and generate solid returns. OpenVC has several resources available for founders, including our comprehensive guide to building a pitch deck.

Related Industries

Social impact investing spans several industries, including:

• Agtech
• Edtech
• Energy
• Healthtech
• Sustainability

Find the Best Social Impact Investors and VC Firms on OpenVC

Ready to drive change? Here’s how OpenVC can connect you with investors who are as committed to social good as you are:

• Find Social Impact Investors – Use OpenVC’s filters to quickly identify investors who focus on sustainable businesses, environmental initiatives, financial inclusion, and more.
• Explore Investor Insights – Gain valuable insights into which social impact investment firms are actively backing companies like yours and the causes they care about.
• Submit Your Pitch Deck – Share your vision with impact investors directly, bypassing the traditional barriers to funding.
• Get Real Responses – Receive replies from investors who are interested in your mission-driven business and schedule meetings easily.
• Secure the Funding You Need – Meet with investors who understand the value of your social mission and are eager to help you scale for maximum impact.

Join OpenVC today to start connecting with top social impact venture capital firms and accelerate the positive change you’re striving to create.