ABOUT IMPACT AGORA
Our Journey: From Barclays Incubation to Impact Empowerment
Impact Agora's story is one of transformation and commitment to making a difference in the world of impact investing.
Join us on our journey to empower positive change through purposeful investments.
Why Impact Agora: Bridging the Impact Investment Gap
Increasingly all investors share a common goal: to invest in impact. Many, however, face numerous challenges in realising this vision. Impact investing demands specialised analysis and presents high reputational risk.
The hurdles are numerous:
Specialised Analysis:
Impact investments require specialised analysis, leading to expensive team build-outs and reliance on third-party consultants.
Ticket Size Disparities:
Many impact funds have minimum ticket sizes that exceed what smaller wealth managers and pension funds can allocate while larger institutions may have minimum ticket sizes that exceed fund maximums.
Ongoing Monitoring:
Once invested, effective ongoing monitoring is a challenge, making it difficult to track traction and communicate consistent financial and impact performance.
Complex Operational Barriers:
Operational challenges hinder capital deployment, necessitating robust internal processes and access to relevant expertise.
Limited Access:
Access to impact opportunities is limited, hindering the discovery of suitable investments.
Time-Consuming Processes:
Deal sourcing and due diligence processes are time-consuming, adding complexity to the investment journey.
Compounded Structures:
Compounded investment structures require a deep understanding and alignment of objectives.
Impact Measurement:
Measuring and reporting impact outcomes becomes complicated due to multiple frameworks and reporting standards.
Portfolio Management:
Managing impact alongside traditional investments demands rigorous portfolio management.
Regulatory Variability:
Varying regulatory and legal compliance across jurisdictions adds another layer of complexity
The Impact Investing Landscape
Defining Impact in an Uncertain Landscape
The uncertainty in the investment community regarding what constitutes a true impact investment and the fear of greenwashing further compound these challenges.
The voluntary carbon credits market stands as an example of unexpected outcomes.
The Rise of Consultants and Advisors
To address these uncertainties, a plethora of consultants, advisors, and not-for-profit bodies have emerged, offering industry-accepted metrics, bespoke impact advice, and structuring solutions. Regulatory pressure has also pushed asset managers toward greater ESG and impact investment disclosure.
The Gap Persists
Yet, despite these innovations, investors still face obstacles. Accessing curated, attractive private market impact investments remains challenging. Reporting impact returns clearly is elusive, and varying definitions create understanding gaps. Client demand varies significantly:
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PWM clients seek aggregation vehicles for smaller investments, typically below fund minimums.
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Institutions face the opposite problem, with typical ticket sizes exceeding maximum investor exposure.
The Mismatch Between Investors and Opportunities
Investment managers struggle to connect with qualified investors, especially when the investment vehicle lacks recognition from major players or when the ticket size is too small for institutional investors.
