Developing the impact investment market

Nesta is committed to building the impact investment market.

We have developed our role within the impact investment market as it has evolved, moving from being a cornerstone investor in funds to developing and sharing our own direct investing practice and conducting research in the field. Alongside this, we continue to convene practitioners, researchers and policymakers to address market wide barriers.

Our aim, through all of this work, is to support the development of the impact investment market. In particular we want to see more investment focused on: 

• inclusive, accessible, affordable innovations that address major social needs;
• delivering positive social outcomes regardless of legal form;
• the standard of evidence of a venture's impact;
• profitable, sustainable and resilient business models capable of scaling their impact.

We have written a series of blog posts based upon our experience of the development of the market in the UK and our view of its future direction.