{"id":85287,"date":"2021-08-16T20:35:59","date_gmt":"2021-08-17T03:35:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/spring.is\/old\/?p=85287"},"modified":"2021-08-20T16:04:49","modified_gmt":"2021-08-20T23:04:49","slug":"transforming-the-dragons-den-narrative-building-a-collaborative-investing-ecosystem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spring.is\/old\/programs\/impact-investor-challenge\/transforming-the-dragons-den-narrative-building-a-collaborative-investing-ecosystem\/","title":{"rendered":"Transforming the Dragon\u2019s Den Narrative: How the Impact Investor Challenge is Building a More Collaborative Investing Ecosystem"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"85287\" class=\"elementor elementor-85287\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fcef9a4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"fcef9a4\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-436e32f\" data-id=\"436e32f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-abf04c4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"abf04c4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.16.0 - 13-09-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">In 2019, Spring Activator launched its very first <span style=\"color: #ff5f52;\"><a style=\"color: #ff5f52;\" href=\"https:\/\/spring.is\/old\/programs\/impact-investor-challenge\/?utm_source=website&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=IIC2021YVR\">Impact Investor Challenge<\/a><\/span>. Since then, we have successfully run four Challenges, leading to $350,000+ made in direct investments to the winners, thus far spanning four women-led and co-led ventures across cleantech, healthtech, and independent media. The program has also catalyzed approximately $4.8 million in impact investments made to participating ventures across the board.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Participants have shared with us that they have appreciated the unique nature of the Challenge where entrepreneurs and investors learn side by side, from and with one another. The program has also provided a space where investing can be explored from different perspectives than those through which it has traditionally been seen.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Graham Day, Impact Investing Program Director at Spring Activator, elaborates exactly on how we\u2019re changing the conventional investing narrative and transforming the ecosystem to build a space that is more diverse, inclusive, and equitable\u2014where every investor is an impact investor. Read on to explore his take and learn why this shift is necessary.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c596a87 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c596a87\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.16.0 - 13-09-2023 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Exclusivity Narrative that Often Accompanies Investing Needs to Change\n<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-be87d83 elementor-blockquote--skin-border elementor-blockquote--button-color-official elementor-widget elementor-widget-blockquote\" data-id=\"be87d83\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"blockquote.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor-pro - v3.16.0 - 12-09-2023 *\/\n@charset \"UTF-8\";.entry-content blockquote.elementor-blockquote:not(.alignright):not(.alignleft),.entry-summary blockquote.elementor-blockquote{margin-right:0;margin-left:0}.elementor-widget-blockquote 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.e-q-footer{margin-top:12px;display:flex;justify-content:space-between}.elementor-blockquote__tweet-button{display:flex;transition:.3s;color:#1da1f2;align-self:flex-end;line-height:1;position:relative;width:-moz-max-content;width:max-content}.elementor-blockquote__tweet-button:hover{color:#0967a0}.elementor-blockquote__tweet-button span{font-weight:600}.elementor-blockquote__tweet-button i,.elementor-blockquote__tweet-button span{vertical-align:middle}.elementor-blockquote__tweet-button i+span,.elementor-blockquote__tweet-button svg+span{margin-left:.5em}.elementor-blockquote__tweet-button svg{fill:#1da1f2;height:1em;width:1em}.elementor-blockquote__tweet-label{white-space:pre-wrap}.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-bubble .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button,.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-classic .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button{padding:.7em 1.2em;border-radius:100em;background-color:#1da1f2;color:#fff;font-size:15px}.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-bubble .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button:hover,.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-classic .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button:hover{background-color:#0967a0;color:#fff}.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-bubble .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button:hover:before,.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-classic .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button:hover:before{border-right-color:#0967a0}.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-bubble .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button svg,.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-classic .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button svg{fill:#fff;height:1em;width:1em}.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-bubble.elementor-blockquote--button-view-icon .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button,.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-classic.elementor-blockquote--button-view-icon .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button{padding:0;width:2em;height:2em}.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-bubble.elementor-blockquote--button-view-icon .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button i,.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-classic.elementor-blockquote--button-view-icon .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button i{position:absolute;left:50%;top:50%;transform:translate(-50%,-50%)}.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-bubble .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button:before{content:\"\";border:.5em solid transparent;border-right-color:#1da1f2;position:absolute;left:-.8em;top:50%;transform:translateY(-50%) scaleY(.65);transition:.3s}.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-bubble.elementor-blockquote--align-left .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button:before{right:auto;left:-.8em;border-right-color:#1da1f2;border-left-color:transparent}.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-bubble.elementor-blockquote--align-left .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button:hover:before{border-right-color:#0967a0}.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-bubble.elementor-blockquote--align-right .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button:before{left:auto;right:-.8em;border-right-color:transparent;border-left-color:#1da1f2}.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-bubble.elementor-blockquote--align-right .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button:hover:before{border-left-color:#0967a0}.elementor-blockquote--skin-boxed .elementor-blockquote{background-color:#f9fafa;padding:30px}.elementor-blockquote--skin-border .elementor-blockquote{border-color:#f9fafa;border-left:7px #f9fafa;border-style:solid;padding-left:20px}.elementor-blockquote--skin-quotation .elementor-blockquote:before{content:\"\u201c\";font-size:100px;color:#f9fafa;font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif;font-weight:900;line-height:1;display:block;height:.6em}.elementor-blockquote--skin-quotation .elementor-blockquote__content{margin-top:15px}.elementor-blockquote--align-left .elementor-blockquote__content{text-align:left}.elementor-blockquote--align-left .elementor-blockquote .e-q-footer{flex-direction:row}.elementor-blockquote--align-right .elementor-blockquote__content{text-align:right}.elementor-blockquote--align-right .elementor-blockquote .e-q-footer{flex-direction:row-reverse}.elementor-blockquote--align-center .elementor-blockquote{text-align:center}.elementor-blockquote--align-center .elementor-blockquote .e-q-footer,.elementor-blockquote--align-center .elementor-blockquote__author{display:block}.elementor-blockquote--align-center .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button{margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto}<\/style>\t\t<blockquote class=\"elementor-blockquote\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-blockquote__content\">\n\t\t\t\tHow can we empower value-driven individuals to vote with their dollars and give back to purpose-driven entrepreneurs?\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-09c1d8e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"09c1d8e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">If you\u2019ve ever watched CBC\u2019s Dragon\u2019s Den (or Shark Tank, the U.S. equivalent), you\u2019ve likely come away feeling a little woozy from the three-part tonic of excitement, intrigue, and disgust. Entrepreneur after entrepreneur goes before the almighty dragon jury to state their case and hear their verdict. In some cases, the entrepreneur goes away with a deal (though not always a good one). In others they are dismissed, usually after a volley of bruising questions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">In this theatrical display of victory and tragedy, financial returns are prioritized above all else while power lies firmly in the hands of the judges. Hierarchy reigns supreme and entrepreneurs are often sent home with discouraging words, potentially dashing dreams to the dust.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">To be sure, Dragon\u2019s Den was designed as a form of entertainment and it is not a broad representation of reality. However, through entering the living rooms and minds of many a spectator, it does something unfortunate: it perpetuates the exclusivity of angel investing and successful startups. In the world of dragons and sharks, investors must be wealthy, omniscient and surly, while entrepreneurs must be clever, manicured and confident.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">With this narrative, how can we hope to make becoming an investor more attainable and broaden the appeal of early-stage investment? How can we empower value-driven individuals to vote with their dollars and give back to purpose-driven entrepreneurs? How can we turn investing into an inclusive and safe space? And how do we increase the availability of early-stage capital for more entrepreneurs with incredible impact-first ideas?<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8423953 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8423953\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Introducing the Impact Investor Challenge: A Collaborative Learning Experience<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-02b1dc8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"02b1dc8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At Spring Activator, we set off two years ago to create a program that challenges this narrative. The Impact Investor Challenge brings together new investors to the impact space for a collaborative learning experience <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">alongside <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">entrepreneurs.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">Over 11 weekly sessions, investors learn\u2014from the Spring team, guest speakers, and each other\u2014about the basics of angel investing through a lens that considers social and environmental impact. We create a safe space for established investors, those just starting out, and everyone in between and in various phases of their impact journeys that facilitates knowledge-sharing, empowerment, and capacity-building.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">From an initial group of 20 entrepreneurs vetted and selected by Spring, the investor cohort chooses five to accompany them through the core program sessions. In the end, a single winner is chosen by popular vote and the entire investor cohort makes a pooled investment in this company. For some, this is their very first impact investing experience.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">As for the entrepreneurs, it is not only the winner that benefits. All participants gain value from the sessions with the investors. Startups learn how to quantify their impact, receive feedback from experts in their industries and business development, and gain beneficial exposure to investors. They also gain a community that will support them along their entrepreneurial journeys going forward.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8b44b1d elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"8b44b1d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.16.0 - 13-09-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"378\" src=\"https:\/\/spring.is\/old\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/spring_Shot_3-1024x604.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-85304\" alt=\"Sumreen Rattan, Moment Energy, pitching at Spring Activator&#039;s 2021 National Impact Investor Challenge\" srcset=\"https:\/\/spring.is\/old\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/spring_Shot_3-1024x604.png 1024w, https:\/\/spring.is\/old\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/spring_Shot_3-300x177.png 300w, https:\/\/spring.is\/old\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/spring_Shot_3-768x453.png 768w, https:\/\/spring.is\/old\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/spring_Shot_3-1536x907.png 1536w, https:\/\/spring.is\/old\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/spring_Shot_3-100x59.png 100w, https:\/\/spring.is\/old\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/spring_Shot_3-360x212.png 360w, https:\/\/spring.is\/old\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/spring_Shot_3.png 1779w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Sumreen Rattan, Co-founder &amp; COO of Moment Energy, delivering the winning pitch<br>at Spring's 2021 National Impact Investor Challenge<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fbdda18 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"fbdda18\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Impact as the New Narrative Towards a Strong, Regenerative Investing Ecosystem<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4ae5df1 elementor-blockquote--skin-border elementor-blockquote--button-color-official elementor-widget elementor-widget-blockquote\" data-id=\"4ae5df1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"blockquote.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<blockquote class=\"elementor-blockquote\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-blockquote__content\">\n\t\t\t\tWe are a strong but humble program inspiring\n and educating investors to solve problems\n by supporting impact-oriented entrepreneurs.\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f5024cf elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f5024cf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">In the Impact Investor Challenge, unlike Dragon\u2019s Den, we focus the investment criteria also on the impact businesses create, not just the financial return. We use a code of conduct to ensure that both entrepreneurs and investors are treated with respect, and we structure voting so that entrepreneurs are appealing to the majority of the group rather than appeasing only certain investors. We also bring the whole village: our pitch events are open to our alumni and the public, so that more individuals can join the final investment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every now and then, somebody refers to the Impact Investor Challenge as \u201cThe Dragon\u2019s Den of Impact.\u201d Far from that, we are a strong but humble program inspiring and educating investors to solve problems by supporting impact-oriented entrepreneurs. In doing so, we are also building a robust impact ecosystem where everyone can thrive and funded solutions cater to the needs of people and the planet.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the words of myMomentum Founder &amp; CEO Anna Chan on why she decided to join the Impact Investor Challenge as an investor:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b850ca1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b850ca1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong><span style=\"color: #0c5b7c;\"><i>I realized there is a massive wall that exists (despite us not wanting it to) between entrepreneurs and investors and could not help but attempt to knock those walls down because to me impact investing is about the impact we are creating together as an ecosystem and community that benefits us all.<\/i><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-40f7a4e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"40f7a4e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">And how about you?<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Will you be joining us and our partners\u2014<strong>DLA Piper, INK LLP, MNP, Genus Capital Management, Tandem Innovation Group, Active Impact Investments, and Karl Jung Financial Services<\/strong>\u2014in shifting the narrative and building a new, impact-first investing ecosystem?<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-27df6e8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"27df6e8\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c98c1b9\" data-id=\"c98c1b9\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0402cfd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0402cfd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Find out more about our Impact Investor Challenge and join our next intake as an investor, entrepreneur, or partner.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b418e8f elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"b418e8f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm elementor-animation-bob\" href=\"https:\/\/spring.is\/old\/programs\/impact-investor-challenge\/?utm_source=website&#038;utm_medium=blog&#038;utm_campaign=IIC2021YVR\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Learn More<\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In 2019, Spring Activator launched its very first Impact Investor Challenge. Since then, we have successfully run four Challenges, leading to $350,000+ made in direct investments to the winners, thus far spanning four women-led and co-led ventures across cleantech, healthtech, and independent media. The program has also catalyzed approximately $4.8 &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":85288,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30,1229,1258,1226],"tags":[223,33,1268,195,525,317,1231,1213,42,504],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Building an Equitable Investing Ecosystem - Spring Activator<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Find out how we&#039;re transforming the investing narrative and empowering value-driven individuals to vote with their dollars and support impactful innovation.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Building an Equitable Investing Ecosystem - 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