Impact Challenge

Learn how to invest and create a positive impact while doing so.

Invest for returns and impact

The Impact Challenge aims to remove the barrier between entrepreneurs and investors. Investors will undergo a 10-week program that dives deep into the process of investing in early stage purpose driven companies, led by globally recognized leaders in impact and investing.

The program spans all aspects of investing so you become empowered to invest in businesses that align to both your values and your target return. Renowned speakers & Spring will help you navigate pitfalls, mitigate risk, develop your impact investment thesis, and make your first impact investment.

At the end of the two months, the group will use your learnings through the intense training program to negotiate and close up to a combined of $100,000 in investment in the company the group selects.

The Impact Challenge will leave you with a network of local impact investors, key players in the Vancouver startup ecosystem, and emerging mission-driven companies.

What you’ll learn

Defining Your Impact Investing Thesis

What impact means to you and what is impact investing.
How to find great impact companies

Deal Mechanics

The due diligence process.
Negotiations and paperwork.

How to Select Investment Opportunities

What to look for when evaluating startups.

Assessing the market opportunity and impact, and team

Understanding Returns

Funding venture scale businesses.
Alternative returns for companies that may not exit.

Exits.

Program Details

Location: All sessions in Vancouver hosted by partners in the ecosystem

Timing: Evenings (often Wednesdays) over a meal

Date: April-May, 2020

Expect approximate 1-2 hours per week time commitment on top of that depending on the week and topic.

Keith Ippel

Co-founder & CEO @ Spring

Mari Mathews

Program Manager @ Spring

Geoff Dittrich

Managing Partner @ Ink LLP

Mike Winterfield

CEO, Founder & Fund Manager @ Active Impact Investments

Zoe Schlag

Managing Director @ Techstars Impact

Edvard Engesæth

Co-founder @ Nurx

Are you an entrepreneur seeking early-stage investment?

Apply to pitch your startup at the Impact Challenge here.

How It Works for Companies

Fundraising can be a daunting task, but quite often it’s essential for fuelling growth in startups. The 10 week program enables you to not only learn the ins and outs of fundraising and how to position your purpose driven company to take on the right type of capital, but it also gives you the opportunity to create a unique relationship with up to 20 early stage investors. At the end of the two months, you’ll have the chance to win up to $100,000 in investment that you negotiate directly with the participating investors.

Program Details

Location: All sessions in Vancouver (at various locations)
Timing: Wednesday evenings 5-8pm
Date: April 3rd – June 5th
Cost: FREE

Startups are expected to have representation from the founding team at each session. Only 20 companies will be selected to pitch at the Kickoff on April 3rd. The Investor cohort will then select the top 5 to join them for the rest of the program.