Impact Investor Challenge | Entrepreneurs

Enter to meet impact investors and compete for a chance to win $100,000 in investments!

The Impact Investor Challenge will give you an intimate perspective on the decision-making process for impact investors, and provide you with valuable skills for pitching, fundraising, and undergoing due diligence.

Learn How to Raise Capital for Your Purpose-Driven Business

Startup capital is essential for fuelling growth in your new business, but where to begin with fundraising?

From engaging investors to providing them with relevant information and negotiating a term sheet, there is a lot to wrap your head around. That’s why we created the Impact Investor Challenge, a program designed to help you understand the ins and outs of raising capital for your startup all while providing you with the opportunity to create a unique relationship with 20+ impact investors.

Run virtually, the Challenge is a combination of orientation, pitch nights, and a 7-week core program where investors and the top selected entrepreneurs learn side by side about impact investing and fundraising.

Orientation and the core program comprise weekly 2-hour sessions. These take participants through a series of workshops designed to help entrepreneurs approach investors effectively and learn how to position their purpose-driven companies to take on the right type of capital. Participants also have access to an online learning platform course on investment readiness.

Select Topics Covered During the Impact Investor Challenge

Polishing up your pitch
Understanding the impact investor mindset
The investor evaluation process
Deal mechanics
Understanding returns

At the end of the program, entrepreneurs selected into the core program by the investor cohort will have the opportunity to negotiate directly with participating investors for a chance to win up to $100,000 in investments.

The Challenge is an incredible opportunity for all participating ventures. Even those not selected into the core program receive valuable training and feedback on pitching and due diligence, and have the chance to catch the eye of prospective investors.

You will finish the program with a valuable network of local impact investors, key players in the national startup ecosystem, and emerging mission-driven companies.

Watch an Information Workshop for Entrepreneurs

Interested in the program but not sure if you’re ready or what to expect? Watch out most recent workshop on getting due diligence ready and learn more about the Impact Investor Challenge.

We also invite you tune in to our recorded info. session with previous Impact Investor Challenge participants to find out more about the program.

The competition has really been instrumental in shaping a very transformative time for our company. The scrutiny of opening your everyday decisions to a panel of people over this duration of time and intensity, for an investment fund where you have an authentic chance to finance your company, has been such a valuable experience. Thank you Spring Activator for this education!

The Impact Investor Challenge gave me the opportunity to exercise my professional skills in more ways than I could have imagined. It provided me with a thorough overview of the funding world and an introduction to an incredible network of like-minded supporters and investors who all view business as a force for good. I was able to develop in areas that I hadn't previously exercised (pitching in front of a large audience) and gained a great deal of confidence throughout the process.

Program duration and format: 11 weeks, virtual sessions
20 companies will be selected to attend Orientation*
At Pitch Night, the investor cohort will select the Top 10 to proceed to the next round
A second pitch event will result in the selection of the Top 5 ventures
The 5 finalists will participate in 6 weekly, 2-hour core program sessions with investors*
1 company will win $100,000 in investments at the finale
Applying is FREE
For more information, download the program pack below

* Companies are expected to have representation from the founding team at each session

To Prepare Before You Apply

A brief description of the missions and purpose of your business
The problem your business is solving, how, and for whom
What UN Sustainable Development Goal(s) your business falls under
The status of your fundraising to-date and future goals
You will also have the option to submit a pitch deck if you have one prepared

Upcoming Intakes

Since first launching in Vancouver in 2019, the Impact Investor Challenge has grown exponentially and we now run several programs a year with various regional and industry focuses including sector agnostic. You may submit your application to multiple Challenges if your company fits the criteria.

Health Impact Investor Challenge

For startups across Canada with health solutions.

Apply by Jan. 28, 2022

National Impact Investor Challenge

For startups across Canada in any sector.

>> APPLY BELOW <<

Ready to enter the Impact Investor Challenge for a chance to win $100,000 in investments?

Program Partners

Alumni Success Stories in the Media

Join the Movement as a Partner

It takes a community to catalyze change and fuel the innovation the world needs. If you are interested in being part of the impact investing movement as a partner of our programming, reach out to us today!