Our new impact investment fund SI3 Equal Opportunities Fund invests in innovative companies solving societal issues (poverty, inequality and lack of diversity) close to home. With Piet Colruyt as cornerstone investor 12 families and private individuals from Belgium and the Netherlands decided to say ‘’Yes’’ to an investment in equal opportunities and an inclusive society. Next to that, their commitment acted as leverage for two Belgium institutional investors and 3 Dutch foundations to join in as investors too. A unique development, because for these institutional investors (PMV and FPIM) it is the first time they have decided to invest in an impact fund.
This means Shaping Impact Group, SI3 Fund’s management company, will launch their third fund before the end of this month and is also proud to announce the first investment in Plinkr.
Increasing societal issues and the PYM network
Impact investing should become the norm because societal challenges only increase: it’s not just the growing number of refugees, the increasing income gap and the growing poverty and debt issues that we currently face in our own society. The risk is that global meta trends like hyperinflation, rising energy prices, a war in Europe and global food shortages will increase these problems and it will be the underprivileged in our society that become the biggest victims. In Belgium and the Netherlands, multiple families and private investors within the PYM-network have made creating equal opportunities and an inclusive society one of their top priorities by investing in SI3 Equal Opportunities.
Investing in solving structural debt: Meet Plinkr.
We all know stories of people not being able to pay their bills on time, which leads to high debts and a vicious circle of money problems. That is why SI3 Fund welcomes Plinkr. as first investment. Plinkr. is one of the leading digital innovations in the Netherlands tackling debt issues by providing debt counselors, care-givers and municipalities the right insights and tools to truly support people in debt and financial distress. With their accessible and user-friendly digital platform, Plinkr. helps indebted people to get a grip on their financial administration and supports debt counsellors, judges and social services with the right tools to get the right insights, and providing guidance to stabilize the financial situation as well as stimulating the increase of self-reliance.
Plinkr. is one of the eight accredited solutions of “SchuldenLabNL” an initiative backed by Dutch national and local government, all major banks and a broad range of private and public organizations. SchuldenlabNL aspires to end debt distress in the Netherlands with Her Majesty Queen Máxima as honorary president of the board. Accreditation by SchuldenlabNL is only awarded to those innovations that are proven effective and scalable.
By investing in Plinkr., SI3 Fund takes its first steps to fight poverty and debt issues close to home.
Interested to know more? Contact Jamy Goewie at jamy@shapingimpact.group.