Measure your impact
“Life will go on, we will prevail” is an optimistic quote from the 1998 movie Deep Impact. Are we close to the tipping point? As when a system has gone beyond it, it cannot recover.
Tipping points, therefore, are extremely significant and important, irrevocably impactful events. Based on the latest IPCC report on climate change, it becomes evident that the role of human influence is not negatable and that we need to drastically change our behaviour. No doubt we all stand in front of monumental challenges, but we should not shy away from them if we want to prevail. Governments and companies set goals to reduce CO2 emission or be even Net-Zero, in the near future, to fight against global warming. Governments actively support some businesses to push new technologies and science to combat the current challenges and to create a positive and measurable impact.
The question is if technology and science can be the saviour or should we merely see them as the tool to prevent, maybe even reverse, climate implications in the decades to come. When speaking to Prof. Kevin Haines, Head of Social Policies at BRC, his view is that we need to approach technology and science as a mere medium to solve current and upcoming problems. We are faced with countless challenges when it comes to the climate and the current focus on ESG and SDGs are the right steps in the right direction. But in the end, only the impact counts. Without any tangible impact, investing is a greenwashing exercise with no real effect.
There are many companies using state of the art technology and the latest science to solve a problem. They are all solution focused and impact driven. All have a number of key characteristics in common:
1. Identify a challenge/problem
2. Deploy resources to explore solutions
3. Engage in partnerships (often with academic researchers, predominantly in universities)
4. Develop solutions
5. Mobilise resources (both human and capital) to turn solutions into practical realities
6. Measure the impact
Bedford Row Capital is an award-winning, non-bank originator seeking to democratize international capital raising. The aim is to connect real companies with real impact to investors through the global capital markets. It allows social-conscious investors to support the efforts of these businesses with their investments and create a positive impact loop. Take SmartKAS and its mission to create a fully sustainable and absolutely green agricultural process relying solely on renewable resources for energy and water, while producing food without chemicals in a smart and efficient way. Altech is another example, which uses disruptive technology to produce 99.99% High Purity Alumina which reduces CO2 production by 46% and energy consumption by 41% per ton, a key material in the manufacturing of the booming EV market. These companies and there are many more, lead by measurable impact.
Scientism is a powerful and influential belief system but, in the end, technology and science are just enablers to achieve a positive impact. Your clients need to generate income but are also looking for investment opportunities which have a positive impact.
For further information contact:
Christoph Kruecken — chris@bedfordrowcapital.com
This article was first published in the FEIFA Members’ Magazine, September 2021
