To help you prepare for the conversations that will be taking place at SOCAP19 we asked our media partners to curate a selection of stories on today’s most important topics in the impact space. This week’s suggested reading comes from Karma.Sustainable investing is the biggest priority of this generation. With the right information and access, that attention can enable investors and entrepreneurs to strategically commit capital to world-changing businesses.
Karma is a news platform for impact-driven entrepreneurs and investors. We break down how impact investors are financing, building, curing and engaging the world through four sectors of focus: Financial Services, Infrastructure, Healthcare and Media.
It’s no coincidence that much of Karma’s coverage coincides with themes to be explored at SOCAP19, as these topics are critical to creating a sustainable future for everyone.
Here are five stories from the Karma team that explore some of the themes of this year’s conference. These pieces break down the most impactful market movements in their respective sectors through conversations with key stakeholders, in-depth research and informed analysis. We’re excited to dive further into these themes at SOCAP19.
And don’t forget: Thanks to our partnership with SOCAP, we’re extending a free three-month Karma membership to you. Use the code SOCAP to start yours today. See you in San Francisco!
Impact Investing
Now Is The Time for Private Equity to Combat Climate Change: Align17’s Georgie Benardete
July’s United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals report found that 2018 was the fourth-warmest year on record, the levels of carbon dioxide concentrations continued to increase, and “ocean acidity was 26% higher than in pre-industrial times.” As the effects of climate change become more dire, investors are looking to align their portfolios with more eco-friendly efforts. Align17 founder and CEO Georgie Benardete tells Karma’s managing editor Daria Solovieva, “Specifically with private equity, if you’re putting your money into the opposite of climate solutions, you’re locking the world into a future that is not going to thrive.”
Sustainable Agriculture
Test-Tube Tuna: Fake Fish Seen as Alternative to Aquaculture’s Growing Risks
About half of the fish eaten today come from farms, up from around 10% just 30 years ago. The effects of fish farming are said to be a looming environmental disaster, which is why the alternative meat market’s next success story could come from the fishing industry. As concerns grow about the future of farm-grown fish, Karma’s Keshav Pandya writes, startups are employing stem cells and plants to create healthier and more sustainable substitutes.
Opportunity Zones
Steve Glickman on Why New IRS Rules on Opportunity Zones Are a “Game Changer”
Earlier this year, the U.S. Treasury Department issued its final clarifications on how the community development program known as Opportunity Zones will function, what kinds of projects qualify and how the generous tax breaks offered will operate. In this interview, Karma’s Michael Moran speaks with Steve Glickman, the man who helped form the Economic Innovation Group (EIG), a research organization that ultimately shepherded the Opportunity Zone concept through Congress and into law in 2017.
Power of Story
PBS Kids’ First Indigenous-Led Show Highlights Challenges in Bringing Diverse Storylines
Storytelling and entertainment can be powerful tools for change, but if they’re not seen by the public, their impact is limited. This summer, PBS began airing the first nationally distributed childrens’ TV show led by an indigenous character. The important series, Karma’s Macy Muirhead writes, was able to maintain authenticity — and get on air at all — thanks in part to healthy funding, something many projects championing diverse storylines can’t depend on.
Impact Tech
Why Wearable Fitness Technology Is Still Leaving Minorities Behind
While wearable fitness technology — from smart rings and watches to bras that can track cardiovascular disease — has been gaining popularity, there are consumer segments that haven’t been enamored with the new tech: women and minorities. In this analysis, Karma’s Keshav Pandya speaks with researchers and fitness experts to find out why tracking devices struggle to serve these demographics, and how entrepreneurs and investors could address the tech’s issues.
