Impact-First: Leveraging Catalytic Capital to Scale Inclusive, Outcomes-Focused Impact

As global challenges intensify and the call for transparency grows louder, impact investors are facing a pivotal moment: will they prioritize market-rate returns, or will they lead with an impact-first mindset? This session will explore the critical chain of impact, from asset owners, to fund managers, intermediaries, and beneficiaries, with a focus on the importance of Impact Measurement and Management (IMM) at each stage. We’ll examine how catalytic capital can unlock high-impact opportunities and drive financial inclusion, while challenging the traditional approach to impact investing by prioritizing measurable, lasting outcomes and capital preservation, over market-rate returns. By bringing together diverse perspectives across the impact ecosystem, we’ll discuss how aligning capital with social intention, tracking developmental outcomes, and embracing transparency can create sustainable, transformative change.
But how do we ensure that investments truly serve the communities they aim to uplift? How do we move beyond counting dollars deployed to measuring the real-world impact on entrepreneurs, families, and entire ecosystems? And what happens when the pursuit of market-rate returns overshadows the mission?
This dynamic session brings together funders, impact investors, and financial inclusion leaders to explore:
1. The distinction between impact-first finance and traditional impact investing—and why it matters.
2. How Catalytic Capital unlocks high-impact opportunities that commercial capital often overlooks.
3. The rise of Outcomes-Focused IMM—a new standard for measuring success beyond financial returns.
4. How funders, intermediaries, and financial service providers can align intentions, capital, and accountability for greater impact.
With a new generation of investors demanding greater transparency and alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the time to redefine impact finance is now. Join us to explore how rethinking capital, prioritizing impact, and measuring what truly matters can create a more just and sustainable future.