crunch/DUBAI – Dubai's StartUPs and people’s Post

Deetken Impact is proud to contribute to the latest 2X Challenge, a pledge to invest at least US$20 billion in women’s economic empowerment over the next three years. As of this year, more than US$33.6 billion in gender lens investments have been mobilized, and notably, the 2X Challenge 2024-2027 marks the first time that private investors will be a part of the initiative, recognizing the important expansion to reflect the full spectrum of capital providers for gender-focused investments. "Deetken Impact is extremely proud to be one of the first private investors to join the 2X Challenge. Encouraged by the impressive results this initiative has achieved, we are eager to contribute towards its further expansion”, said Magali Lamyin, Managing Partner at Deetken Impact. "With over a decade of dedication to women's empowerment, we reaffirm our commitment to advancing gender equality through investments designed with intention to catalyze meaningful and transformative change." Investments will be made under strengthened 2X Criteria that extends to developed market economies and promotes public reporting of finance for women. Given the urgency of climate action, investments at the nexus of gender and climate finance will be encouraged, in alignment with Deetken Impact’s own efforts to directly advance gender equity within climate action investments. We look forward to unlocking even more gender-smart capital in the years ahead as a catalyst for all SDGs, and invite everyone to move billions with us, and join the 2X Challenge. Find the full press release at https://lnkd.in/gQx4AgbD Dive deeper into the challenge at www.2xchallenge.org #2XChallenge #FinancingforWomen #GenderLensInvesting #InvestInHer #InvestInWomen #MoveBillions #G7Summit Jessica Espinoza, 2X Global, Lori Kerr, FinDev Canada, Joseph Ssentongo, Global Innovation Fund, Sebastien Boyé, Investisseurs & Partenaires - I&P, DWM, Hannah Schiff, Sudha Bharadia, Advance Global Capital Ltd, Global Gender-Smart Fund, Ruurd Brouwer, Ralitsa Rizvanolli, Sarona Asset Management, Asian Development Bank (ADB), British International Investment, BIO - the Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries, DEG, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, European Investment Bank (EIB),Finnfund, FMO - Dutch entrepreneurial development bank, IFC - International Finance Corporation, IFU, Japan Bank for International Cooperation, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Norfund, OeEB Oesterreichische Entwicklungsbank AG - The Development Bank of Austria, Proparco, Swedfund International, SIFEM - The Swiss Development Finance Institution, Pro Mujer

I'm personally super excited to see the inclusion of the private sector in the new 2X Challenge and have Deetken Impact be one of the first private investors to commit to contributing towards investing at least US$20B towards women's empowerment in the next three years. There is much to do to advance gender equality, and gender lens investing has proven to be an important vehicle to make it happen. I truly hope that more investors are motivated to join the challenge, adopt and improve GLI practices and work together to build a more equitable future. #2XChallenge #genderlensinvesting #GLI #impactinvesting #womenempowerment 2X Global Pro Mujer U.S. International Development Finance Corporation Canada Forum for Impact Investment and Development (CAFIID) USAID DAI

SAGANA, 2X Global, and Visa Foundation are excited to launch 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝘁: 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀.     Project Catalyst serves as a snapshot of gender lens funds activity in private markets based on inputs from 126 fund managers. The objective of this report is to showcase the current level of activity within the gender lens investing landscape in private markets; as well as build awareness, promote the value of investing with a gender lens, and provide actionable insights on market size, key investment opportunities, and the roles of various stakeholders. In doing so, it places the gender finance field within the larger context of our times, acknowledging the substantial growth the field has experienced and highlighting the opportunities for further expansion in depth and breadth of impact.     Read the report here https://lnkd.in/g7bjvYgv Jessica Espinoza | Liebe Jeannot, CFA |Sana Kapadia| Stella McLeod McKenna  Margarita Vargas Patron | Najada Kumbuli | Payal Pathak   Juliet McFadden | Kelly Roberts-Robbins | Macarena Machimbarrena | Milena Bacalja Perianes |Raya Papp #SAGANA #ImpactInvesting #2XGlobal #ProjectCatalyst #GenderSmart #GenderLensInvesting

The newest scan of the gender lens investing (GLI) market has just been released! If you are interested in understanding the investment landscape, market trends and opportunities to accelerate your own investment approach with a gender lens I highly recommend you check out the Project Catalyst report (https://lnkd.in/ghbYqR5B). Project Catalyst is the successor to the brilliant work of Suzanne Biegel with Project Sage. It was a pleasure working with amazing colleagues at SAGANA, 2X Global and Visa Foundation to produce this seminary report. My personal three most exciting takeaways on the findings (all views are my own!): 📈 The GLI market is both growing and maturing in terms of the number and quality of GLI funds, as well as sheer volume of assets under management with Project Catalyst providing only a snapshot of the full market landscape and diverse actors in it. This suggests that the future of the industry can move beyond just "building the business case," but focus on standardizing and mainstreaming GLI more broadly. 🚺 GLI is no longer viewed as just “doing good” but fundamental to “good” investment practices. Increasingly, GLI approaches are being baked into the DNA of funds with just over a third of funds in Project Catalyst using three or more GLI approaches across the investment process, 27% using four, and 27% using all five. Why is this important? Because it suggests a commitment to GLI that goes beyond pink washing or social returns but gender considerations as a matter of smart economics. ☀ A gender and climate lens are not competing objectives, rather are complimentary to de-risking investments and identifying new opportunities for social and financial returns.  61% of all participating funds selected at least one climate-responsive sector as a part of their investment strategy (blue economy, climate technology, circular economy, environment, and renewable energy) in Project Catalyst. Considering the climate finance sector is estimated to be worth $1 trillion a year ($625 billion in originating in private markets), access to financing for GLI funds and ensuring a just transition, requires greater investments in navigating the gender and climate nexus. I could spend all day talking about gender-lens investing and feel honored to work on a daily basis with amazing ecosystem actors and fund managers who are doing incredible work in this field through SAGANA, Sarona Asset Management and Australian Development Investments (formerly known as EMIIF). Thank you to the amazing team behind the Project Catalyst report. Sana Kapadia, Liebe Jeannot, CFA, Raya Papp, Kelly Roberts-Robbins, Jessica Espinoza, Macarena Machimbarrena, Juliet McFadden, Stella McLeod McKenna, Margarita Vargas Patron, Najada Kumbuli, Payal Pathak #SAGANA #ImpactInvesting #2XGlobal #ProjectCatalyst #GenderSmart #GenderLensInvesting

A fascinating study is released by 2X Global Visa Foundation and SAGANA Project Catalyst Tracking gender lens investing activity in private markets. Investing with a gender lens - key takeaways: 📈 Growth: As of 2023, funds investing with a gender lens in private markets had assets under management of USD $7.9 billion, showing growth since 2021, and emerging data on the total number of funds potentially elevates the market’s total size to USD $13.6 billion. ✨ Rising diversity: Gender lens investing is becoming increasingly mainstream, underscoring the growing appeal and potential to catalyse financial returns and social impact with a gender lens. 🔑 Investment opportunities: A USD $6.2 billion investment opportunity exists in funds actively raising capital for gender lens investments. Pipeline is no longer a large barrier. 🎯 Opportunities for transformational impact: Over 80% of surveyed funds consistently track and report gender metrics, and increasingly adopting alternative fund structures and financial incentives in pursuit of their gender goals. Bottom line? There is a vibrant pipeline, as evidenced by the growth in the quantum and sophistication of funds. https://lnkd.in/evqQas_T Najada Kumbuli Jessica Espinoza Raya Papp

💵 Women Are Changing the World of Investment 💡 Women are reshaping the investment landscape but remain an underserved segment. With women set to control €10 trillion in assets under management (AUM) in Western Europe by 2030—nearly 45% of total AUM—the opportunity for tailored services is immense. 💰 Investment Trends ▪ 71% of women invest in the stock market (up from 60% in two years). ▪ Over 70% of Gen Z and Millennials invest outside retirement funds. ▪ Women are 7% more likely than men to choose ESG investments. Yet, only 64% identify as investors. 🙋♀️ Investor Personality and Risk ▪ 51% of women identify as conservative. ▪ 71% view investing as a path to generational wealth. ▪ Just 14% feel confident in their investing knowledge. There is a need for guidance to build confidence and effectively navigate products. 🤝 Barriers to Engagement ▪ 63% feel intimidated by jargon, and 55% feel overwhelmed by financial decisions. ▪ 38% mention lack of funds and 26% low earnings as barriers. ▪ Over 70% wish they had started investing earlier. This underscores the importance of accessible language, education, and flexible investment options. 🚀 Why It Matters Women currently control €4.6 trillion in AUM in Western Europe, with an annual growth rate of 8.1%, far outpacing men’s 2.7%. Inclusion is key to providing equal opportunities with personalised solutions that build confidence and unlock the full potential of female investors. Thankfully, women are driving meaningful changes in the industry: 👉 Propelle: Founded by Ayesha Ofori, it’s the UK’s first female-focused investment platform, helping women invest confidently and build long-term wealth. 👉 U Impact: Led by Lesley Li, this FinTech guides young people to invest consciously, aligning wealth generation with societal impact. 👉 Association for Women in Cryptocurrency: lead by Amanda Wick, advocating for women’s inclusion in blockchain and digital finance. 👉 Wealthify: Co-founded by Michelle Pearce-Burke, it simplifies investing, making it accessible for all, especially women and young people. 👉 Innovate Finance: with Women in FinTech Powerlist (https://lnkd.in/e8dbpXBe) Louise Smith and Janine Hirt champion inclusivity and innovation in finance. 👉 Hargreaves Lansdown’s Financially Fearless Initiative (https://lnkd.in/e7m3bcAm): Laura Burridge and Maike Currie tackle money inequality, empowering women to save and invest. 👉 Other Leaders: Noteworthy women like Sarah Williams-Gardener of FinTech Wales and Cristina Catania continue to shape the financial landscape. Resources ▪ Fidelity Investments: 2024 Women & Investing Study (https://lnkd.in/e2BGjcPa) ▪ Hargreaves Lansdown: Why Women Invest (https://lnkd.in/ebSGAxes) ▪ McKinsey & Company: Wake Up And See The Women (https://lnkd.in/egfYDgEM) 📣 Know other women leaders in investing? Thanks, Alejandra Ramirez, our Head of Strategy & Business Development, for compiling these insights! #women #finance #wealthmanagement #AUM #adviser

The Gender Lens Investing sector is at a tipping point. As plainly stated by SAGANA founder Raya Papp, the industry is poised for a transformative shift to move beyond mere gender data collection and reporting towards using gender insights to enhance decision-making, and shape investment strategies. The Project Catalyst report created together with 2X Global and supported by Visa foundation, a comprehensive analysis of 175 gender lens funds including our own Ilu Women's Empowerment Fund, exposes a vast landscape of opportunity. A significant revelation is the sector's evolving focus on climate, with 61% of funds integrating climate-responsive sectors into their investment strategies. This shift includes agriculture, now the most common investment sector among gender lens funds, a spot previously occupied by healthcare in 2021's Project Sage 4.0 report. With close to USD $8 billion AUM, the gender lens investing landscape encompasses a number of objectives, and this report points to another key indicator of the industry's maturation being that 30% of participating funds reported pursuing three or more gender objectives. Expanding the scope beyond the traditional metrics of merely counting women, funds are deepening their commitment to supporting gender-positive outcomes. Find out more about the report's insights and the future of gender lens investing at https://lnkd.in/di9_2_fx Learn more about the Ilu Women's Empowerment Fund at https://lnkd.in/eWUH6SB #genderequity #genderlensinvesting #SDG5 #ImpactInvesting #FinanceForChange Jessica Espinoza, Najada Kumbuli, Stella McLeod McKenna, Liebe Jeannot, CFA, Kelly Roberts-Robbins, Macarena Machimbarrena, Juliet McFadden, Milena Bacalja Perianes, Pro Mujer.

☀Triple Jump's EEGF Highlighted in New Inclusive Business Investing Guide 💡 We're happy to announce that our Energy Entrepreneurs Growth Fund (EEGF) is featured as a case study in the newly released Inclusive Business Investing Guide, published by the IFC - International Finance Corporation, British International Investment, and the FMO - Dutch entrepreneurial development bank 👉 https://lnkd.in/dESSHGGs 🔍 Why This Guide? Until now, the market lacked practical resources for inclusive investing that truly deliver impact for low-income people. The Inclusive Business Investing Guide fills this gap, providing tools and strategies to help investors like us adopt a rigorous, intentional approach to investing in businesses that serve low-income communities. 🎯 Our Featured Case Study: Our EEGF initiative is highlighted as a prime example of Leveraging Concessional Finance to expand access to clean, reliable, and affordable energy in Sub-Saharan Africa. Here's what we're achieving through EEGF: 🌱 Investing in Impact: We aim to invest in around 30 businesses within the access-to-energy ecosystem, increasing sector efficiency and strengthening services.  📅 Long-Term Support: With a 12-year lifespan, EEGF provides patient, flexible capital and follow-on investments to support companies' expansion efforts.  💡 Operational Support: Using mezzanine instruments along with 'engine room support' and a technical assistance facility, we aim to reach 71 million beneficiaries, create over 92,000 jobs, and avoid 23.9 million tons of CO2 emissions.  🚀 Gender Equality: Acknowledging the link between energy access and gender equality, EEGF applies the 2X Challenge criteria for gender-lens investing.  💼 A Financial Return: While EEGF is impact-first, it expects to generate a financial return as well. 🤝 Our Partners:  Launched by Triple Jump in 2019 with our partners the Shell Foundation and FMO, EEGF now includes investors like the African Development Bank Group, FinDev Canada, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, Nordic Development Fund (NDF), and OeEB Oesterreichische Entwicklungsbank AG - The Development Bank of Austria. 💡 We believe that the Inclusive Business Investing Guide will be an essential tool for anyone committed to making a difference through inclusive business strategies. Let's continue to drive change and create lasting impact together! 🌟 #ImpactInvesting #InclusiveBusiness #SustainableDevelopment #RenewableEnergy #TripleJump #EEGF  

🏥 Amethis is honoured to announce that the European Investment Bank (EIB) (EIB Global) is investing €25 million in Amethis Fund III to promote the sustainable growth of African businesses.     📌 Amethis Fund III is a pan-African fund providing private equity growth capital to small and medium sized companies on the continent. Its strategy aligns with the EIB's investment objectives and the EU's Global Gateway strategy, focusing on gender equality, sustainable employment, and climate considerations.     🎙️ Thomas Östros, EIB Vice President, commented on the deal: “The EIB is happy to support Amethis in its effort to invest in small companies in low- and middle-income countries across Africa. We see Africa as a close and important partner to the Bank, which has a lot of potential and untapped opportunities. However, African enterprises still don’t have enough patient equity capital they need for them to grow, which is what our partnership with funds like Amethis seek to address.”     🎙️ Luc Rigouzzo and Laurent Demey, Managing Partners at Amethis said, “We are proud to receive the renewed support from the European Investment Bank. Building upon our prior collaborations, its strategic support will allow us to continue helping medium-sized companies deliver better good and services to the African consumers and to become African champions by promoting their regional integration and sustainable economic growth.”      🔗 More information here: https://lnkd.in/gZYwAfk9   #InvestingInAfrica #impactinvesting #EdRPE #PrivateEquity #Africa #GenderEquality #Climate #Employment 

Energized and equipped with new insights, our five council members – Villgro Philippines, inBEST Ventures, MAIN PH [Manila Angel Investors Network], Sweef Capital, and ARQ SME BDC – return from a productive two-day #FeministFinanceForum in Bangkok. Here's a glimpse into the key topics that resonated: • Discussions at the forum underscored the need for a financial system that empowers all women. • Diverse stakeholders shared innovative ideas to dismantle barriers and build a truly inclusive financial landscape. • A strong call emerged for concrete steps to advance feminist finance across the Asia-Pacific region. • The forum explored how feminist finance can address the gendered division of unpaid care work and its economic impact. United Nations ESCAP's 2024 Feminist Finance Forum, which convened this diverse group (government, investors, agencies, entrepreneurs), served as a springboard to forge lasting solutions for feminist finance.The forum fostered collaboration to bridge the gender gap, focusing on women's well-being, climate resilience, and the care economy. The Gender Lens and Impact Investment Council, in collaboration with our esteemed members Villgro Philippines, inBEST Ventures, MAIN PH [Manila Angel Investors Network], Sweef Capital, ARQ SME BDC , Foxmont Capital Partners, xchange PH, Gobi Partners and Ignite Impact Fund will translate these insights into actionable strategies to bridge the gender finance gap and empower women across the region. #genderlensinvesting #genderlens #feministfinance #impactinvesting