Impact Investing – Does a Sustainable Society Need Smarter Funding?

Ruth Brännvall, CEO, Impact Invest

Impact Invest is a Swedish organization with the ambition to finance companies and organizations that help solve societal challenges. Over 1000 entrepreneurs and organizations have received support from Impact Invest, while the organization has also developed methods to measure and promote both social impact and financial return.

Erik Båsk, CEO, Alfred Kordelin Foundation

Mikko Kosonen, Chair of Board, Alfred Kordelin Foundation

The Alfred Kordelin Foundation is one of Finland’s oldest foundations operating in Finnish. Its mission is to promote and support Finnish science, literature, art, and public education. The Foundation supports these areas of society through grants and awards.

Jenny Carenco, General Partner, Utfallsfonden

Utfallsfonden's work to solve societal challenges is based on long-term financing, analysis, intervention design, and management. The fund supports municipalities, regions, civil society and private sector with the vision that more people will have a safe childhood, succeed in school, be able to support themselves, live a healthy life, and enjoy a dignified old age.

Birgitta Forsström, CEO, The Foundation Brita Maria Renlunds minne sr.

The foundation Brita Maria Renlunds minne sr. (BMR Foundation) has a vision to support the well-being of children and young people by fostering hope and belief in the future. The foundation funds actors whose work helps prevent, among other things, child poverty and social exclusion, and has been supporting children through its activities for over a hundred years.

Ylva Lundkvist Fridh, CEO, Mikrofonden

Mikrofonden is Sweden’s largest social investor, with over 100 investments in the social economy in its portfolio. Mikrofonden focuses on micro-investments in initiatives that, in turn, generate social value.

Susanna Kallama, CEO, Arvo ry

ARVO is a Finnish association whose main task is to promote socially driven and value-based entrepreneurship in Finland. ARVO also works as a knowledge producer and expert in social entrepreneurship. Additionally, the association brings together companies into a network, which currently includes over 70 members.

Jani Kempas, Director Impact Investing, S-Pankki

S-Bank is a pioneer in the Finnish impact investing field. It offers several impact investing products, such as funds that invest in social impact bonds (SIBs). In this area, S-Bank is a leading actor in the Nordics.

Kaius Niemi, Deputy CEO & Partner, Miltton

Miltton is a leading Nordic consultancy, offering expertise in communications, leadership, marketing, strategy, sustainability, stakeholder relations, and insights. The company provides solutions to communication challenges that arise in a constantly changing global situation.

Vesa Sarmia, Director of Partnerships, Deaconess Foundation

Diakonissalaitos is a non-profit foundation that aims to support the members of society who are in the most vulnerable positions. Its social enterprise, Rinnekodit, provides social and healthcare services for individuals with special needs, and the foundation is also involved in educational activities.

Irina Tiitinen, Team Mentor, Icehearts

Icehearts is an innovative Finnish organization whose working method is based on preventive child welfare work. Its goal is to prevent children and young people`s social exclusion through sport activities. In addition to sports, Icehearts also supports the mental well-being and social skills of children and youth.

Samuel Wendelin, Investment Director, Tesi

Tesi is a private equity and venture capital company owned by the Finnish state. It has an industrial policy mission, which it implements by promoting economic growth and renewal, as well as fostering investments. In addition, it strengthens domestic ownership. In Tesi`s goals financial return and societal impact go hand in hand.