Kimpacto, Inc.
- Francesco Baldissera, Kim Kastorff Llegó el turno de las iniciativas públicas, y en este caso la referencia mundial es la iniciativa llevada a cabo por la Unión Europea (UE) y su proyecto Horizonte 2020. ¿Que es Horizonte 2020? Es el programa marco de la Unión Europea para financiar las iniciativas de investigación y desarrollo de los países miembros. Cerca de 80 billónes de euros en financiación para los próximos 7 años. La política responde al criterio de que la ciencia puntera y responsable puede aportar soluciones bio-económicas lo suficientemente atractivas para voltear la Pirámide Demográfica de Europa. ¿Por Qué? Porque afianzando un crecimiento económico sostenible se crearán las condiciones (empleo y salarios) para que los jóvenes se involucren activamente dentro de la creación de Europa y eventualmente se planteen el formar una familia. ¿Cual es el Objetivo de Horizonte 2020? Es un esfuerzo de la UE por mantener la competitividad económica de la región en los años venideros. Su enfoque va más allá de la generación de riqueza o creación de valor económico, de hecho, busca hacerlo de una manera responsable y no sólo dentro de sus fronteras, sino también garantizando procesos éticos y sostenibles en sus vecinos geográficos inmediatos, como es el caso de Túnez. También es una política que busca cambiar el modelo productivo industrial por el del conocimiento. Es la búsqueda de competitividad por calidad y no por precio lo que preocupa a Europa, puesto que la segunda conlleva un sacrificio enorme en la calidad de vida de los ciudadanos, como bien se pudo apreciar durante la crisis financiera en el sur de Europa. ¿Cuáles son las áreas de interés? Presenta tres áreas prioritarias; Excelencia en ciencia, Liderazgo industrial y Cambios sociales. De esta manera la primera área facilitará la segunda que creará los cambios sociales. La idea de la UE es que las pequeñas y medianas empresas (PYMES) de la región se involucren en el proyecto, para ello ha simplificado considerablemente el proceso de financiación. El proyecto Horizonte 2020 va más allá de únicamente aportar financiación. De hecho la UE a través de la Comisión Europea mantiene abiertos sus canales de comunicación para escuchar a sus stakeholders y mantener políticas que satisfagan las necesidades ciudadanas más allá de lo financiero. La UE manejará las candidaturas del proyecto a nivel institucional y tomará las decisiones de inversión, pero, lo que determinará el éxito de los proyectos es el nivel de implicación, liderazgo y acción de cada uno, para ello Kimpacto ofrece apoyo y consultoría de primer nivel, además de una red de contactos global, para todos aquellos que como Kimpacto, buscan jugar un papel relevante en la construcción de un mejor planeta.
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![]() Kimpacto, Inc. - Kim Kastorff, Francesco Baldissera - Summer 2014 in Brazil, the world's most followed sporting event is held. Despite all the emotions that the sport generates for its greatest fans, you can not ignore its great economic and social impact on societies, not all of which is positive. Maybe this World Cup has been characterized by one thing: the protests and negativity which certainly impede what should be celebrations and rejoice for their deep love - football (soccer). Of course, the Brazilians are not without reason. There are two that seem to be primarily responsible for this civil unrest, (1) the International Federation of Association Football (“FIFA”) and (2) the Brazilian government. First, the Brazilian government's main criticism is the assumption of the costs of infrastructure and hosting this event. Building multimillion-dollar stadiums in a country with serious problems of education and health was one of the main complaints during massive demonstrations regarding the exorbitant economic cost of $11bn - twice that of the South Africa cup - according to BBC. Even die-hard fans have a hard time justifying this displacement of dollars, and especially during the slowing Brazilian economy. While others agree with the decision to hold the World Cup in Brazil, and that perhaps it may boost the economy through tourism and consumption, and open our minds (and pocketbooks) in support of social change - as seen in the favelas, for example. Kim Kastorff, founder of Kimpacto recently met with Elliot Rosenberg who started the “Favela Experience” in a Rio-based favela, which allows tourists to enter the local reality of the World Cup but from the viewpoint of a favela (areas of extreme poverty). Based on this visit, there appears to be heavy police presence and also reports of favelas being raided by police to "clean up" drugs and weapons before the World Cup. Perhaps, there are some positive social changes and some (relatively) safer communities being created, despite it’s intention - which is to keep the foreign tourists safe. Most surprising, however, is that the World Cup tourists are choosing to spend some of their time touring, sleeping in, and discovering the ‘real’ side of Brazil, and its’ corresponding social issues, and even spending their tourist dollars in these poorer communities. So then, we can think positively - what if hosting the World Cup could lay the foundation for long-term economic growth and perhaps unleash the true social development that Brazil needs? Some argue that the World Cup has contributed to increasing wealth over the past several years, and the increasing population that are coming out of poverty and entering the middle class. While clearly there have been some positive economic and social trends, the issue doesn’t end with purely World Cup Economics nor the Brasilian government - on the other side is FIFA - and here the World Cup bashers see the glass as half empty. Some of the hostility has been triggered by the FIFA scandals of recent years, which have tarnished its image. It many minds, it is no longer an institution that promotes the positive aspects of the sport, nor as a contributor to the social fabric that will make this a more sustainable world. To make matters worse, we experience the deaths of Brazilian workers who are building the stadiums and infrastructure, some working in ‘slave-like’ conditions, meanwhile thousands of poor people are being evicted and now homeless, and then comes mounting concerns over child prostitution, and the list goes on. While it takes some effort to be a socially responsible company, these FIFA scandals and related incidents are an element of public relations which demonstrates no real commitment or global vision for creating positive social change in developing economies such as Brazil - and especially given that FIFA is an institution with immense power, money and worldwide impact, and unfortunately a role model for our youth and our future. What is FIFA’s response? It is really the responsibility of the government. According to the Guardian Sustainable Business, “But Fifa and corporate sponsors are missing a powerful opportunity to negotiate with the government to make sure that communities are compensated fully, workers are well-treated and fairly paid, and vulnerable people are protected. They could play a bigger role in giving the World Cup an enduring legacy of human rights and prosperity.” What can we do, as citizens and fans? First, every one of us should make a commitment and responsibility to improve our communities. For institutions such as FIFA, we could push for an increased focus on collaboration with local institutions and non-profit foundations beyond UNICEF, and to let our voices be heard in regards to corporate responsibility, human rights, and social impact. Perhaps these riots could be turned into positive social campaigns during the World Cup. For example, we could further promote tourism development in areas of the country that are traditionally marginalized by poverty, and all the corresponding social problems that arise from it. We should think about a collaborative and shared economy, where we ALL play a role and as we join in efforts with our public institutions, private business and other ordinary citizens - so the true empowerment of communities is achieved. So, who are the good role models? Although there are many non-profits, foundations and companies that engage in social enterprise and impact investing (e.g. Education, Poverty, Health), Kim Kastorff (of Kimpacto) was fortunate to be in Brazil at the opening of the World Cup and to meet some of the social leaders, including Pipa who is accelerating entrepreneurs and businesses who generate high social impact. Also, VOX Capital who is the first Impact Investing fund (GIIRS rated) in Brazil and supports innovative business solutions targeted to help low-income populations; Gera Venture who has made strides in developing and raising the bar for the education sector; and SITAWI who offers professional support and investment solutions to socially responsible businesses throughout Brazil. While these companies are some of the key leaders in Brazil who are offering more sustainable, innovative and socially responsible solutions; they need not be unique. Everyone can take a first step, and to establish channels of communication with similar groups and to engage in a social cause - whether in Brazil or your home community. We feel it is a golden opportunity for the World Cup games to set a social example for the world to follow, and as a stepping stone for the 2016 Olympics in Rio. So, I leave you with a thought - What if we put the same media attention, citizen effort and energy into impact investing and the resolution of social problems? What could we accomplish if we change our negative energy (riots, strikes, scandals) to positive energy (social change)? For inspiration, please check out The World Cup Project, “a new documentary mini-series that will showcase the world’s favourite sport - football - and its power to impact social change around the globe in the build up to the 2014 World Cup.” We want to know your opinions, and your social initiatives in your home community. Also, if you want to offer support or have ideas, please reach out to Kimpacto (kim@kimpacto.com). Obrigada and enjoy the World Cup! ![]() Kimpacto, Inc. - Francesco Baldissera, Kim Kastorff - Con la crisis, vemos más y más emprendedores en españa. Más del 25% de los emprendedores empezó un negocio, porque no había otras opciones. - The Atlantic, 2012 de octubre. Pero, ¿cómo puedo ser un emprendedor? 1. Sea creativo: A las necesidades o preferencias de un mercado, es así como encontrarás las ideas. Lo mejor que puedes hacer es tener una idea o varias y contarselas a la mayor cantidad de gente posible. No tengas miedo a que roben tu idea, esto realmente es bueno: Significa que tu idea funciona. A medida que lleves a cabo tu misión exploratoria seguramente te irán surgiendo ideas de todos los tamaños y tonos de absurdo; no te preocupes, ya lo decía David Ogilvy: “Las mejores ideas vienen como chistes, haz tus pensamientos tan divertidos como puedas”. Mantente creativo y sal de la oficina, aparca el ordenador y patea la calle. 2. Identificar un sector/nicho: Lo que sí deberías tomarte en serio es que clase de emprendedor te gustaría ser. Para esto necesitas identificar qué problema o necesidad resolverá tu empresa y quien es tu cliente objetivo. Debes preguntarte: ¿Por qué nadie ha hecho esto antes? Y si lo han hecho: ¿Puedo mejorar esa solución? ¿Existe una parte de este mercado “desatendido”? Identificar la magnitud del problema y determinar por qué serás capaz y cómo estas calificado para resolverlo es clave para formular la propuesta de valor de tu startup. Startup de base tecnológica, emprendedor social o una oferta de ocio y restauración innovadora en tu ciudad. Bien puedes adaptar ideas de otras realidades a la tuya o incluso fusionarlas. Los nuevos paradigmas económicos y sociales apuntan hacia una nueva manera de hacer negocios: La Economía Colaborativa. Esta idea presenta una verdadera revolución económica y social, sobretodo para los países en desarrollo, puesto que básicamente permite hacer más con menos. En su blog Paul Graham explica dos maneras de identificar ideas para startups: Preguntarnos qué quiero que alguien haga para mí o qué necesidades necesita cubrir un determinado mercado. 3. Construir un equipo: Antes de empezar a planificar y trabajar en tu startup, tienes que saber quién irá en el bote contigo. Para ello necesitarás hacerte con un equipo; lo que debes tener en cuenta a la hora de buscar compañeros de equipo es que compartan tu misma visión del problema/necesidad que buscas resolver y que su ética de trabajo sea excelente, esto va mucho más de tener una relación de amistad. No todas las personas deben compartir nivel de experiencia o habilidades. Es muy importante para definir adecuadamente los roles dentro del equipo y sus niveles de responsabilidad, bien sean empleados, consultores o accionistas de tu empresa. Tal vez lo más importante sea la actitud de la persona y cómo será su reacción en los momentos de estrés que seguramente encontrarás, esto es clave para mantener al equipo cohesionado. Otra idea para formar equipo es aprovechar los espacios de coworking o Impact HUB (en Madrid) que permiten el aprovechamiento de sinergias y aumentar tu red de contactos, porque seamos honestos: A veces no es tan importante lo que sabes sino a quién conoces. Generalmente a los inversores les interesa más el equipo y los líderes que lo coordinan que la idea empresarial como tal. ¡Los inversores invierten en tí! 4. Movilizar: Recursos y personas para gestionar este paso puede convertirse en una tarea complicada pero ello se debe a un aspecto positivo: Hay una gran cantidad de oportunidades. Para salir exitosos de este paso es necesario conocer el extenso universo emprendedor español. Simplificandolo podemos describir el entorno emprendedor de la siguiente manera:
5. Networking: ¡Habla con tus clientes! Y con cualquier otro posible grupo de interés, identifica sus necesidades y/o inquietudes, ve practicando tu Elevator Pitch, llegó la hora de comunicar tu proyecto y sin esto el paso previo puede que no aporte valor. Es aquí donde debes centrarte para cerrar la “venta” de tu proyecto y aprovechar al máximo todo lo que las redes, business angels y concursos tienen para ofrecer. Para ello necesitas estructurarlo, en la web cuentas con diferentes herramientas para establecer tu modelo y comunicar tu visión de empresa. De gran interés también pueden resultar algunos eventos en donde podrás encontrar consejos de gente con experiencias similares y aumentar tus redes de networking, tanto en la vida real como a través de los medios sociales: LinkedIn, Feathr, Bizzabo. 6. Revisar: La metodología "Lean Startup" de Eris Ries con la cual se busca traspasar los primeros momentos de incertidumbre de tu empresa y afianzar el uso eficiente del capital afianzando los procesos creativos. La importancia de tener siempre en cuenta al cliente, puesto que tu modelo de negocio se basa en su satisfacción, se torna obvia. No en vano Jeff Bezos se ha obsesionado con esto. Una recomendación interesante para aplicar en este paso de tu proceso hacia convertirte en emprendedor es la de Janelle Barlow en su libro “A complaint is a gift”; podemos resumir esta idea en tomar la perspectiva de que el feedback con el cliente es la plataforma de despegue del cohete en que se convertirá tu startup. Otro muy buen recurso es el libro de Carlos Blanco (líder emprendedor español) “"Los Principales Errores De Los Emprendedores". Aunque todo esto puede ser de gran ayuda, es muy recomendable el asesoramiento de expertos. No dudes en comentar este post o ponerte en contacto con Kimpacto. Su fundadora con 18 años de experiencia en el sector financiero creó esta empresa con certificado B Corporation determina su compromiso ofreciendo soluciones para acercar emprendedores locales a un entorno global que permita no sólo el crecimiento de su negocio sino también el impacto positivo que este tendrá en la comunidad. ![]() What is the difference between Impact Investing and Socially Responsible Investing? by Kim Kastorff 2 May 2013 In some communities like San Francisco, Impact Investing has become a buzzword, creating widespread attention and increasing interest among investors, communities, institutions and government, given the awareness of economic, social and environmental issues. Yet still too often I receive feedback that it is just another 'do-good' or 'go-green' scheme....which is like saying the Golden Gate Bridge is just another bridge. Impact Investing is quite special and unique. Although, as a young and emerging field it currently suffers from inconsistent definitions and uncertainty, and often gets lumped in with all the other socially responsible and ethical approaches. So, let me attempt to clarify (and to welcome comments).... From an historical perspective, one key difference is simply the age and the evolution of these terms. Conceptually, the beginning of Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) and Responsible investing (RI) can be traced back to the 18th century, when John Wesley (1703 - 1791) a co-founder of the Methodist Church, preached that you should not exploit others or engage in sinful trade or profit. Specifically, negative screening approaches were followed by the Methodist religion as they believe that investors should not associate with guns, liquor, tobacco or gambling. Since the 1950s, a series of social campaigns and trade unions have made investors aware of the social and environmental consequences of their investments. During the 1980s, there was significant shareholder activism against South African firms, due to the system of apartheid. This resulted in negative flows of investment to South Africa, forcing the majority of businesses (approx. 75% of South African employers), to call for the end of apartheid (Ethical Partnership Ltd., accessed 2012). Although SRI was not the only contributing factor, this demonstrates the level of importance among global investors. More recently, impact investing was coined by Anthony Bugg-Levine in 2007 during a meeting at the Rockefeller Foundation. Since then, it has emerged as a a new approach to seeking proactive solutions to our social and environmental problems (e.g. education, poverty, health, energy, etc.), by offering investments that generate both financial returns and social (including environmental) impact. Thus, Impact investing can be considered a derivative of other initiatives, such as responsible investing (RI), socially responsible investing (SRI), and corporate social responsibility (CSR), all of which to various degrees consider values and stakeholder interests within a firm's daily operations. Ok, so there are similarities and differences. But, here’s where it really diverges. Impact Investing has spun off into its own field or movement, as it more proactively seeks long-term sustainable social impact by applying business acumen and seeking financial returns. Often I hear that 'it is all about the intent', meaning that impact investing must have an initial intent to seek social + financial impact. Following this trend, Kimpacto, Inc. promotes "Maximizing Financial + Social Impact" with the premise that "Doing good makes good business sense." Overall, Impact Investing has a greater focus on long-term financial sustainability and business fundamentals, as compared to its more religious predecessor- SRI, or other ethics based fields. Still, impact investors care about ethics and responsibility just the same. A key point is that Impact Investing is not a decision of social responsibility OR business fundamentals, it is BOTH. Today, impact investors are demonstrating that there doesn't have to be a trade-off or bifurcate world which has formerly separated business and social sectors, as suggested by Bugg-Levine. In fact, we are seeing an increasing number of For-profit business sectors and also Non-profit organizations that are blending their financial goals with their social values, and incorporating both in their measurement and reporting. Unlike other ethical or SRI fields, impact investing utilizes ideas and social practices from a wide variety of both non-profit and for-profit sectors, to include: non-governmental organizations (NGOs), pension funds, private and family foundations, insurance companies, banks, high net worth individuals, grant making, social venture capital funds, private equity, debt providers and social impact bonds (Mulgan et. al, 2011). Perhaps, one day there will be no difference among the terms- Impact Investing, SRI, RI, CSR or Banking & Investing. If this trend continues all organizations and individuals will bridge their differences and invest for both financial + social impact. |
AuthorKim Kastorff has 15+ years of international finance experience and two Masters degrees - MBA and a Masters of Research in Impact Investing. Specific areas of expertise are in banking, financial and investment services, energy and sustainability, consulting, and financial education. Years ago, I told my students the purpose of business is to "Maximize shareholder returns." Today, it seems that stakeholders care about both "Maximizing financial + social impact." So, I am dedicated to helping impact investors and entrepreneurs adjust and remain competitive in this new environment. My goal is to promote impact investing and financial inclusion as we collectively strive for a more educated and financially sustainable global environment. Archives
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