Online Workshop: Are You Investor-Ready?

• The Ground_Up Centre - Geneva, Switzerland
• The Ground_Up Project – Geneva, Switzerland
• SAREBI - South African Renewable Energy Business Incubator
• Climate Innovation Center South Africa
• Green Cape – South Africa

Are you Investor-Ready?

• Can you clearly articulate what your business model is?
• What do your financial projections say about your expected viability?
• How do you assess and track your social and environmental impact?
• How much money are you raising? What type of capital? What will it be used for?
• What do you know about investors you are targeting? How will you prepare your approach?

Impact investors are looking for ventures that know how to answer these questions, and more.

We invite you to a new style of online workshop: there will be experience sharing, group learning and individual progress each on your own business.  

Part 1: In the first part of the workshop we will discuss general questions related to:

• Key elements of a business plan a green entrepreneur needs to focus on
• Investors’ requirements for green businesses that are looking for funding
• Investor-readiness of green businesses

Part 2: Participants organized in small groups will access dedicated Q&A sessions with The Ground_Up Project experts. In this session we invite you to come with specific problems you are currently working on. This is your opportunity to ask questions related to your financial modelling, revenue model, investment teaser, pitch deck, business plan and other relevant aspects.

Part 3: Finally, participants will share the insights discussed in each group in a facilitated follow-up discussion, in order to draw conclusions and suggest next steps.

Participation requirements:

1. Click here and fill the workshop registration form by 14 May, including your questions for the expert session. Be as specific as possible, to make best use of your time.
2. Register and Add your company on The Ground_Up Project platform (http://www.groundupproject.net) to self-assess your investment readiness prior to the workshop.
3. If you intend to use the Expert Session to ask for feedback on your business plan, investment teaser, pitch deck etc. please email them in advance to:

This workshop is prepared under the auspices of the GREEN-WIN international research project. GREEN-WIN aims to develop and disseminate win-win strategies for sustainability and climate action by improving the understanding of their linkages, trade-offs and implementation barriers.

Understanding the emergence of green business models and what makes them attractive to investors is an important element to enable capital to flow into the green economy. The workshop will share knowledge gathered on a sample of projects and businesses documented by GREEN-WIN partners in several locations around the world. It will also build on The Ground_Up Project’s track record sourcing green deals and making them visible to investors.

Workshop structure:

12.00 - 12.20: Welcome and introductions

12.20 - 13.00: Group discussion

• What are key elements an impact entrepreneur needs to prepare for fundraising?
• What does an investor expect to see in a green business that is looking for funding?
• What makes an impact venture investor-ready?

Sharing insights from The Ground_Up Project pre-qualification of over US$100 million worth small impact businesses for impact investment as well as main conclusions of The Ground_Up Centre research under the GREEN-WIN project.

13.00 – 14.00 Expert session

Participants move into parallel sessions. They will be hosted by different experts who will address questions submitted by participants prior to the workshop.

14:00 – 14:45 Groups report back & discussion

Sharing learnings and experiences.

14.45 – 15.00 Wrap-up and thanks

Facilitated by: Brindusa Burrows, Founder & CEO, The Ground_Up Project & Director, The Ground_Up Centre

Technology: Zoom, online meeting rooms and audio via web or phone. Access details will be shared after registration.

For more information, please contact imola@groundupproject.org

Click here to register online by 14 May 2018