The Possible

🌍 Transforming Challenges into Opportunities: Summary of the Panel on Impact Businesses Supporting Ukraine’s Recovery 💪 On 29th November, we had the honor of co-hosting the panel Transforming Challenges into Opportunities at Impact Europe, where we explored how impact-driven businesses and social enterprises are leading the way in Ukraine’s recovery. Key Takeaways: 🔹 Social enterprises have proven their adaptability, addressing urgent needs, providing humanitarian aid, and rebuilding local communities. 🔹 Investments in impact-driven businesses are critical for establishing sustainable systems, fostering long-term growth, and benefiting not just Ukraine but its international partners. 🔹 Blended finance—a model combining donor funding with private investment—was identified as a pivotal step forward. Organizations like USAID and IOM (UN) view this as a key approach to driving resilience and recovery. 💡 We are proud to pioneer blended finance in Ukraine, working with partners on the ground to develop innovative frameworks that can lead this movement. 🗣️ Highlights from the panel: ✨ Jonathan Robinson underlined the value of building ecosystems that can sustain social initiatives even amidst crises. ✨ Markus Lux stressed the importance of making Ukraine mainstream in the global impact investment agenda and emphasized the role of local conveners, with The Possible serving as a unifying force for Ukraine’s impact ecosystem. ✨ Alena Kalibaba shared how Ukrainian Social Venture Fund has empowered businesses to find innovative solutions to the challenges brought by war. ✨ Olesya Volska-Zaluska highlighted the barriers faced by small and medium enterprises and how USAID’s grants help them scale up and thrive. ✨ Viktoria Mianovska showcased success stories of Ukrainian impact entrepreneurs, proving that even during war, growth and resilience are achievable. 📢 Core Message: Ukraine must be made mainstream! Impact investors must recognize the unparalleled opportunities within Ukraine’s thriving impact ecosystem. Despite the risks, the potential for transformative, high-impact outcomes is immense. 💙💛 Check out more photos in comments! #ImpactInvesting #UkraineRecovery #BlendedFinance #SocialEnterprises #InvestInTheFuture #RebuildingUkraine

A few insights from #ImpactWeek in Bilbao, organized by Impact Europe 🌎 Market Overview: 🖊️ The European private impact investing market is valued at €190 billion, representing 2.5% of the €7.6 trillion eligible assets under management (AUM) in Europe. 🖊️ €5 billion of this total is allocated to indirect investments in fund managers outside Europe 🌎 Capital Sources for Impact Investing: Institutional investors (27%) are the leading contributors, including pension funds and insurance companies, reflecting growing confidence in impact investing’s ability to deliver measurable outcomes and stable returns. Banking institutions contribute 22% of total capital Retail investors contribute 14% 🌎 Trends in Financing Approaches: 🖊️ Investors are increasingly exploring innovative financing models, such as revenue sharing and matchmaking, as traditional equity investments often prove unsuitable for impact-driven businesses. 🚀 This resonates deeply with us, as we are also experimenting with various innovative financing models. Some of these, such as match trade and split financing, are being tested in Ukraine in collaboration with our partners - members of the The Possible Alliance, paving the way for new approaches to impact-driven investments. #impactinvestment #impactinUkraine #socialentrepreneurship

Ukraine at Impact Europe, Bilbao, Spain 👉 From November 27–29, the global impact investing community will gather in Bilbao for Impact Week – a platform for sharing bold ideas, forging unexpected partnerships, and amplifying our collective impact on people and the planet. The Possible Alliance, together with the Ukrainian Social Venture Fund and SILab Ukraine, will showcase how Ukrainian impact enterprises are transforming the extraordinary challenges of war into new opportunities. 🚀 Ukrainian Session: November 29 – "Turning Challenges into Opportunities: Impact Businesses in Ukraine's Recovery" Ukrainian impact entrepreneurs are demonstrating remarkable resilience, adapting during wartime to address urgent needs – from emergency aid to supporting displaced communities. These businesses are not just navigating crises; they are innovating and laying the groundwork for Ukraine's long-term growth and global stability. 💡 Join our panel discussion to: - Discover how impact businesses are reshaping Ukraine. - Learn why their resilience and adaptability represent a unique investment opportunity. - Share your ideas and become part of a stronger, more inclusive impact investment ecosystem. 🔗 More about the event and links in the comments. 📸 Photos from the inspiring Impact Europe 2023 in Turin, Italy. And It was amazing! #ImpactEurope #ImpactInvesting #ImpactEntrepreneurship

🌍 Ukraine at Impact Europe 2024, Bilbao, Spain. From Nov.27-29th, the global impact investing community gathers in Bilbao for Impact Week—a space to share bold ideas, foster unexpected partnerships, and amplify our collective impact for people and the planet. The Possible Alliance is to join forces with Ukrainian Social Venture Fund (USVF), SILab Ukraine to spotlight how Ukrainian impact enterprises are transforming extraordinary war challenges into opportunities. 🚀 Session Highlight: Nov, 29th, Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities: Impact Businesses Supporting Ukraine's Recovery. Ukrainian impact entrepreneurs have shown remarkable resilience, pivoting during the war to address urgent needs—from emergency aid to services for displaced communities. These businesses don’t just survive crises; they innovate and thrive, building a foundation for long-term growth and stability in Ukraine and beyond. 🚀Why invest? Impact investing in Ukraine is not just about funding businesses—it’s about empowering communities, fostering economic recovery, and contributing to a more resilient Europe. By supporting Ukraine’s entrepreneurs, impact investors can make a meaningful difference where it’s needed most. 💡 Our Panel Discussion: - Explore how impact businesses are driving change in Ukraine. - Learn why their resilience and adaptability make them an unparalleled investment opportunity. - Share your ideas and join hands in building a stronger, more inclusive impact ecosystem. Links to the event and our Ukraine Impact Businesses Portfolio in the comments! Photos from the inspiring Impact Europe, 2023 in Turin, Italy. Alena Kalibaba Anna Gulevska-Chernysh 🕊️✌️Ewa Konczal Mauricio Preciado-Awad Anna Chuba Olesya Zaluska Jonathan Robinson Viktoria Mianovska Maria Shmelova Angelina Adzhiyska 🇺🇦 Kateryna Petrova 🇺🇦 Promprylad Foundation, School of ME Greencubator Ukrainian Social Venture Fund Western Ukrainian cluster of social enterprises Restart

🌎 Empowering Social Business: Grants, Investments, and New Tools for Change 📌 On November 12th, at Kyiv Entrepreneurs Meetup #2 we, namely Viktoria Mianovska, had the pleasure of moderating a rich panel discussion on “Social Business and Financing Change: Grants, Investments, and New Tools for Development,” featuring insights from leaders like Alena Kalibaba (CEO of Ukrainian Social Venture Fund), Bob Webster (Head of New Investment Promotion, USAID Investment for Business Resilience Activity), and Oleksii Kushnir (USAID Competitive Economy Program in Ukraine (USAID CEP). The discussion centered on how to support social entrepreneurs in Ukraine with a blend of funding mechanisms beyond traditional grants. We explored pathways for entrepreneurs transitioning from grant reliance toward sustainable investment, addressing the potential of local and global funding ecosystem for impact-driven businesses. 📌Key Takeaways: 1. Funding Beyond Grants: Participants emphasized the need for flexible funding options like repayable grants and hybrid financing, which are crucial for creating resilience within the impact sector. 2. Building Strong Partnerships: Long-term relationships with donors and investors were highlighted as vital, with recommendations to focus on transparency, trust, and clear communication to avoid common pitfalls. 3. Accessing Impact Investments: Navigating both domestic and international funding sources was discussed, with experts sharing strategies on how Ukrainian businesses can attract impact investors looking for high-potential, mission-driven ventures. 4. Future Trends in Impact Financing: Our panel shared insights into future opportunities, noting that Ukraine’s unique socio-political context will drive the evolution of impact financing, with new trends likely to shape the field and foster resilience. It was an inspiring exchange that reinforced the power of innovative financing to scale social impact. A huge thank you to our panellists and all attendees for contributing to such a forward-looking conversation and special thanks for organizing the Meetup - to our partners Ukrainian Social Venture Fund and SILab Ukraine! #SocialImpact #ImpactInvesting #SocialEnterprise #FundingInnovation #Ukraine

It was a pleasure to moderate a discussion on impact investing with Bob Webster, Alena Kalibaba and Olexiy Kushnir at the Kyiv Impact Entrepreneurs Meetup #2! Thanks for the organisation and the partnership, Ukrainian Social Venture Fund and SILab Ukraine. #ImpactEntrepreneurship #SocialImpact #InvestInUkraine

Together with 🇺🇦 Promprylad Foundation, we've prepared a brief overview of impact entrepreneurship ecosystems for you in this video. 🌱 Check it out, and let us know what you found new or surprising in the comments! 🙌 #ImpactEntrepreneurship #SustainableBusiness #EcosystemBuilding #SocialImpact #Innovation #Promprylad #PositiveChange"

We want the world to see how resilient and impactful Ukrainian social entrepreneurs are—and to be inspired to invest in them. Ukrainian Social Venture Fund (USVF), SILab Ukraine and The Possible will moderate the Ukraine session at Impact Europe’s Impact Week in Bilbao. Together, we’ll dive into how Ukraine’s impact businesses transform challenges into opportunities. One of the most compelling reasons to invest in impact-driven businesses is their resilience and adaptability, especially during crises. Amid the war, local social enterprises in Ukraine have pivoted more rapidly than traditional businesses to meet urgent humanitarian needs, from emergency relief to services for displaced communities. Supporting these resilient businesses lays the foundation for long-term growth and stability in fragile regions, benefiting both the EU and its neighbours. While impact investors can’t change geopolitics, they can make a real difference: they can take concrete action to support the people of Ukraine and their nation. 🚀 Join the session to share your ideas and recommendations and join hands with those already there: building resilient impact ecosystems during war. #impactweekbilbao #impacteurope #impactinvesting

🌍 What is Greenwashing? 🌱 Have you ever wondered if companies truly keep their environmental promises? Greenwashing is when companies create an image of environmental responsibility without making meaningful changes to their practices. 💡 In this carousel, together with our partners at Greencubator, we’ll dive into the facts about greenwashing, real-life examples, and how to spot it. Don’t be misled—discover how to make informed, eco-conscious choices! Beyond greenwashing, companies increasingly use SDG-washing (Sustainable Development Goals) and impact-washing to boost their image by claiming false contributions to sustainability or social impact. 🔸 Selective Positive Initiatives: Companies may highlight certain positive initiatives (like charitable work) while downplaying or ignoring their larger negative environmental or social impact. 🔸 Unfounded Claims: Brands often use terms like “responsible business,” “sustainable development,” or “socially conscious” without real substance behind these statements. 🔸 Lack of Metrics: Inadequate impact measurement standards lead to vague claims, leaving consumers unsure of a company’s true influence. 🔸 Impact-Washing as Distraction: Impact-washing can serve as a way to distract consumers from controversies or scandals, masking deeper issues. These practices mislead consumers and erode trust in genuine efforts for positive change. That’s why our Alliance partners are focused on developing an Impact Measurement and Management Framework to help distinguish real impact from false claims. 🙌

🎓 School Social Entrepreneurship is a powerful tool for developing mindset and skills in future civil society members and social entrepreneurs. In Ukraine, school social entrepreneurship is just beginning to spread. We’re thrilled to welcome Western Ukrainian cluster of social enterprises to our alliance, an organization dedicated to advancing youth social entrepreneurship. Swipe through the carousel to learn more about this inspiring movement! #SocialEntrepreneurship #YouthEmpowerment #ImpactDriven #FutureLeaders