Impact monetization 4 entrepreneurs

[GENERAL] Summarize your solution to the problem.

Needs assessment of 450+ entrepreneurs on impact valuation and monetization, desktop research, and focus groups with experts.

[GENERAL] Summarize your relevant experience.

Impact Hub is a global network of 24,250 people driving change – made of 100+ communities across 5 continents, with significant presence in Asia. In 2016, Impact Hub & UNDP from Geneva launched Accelerate2030: a global program supporting 450+ entrepreneurs from emerging markets. 

[IMPACT] Please describe your proposed solution.

This proposal offers a comprehensive approach for understanding the best frameworks for impact valuation and monetization for impact-driven companies, through blockchain, based on analysis of best practices, combined with insights from the entrepreneurs themselves, in a few steps:

1. Desktop Research on the already existing methods for impact valuation, as well as on the already existing applications of blockchain for impact monetization through tokenization. The experience and examples provided by Cardashift will contribute to understanding the possibilities that blockchain opens to the Accelerate2030 entrepreneurs. 

1. Survey a pool of approximately 450 impact entrepreneurs across developing and emerging markets, who have participated in Accelerate2030, the world’s leading program supporting entrepreneurs to scale their solutions for the Sustainable Development Goals. The entrepreneurs sourced and supported through Accelerate2030 come from developing and emerging markets, addressing issues ranging from access to health, sustainable water management, to waste valorization, climate action, and financial inclusion of disadvantaged communities, many of them being also pioneers in driving the circular economy transition. The survey will be conducted across 33 countries in Africa, Asia, Latam, East Europe, with an aim to understand the status quo and needs of these entrepreneurs when it comes to impact valuation and monetization and their interest in implementing blockchain solutions for this purpose. 

1. Facilitation of 3 Focus Groups: 
2. One with impact investors coming from the Accelerate2030 network to understand their needs and interest in impact valuation and traceability for supporting impact monetization.  Key insights from this focus group will be shared during a high level event at Building Bridges Week in Geneva;
3. One with impact-entrepreneurs to gather more insights into their needs and opportunities for using blockchain for impact valuation and monetization;
4. One with impact valuation and monetization experts to gather feedback and ideas on the possibility of supporting the Accelerate2030 entrepreneurs in impact valuation and monetization through blockchain and tokenization in innovative ways. 

These intensive desk and fieldwork will result in an incisive ‘First Steps Guide’ for impact-driven companies on monetizing impact with blockchains. It will present the current state of play including the entrepreneurs’ needs, the benefits and challenges of such an approach for companies and investors, recommendations on first steps to take to enter this space, and areas for further exploration.   

This proposal is created in synergy with other approved and submitted proposals to Project Catalyst planning surveys, workshops, focus groups, and events on blockchain for business in Africa, Asia and in Geneva to understand the opportunities for entrepreneurs to adopt blockchain and participate in Project Catalyst. The outcomes of these three synergetic projects and the ‘First Steps Guide’ on impact monetization will set a strong basis for the further development of relevant blockchain based business solutions across Accelerate2030.

[IMPACT] Please describe how your proposed solution will address the Challenge that you have submitted it in.

The insights from this research will support the discovery of innovative solutions for impact measurement across sectors and strategies for impact monetization through blockchain ensuring that the tools developed are relevant and of value to entrepreneurs across the globe contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Accelerate2030 works with high impact potential companies, with significant contributions to the SDGs, but many of them are not fully aware of the potential of blockchain technology to measure and monetize their impact. 

Starting by understanding the already existing research and methodologies available for using blockchain technology for impact measurement and monetization, we will expand by assessing the needs and gathering the insights of impact entrepreneurs across the globe on impact monetization and combine them with the innovative solutions proposed by experts and investors. These insights will form the basis of a guide for entrepreneurs on impact valuation and the possibilities opened by blockchain technology for the tokenization of impact. 

Metrics we will use to measure our success are:

• # of companies surveyed to understand their needs and interests in blockchain for impact valuation; 
• # of impact investors involved in a focus group in impact traceability and monetization; 
• # of impact entrepreneurs involved in a focus group in impact valuation and monetization;
• # of experts involved in a focus group on impact valuation and monetization; 
• Perceived value by the entrepreneurs of the produced output: a First Steps Guide 

[IMPACT] What are the main risks that could prevent you from delivering the project successfully and please explain how you will mitigate each risk?

In the distribution of surveys, collecting a satisfactory number of responses is usually quite cumbersome as people are not easily drawn to answer to surveys when there is no concrete benefit attached to them. To offset this challenge we are planning on distributing this specific survey in combination with another one on the topic of blockchain for business. Filling this survey will result in an invitation to participate in a series of workshops on how impact entrepreneurs can benefit from the use of blockchain in their businesses & foster adoption of Cardano, an opportunity to join Project Catalyst as well as an opportunity to join the Building Bridges Week event in Geneva. 

[FEASIBILITY] Please provide a detailed plan, including timeline and key milestones for delivering your proposal.

Project Roadmap

• August - September 2022: Project inception

Starting Desktop research for informing the design of the survey, interviews and focus groups , and setting a knowledge base on blockchain for impact valuation and monetization. 

• August - September 2022: Launch of Survey 

Launching a survey across 450+ Accelerate2030 companies to collect insights about their needs for impact measurement and valuation and interest in impact monetization through blockchain technologies. The survey will be framed as an application to join an opportunity to learn about blockchain, particularly Cardano and join the Project Catalyst and unlock potential funding opportunities.  

• September - November 2022: Focus Groups

Based on the Accelerate2030 experience, and the experiences of CardaShift, two focus groups will be held: 

• First, in September, one focus group with the participation of approximately 5-8 Geneva-based impact investors and another focus group with the participation of approximately 5-8 impact entrepreneurs prior to the Building Bridges Event - on which we are already collaborating with Cardano Foundation - for exploring the potential of blockchain for impact measurement, valuation, and monetization. Key insights will be shared during a high level event at Building Bridges Week in Geneva and fed back into the Cardano online community.  
• Second, in November, a focus group with the participation of approximately 5-8 experts on impact investment or blockchain experts. 

• November 2022 - February 2023: First Steps Guide 

Based on the desktop research conducted throughout the entire process and the insights from the survey and focus groups, an incisive First Steps Guide will be written summarizing the current state of play including the Accelerate2030 entrepreneurs’ needs, the benefits and challenges of blockchain for impact monetization for companies and investors, recommendations on first steps to take to enter this space, and areas for further exploration. This study will be launched in February 2023 during a workshop on blockchain for business with entrepreneurs from Accelerate2030 and shared with the Accelerate2030 cohort and network, as well as relevant stakeholders from the public and private sector. This study will inform about possible next steps. 

This timeline has been compiled in alignment with other Accelerate2030 approved and submitted proposals that plan the distribution of surveys across the Accelerate2030 entrepreneurs in Africa and Asia, the organization of focus groups, and organization of workshops and events.

Main deliverables and outputs:

• Survey launched across 450+ companies;
• 3 Focus Groups with 5-8 participants among investors, entrepreneurs and experts on innovative solutions and business interests in blockchain for impact valuation and monetization;
• Dissemination of one First Steps Guide outlining the findings from desktop research and insights from survey results, interviews and focus groups.

[FEASIBILITY] Please provide a detailed budget breakdown.

Desktop Research and First Steps Guide: $5.000 

Design and Execution of Survey and Application Process: $7.000

• Design survey: $2,500
• Launch an Outreach campaign (may vary depending on other projects’ approval): $3,000
• Manage Application process: $1,500 

Organize the design and delivery of 3 Focus Groups: $3.000 ($1,000 each)

• Identify investors, entrepreneurs, and experts: $500 
• Organize and facilitate focus groups: $2,000
• Analyze insights: $500

Marketing and Communication disseminating the findings: $5.000

•  incl: social media campaign, newsletter campaign

Total: $20.000

[FEASIBILITY] Please provide details of the people who will work on the project.

Ljupka Mitrinovska

Co-founder and Global Program Manager of Accelerate2030, Impact Hub Geneva

Inspired by the great potential of entrepreneurs, Ljupka has dedicated 10+ years in the area of innovation and start-up support. Since 2016 she has been working at Impact Hub Geneva, involved in building and managing Accelerate2030. Prior to Accelerate2030, Ljupka has worked in different organizations in the NGO, public and private sector across Europe.

Alexandra 'Santu' Boëthius

Co-founder of Impact Hub Geneva & Lausanne and Strategic Lead of Accelerate2030

Santu Boethius is the co-founder of Impact Hub Geneva and Impact Hub Lausanne, part of the leading community of social innovation and entrepreneurship in Switzerland and across the world. She initiated Accelerate2030 in 2016 with her team and partners, and is driving the strategic development of the program. She has spoken at various fora such as the UN General Assembly, and the World Investment Forum and holds an MSc in political science from the London School of Economics.

Mala Henriques

Global Program Coordinator at Accelerate2030, based in Medellin, Colombia

Mala brings people, ideas and resources together to develop innovative, creative projects that tackle local and global inequalities to foster social justice. Originally from London, Mala has lived in Medellin, Colombia since 2013 where I have grown a powerful professional network through starting her own business and community, joining other local and international communities as well as attending and hosting a variety of events. Since joining Impact Hub in 2018, Mala has co-created, fundraised for and delivered several entrepreneurship support programs nationally and internationally, and has personally mentored and coached more than 20 impact entrepreneurs helping them reach their potential. Mala specializes in impact measurement, project management and program design, she is also an active member of Global Shapers Medellin.

Dr. Tanya Murphy 

Impact Management Specialist Partner at Accelerate2030, Impact Hub Geneva

Operating on an independent basis, Tanya directs projects, trains and coaches in impact management for social enterprise and social development programs. With a Ph.D. in social anthropology and 30 years of experience, she works internationally to support partnerships, NGOs and enterprises to develop and manage their social impact. For example, she is the impact lead for N50, a partnership of corporations and NGOs enabling digital participation globally and is supporting the Scala Centre at EPFL (Lausanne) to manage and communicate its social impact. 

Silvia Ecclesia

Social Innovation Research Assistant, Impact Hub Geneva 

Silvia, originally from Italy, has recently finished her Master in International Affairs at the Geneva Graduate Institute with a focus on the ethics and social implications of digitalisation. She completed an internship in project management at ITU paired with experience as project manager of the Graduate Press, and organizer of TEDxIHEID. Since joining Impact Hub in March 2022, she supported the organization in conducting research and interviews for writing a feasibility study on social innovation to be published for dissemination.

[FEASIBILITY] If you are funded, will you return to Catalyst in a later round for further funding? Please explain why / why not.

This project is an initial pilot phase aimed at raising awareness and understanding impact entrepreneurs needs for impact valuation and monetization for the purpose of introducing them to blockchain and providing them with training and education in a meaningful way for their businesses. If funded, we will return to Catalyst in a later round for further funding for the continuation of the project based on this initial pilot.

[FEASIBILITY] Are you or any member of your team working on any other proposals in this Fund9?

[FEASIBILITY] Are you or your team working on any other proposals from previous Funds?

[AUDITABILITY] Please describe what you will measure to track your project's progress, and how will you measure these?

The Accelerate2030 team has extensive experience in impact management, having managed complex logframes with partners in development agencies, and a dedicated impact management team. 

At project inception, we will set up an M&E plan to track the progress based on the project plan and KPIs outlined above, and copied here:

• of companies surveyed to understand their needs and interests in blockchain for impact valuation;
•  # of investors involved in a focus group on impact traceability and monetization;
• # of impact entrepreneurs involved in a focus group on impact valuation and monetization;
•  # of experts involved in a focus group on impact valuation and monetization; 
• Perceived value by the entrepreneurs of the produced output: a First Steps Guide 

[AUDITABILITY] What does success for this project look like?

A successful project for us would be one where we can get a significant number of responses from the initial survey and meaningful insights from desktop research, interviews and focus groups in order to: 

• Establish the needs and interests of entrepreneurs in using blockchain technology for impact valuation and monetization through impact tokenization; 
• Gather valuable insights from experts and investors in the field;
• Produce a First Steps Guide summarizing state of the art, opportunities and challenges and first steps to approach the use of blockchain for impact monetization to support impact-driven companies; 
• Potentially testing the possibility of creating an Accelerate2030 impact token to support our network of entrepreneurs in their businesses for impact.

[AUDITABILITY] Please provide information on whether this proposal is a continuation of a previously funded project in Catalyst or an entirely new one.

This proposal is not a direct continuation of a previously funded project in Catalyst, however, if funded, it will be conducted in synergy with a project funded by Catalyst in F8 focused on raising awareness on blockchain among impact entrepreneurs in Africa.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Rating

SDG Goals

Goal 4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 

Goal 8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all 

Goal 9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation 

Goal 17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development 

SDG Subgoals

17.3 Mobilize additional financial resources for developing countries from multiple sources 

17.6 Enhance North-South, South-South and triangular regional and international cooperation on and access to science, technology and innovation and enhance knowledge-sharing on mutually agreed terms, including through improved coordination among existing mechanisms, in particular at the United Nations level, and through a global technology facilitation mechanism 

17.7 Promote the development, transfer, dissemination and diffusion of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries on favourable terms, including on concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed 

17.8 Fully operationalize the technology bank and science, technology and innovation capacity-building mechanism for least developed countries by 2017 and enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology 

17.9 Enhance international support for implementing effective and targeted capacity-building in developing countries to support national plans to implement all the Sustainable Development Goals, including through North-South, South-South and triangular cooperation 

4.4 By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship 

8.10 Strengthen the capacity of domestic financial institutions to encourage and expand access to banking, insurance and financial services for all 

8.2 Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors 

8.3 Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services 

9.4 By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities 

9.a Facilitate sustainable and resilient infrastructure development in developing countries through enhanced financial, technological and technical support to African countries, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States 

9.b Support domestic technology development, research and innovation in developing countries, including by ensuring a conducive policy environment for, inter alia, industrial diversification and value addition to commodities