An Exploratory Study in Impact Investment for “Acumen Fund” and “Skoll Foundation”

• Main Authors: Lin Yen-Po, 林彥伯
• Other Authors: Kuo Kuo-Tai
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2013
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/35c82w

碩士 === 輔仁大學 === 國際經營管理碩士學位學程 === 101 === Tradition charity-based philanthropy is now encountering unprecedentedly challenges. “Social Finance”, an innovative fund-raising approach has thus emerges. This new approach raises funds and provides capital to the disadvantages or supporting organizations, aiming to create social value and financial returns simultaneously. In this study, the researcher undertakes exploratory case studies to analyze the approach of the Acumen Fund and Skoll Foundation. The results show that they all bring in venture capital practices to replace traditional charity-based philanthropy by “Impact Investment”. They invest in new social ventures, coach these new ventures, and measure their financial and social performance systematically. Compared to traditional business venture capitalists, Acumen Fund and Skoll Foundation emphasize on the “patient capital” approach, allowing the portfolio companies to break even in a longer time horizon. These social enterprises bring in market mechanism to create the BOP market and provide low-income consumers with access to products and services at a reasonable price. The BOP people can thus fulfill their basic needs with dignity, and be able to self-sustain in the long run.