The TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good has released its second annual impact report detailing the nearly $40 million of its initial $100 million investment commitment.
According to the report the Fund has almost doubled its portfolio to 26 mission-driven startups and is generating promising early results with portfolio companies delivering a 155 per cent revenue growth.
“The Pollinator Fund invests into early-stage, for‐profit companies where impact is baked into the business model. We support tenacious, mission-driven and diverse founders by leveraging TELUS’ broad network to make introductions, open doors, and guide the portfolio companies to maximum growth and impact,” said Blair Miller, Managing Partner, TELUS Pollinator Fund.
“As one of the world’s largest corporate social impact funds, communicating our progress to our stakeholders is an important aspect of our commitment to advancing the impact investment ecosystem. We want to inspire other corporations to step up, and like us, invest in the next generation of responsible businesses.”
Since its launch in 2020, the Pollinator Fund has backed compelling solutions in four key pillars: supporting responsible agriculture, caring for our planet, transforming healthcare and enabling inclusive communities.
The Pollinator Fund led numerous investments in 2022 into companies at the forefront of their sectors including two in British Columbia, a Series A in Vancouver’s Flash Forest, which accelerates wildfire reforestation using drones and technology, and a seed investment in TMRW Foods, a plant protein startup on a mission to make sustainable, affordable, and healthy plant-protein products.
The Fund also made investments in the Raven Indigenous Capital Partners Fund I and II, which provides early-stage capital to Indigenous-led businesses, and Rhiza Capital, an impact investment fund that invests in B.C.-based companies that drive both social and economic impact.
The Pollinator Fund has been recognized for excellence as an impact investor – not only through the investments across North America, but also by being awarded with Foresight Canada’s 2023 BC Cleantech Awards as Funder of the Year, and being named a finalist for Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Awards for Social Impact Investing.
Leave a Reply