Catalyst's new online resource for investors in social business Socialinvestments.com aims to provide current and prospective investors with information on the fast-growing UK social business sector. 

The website provides financial information about individual social businesses and details the social, ethical and environmental benefits they help to generate.  It can also be used to research social business sectors, follow specific trends in this space, and gain a better understanding of the investing environment. 

A regular flow of relevant news and events is available on the news page and Catalyst has also compiled a glossary of terms commonly used in social business.   Click on the links page to find out about other organisations active in the social business sector.

We want socialinvestments.com to be the site that gives investors better access than exists anywhere else to intelligent commentary on the social business sector and information about the companies within it.  We would like this site to be as useful as possible to the investor and to social businesses and so welcome suggestions on how we could improve our offering.

One of the greatest challenges of building this website has been deciding on a classification system for the social business sector.  After much deliberation we settled on a five-strand system, classifying each company and, where possible, news story by:

• Industrial sector (and sub-sector): This list was inspired by the FTSE and AIM sector lists because we wanted to keep to a system that was realtively familar to investors.  However, some changes have been made in order to ensure a 'snug fit' to the social business sector.
• Social, environmental and ethical (SEE) benefit:  This is a list of 24 common benefits brought about by a social business' activities
• Social business sector affiliation: Some categories, such as organic food, remained uncovered by the first two systems.  This is a list of 23 affiliations, often the way in which consumers, rather than investors, would group social businesses.
• Size:  We have included information on turnover, profit and employee numbers, so far as it is available.
• Certification: There are a number of different certifications in use in the social business sector which we thought would be a useful way of categorising some companies.  Examples are Fairtrade and Soil Association.

Please have a look around the site and tell us what you think.

TBLI is the largest comprehensive global learning and networking event on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Investment on a regular basis. Conference topics include sustainability and sustainable investments, and how social entrepreneurship be used to eradicate poverty.
 
TBLI CONFERENCE™ ASIA 2008
29-30 MAY, 2008
The Landmark Bangkok Hotel*****
BANGKOK, THAILAND

Register to attend at TBLI.org.

CALL FOR PROPOSALS |ภาษาไทย | 中文 | 中文繁體  | 日本語 | 한국어
Do you have cutting edge research to communicate or experience in Asian ESG/SRI that you would like to share? We are now accepting proposals for the upcoming TBLI CONFERENCE™ ASIA in Bangkok, May 2008.  Proposals must be received by 18:00 GMT on February 29, 2008 to be considered. Click here to learn about the proposal process and presentation requirements.

CALL FOR SPONSORS:  Is your organization looking to increase its profile in Asia?
The Asian financial community demonstrates a rapidly growing interest in Environmental and Social Governance, as well as Sustainable Investment. Asia is rapidly catching up and SRI will soon be an general integrated part of investment schemes and corporate governance.  Don't miss this opportunity to network and raise your organization's visibility in this region! Click here to see our sponsor package.

Note:  Proposals are also being accepted for the TBLI Conference Europe 2008 being held 13-14 November, 2008 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Brooklyn Bridge-TBLI GROUP™ is a knowledge broker and an extra-financial rainmaker, specializing in Triple Bottom Line Investing (TBLI) and ESG (Environmental and Social Governance). The concepts of TBLI or ESG are: People plus Planet plus Profit, i.e. Social Equity, Environmental Quality and Economic Prosperity. ESG adds social and/or environmental value to external stakeholders, whilst increasing value to shareholders. 

Investors' Circle Conferences bring together angel investors, professional venture capitalists, philanthropic investors, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders who are using private capital to promote the transition to a sustainable future.

Join us this May for three exciting days of deal-making, exploration and connections.

Program Overview
May 5 - Play BIG  Members Only Events
Investors’ Circle is partnering again with Play BIG and Tides for an invitational pre-conference gathering for people with exceptional financial capacity who want to leverage their capital proactively and strategically for high social impact.  Monday will also include our Members Only events. The afternoon will feature a special meeting for new members; in the evening, we are pleased to host a conversation with Slow Food Founder  President, Carlo Petrini, and an exclusive reception.
   
May 6 - Venture Fair (Open to accredited investors only)
Hear presentations and meet with representatives from 20 innovative, for-profit companies and small venture funds presenting their investment opportunities in: energy  environment, food  organics, health  wellness, education  media and community  international development.

May 7 - Education Day
This spring's plenary panel will focus on Is Organic the Next Clean Tech? The afternoon features breakout sessions that allow people to come together to share the latest thinking about for-profit social entrepreneurship and double bottom line investing.

For complete event details, visit Investors' Circle Spring Conference.

Investors' Circle Spring Conference  Venture Fair
May 5-7, 2008

Hotel Nikko
San Francisco, CA
 
Application Deadline: February 1, 2008 
The Investors' Circle 2008 Spring Conference is the premier meeting place for angel investors, professional venture capitalists, philanthropic investors, and entrepreneurs who are using private capital to promote the transition to a sustainable future. Our last three conferences have resulted in over $10 million in total investment in approximately 1/3 of presenting ventures, with additional investments pending. If you are interested in presenting at the Venture Fair at our 2008 Spring Conference, please apply by February 1, 2008 (final deadline).

Application Process Each month Investors' Circle screens applications and selects companies to circulate to our membership of accredited investors. Our 2008 Spring Venture Fair presenters will be chosen from those candidates that have circulated within 6 months of the application deadline.  Investors' Circle is seeking submissions from companies in the following sectors: energy  environment, food  organics, health  wellness, education  media, and community  international development. For more information on who should apply, click here <http://www.investorscircle.net/for_entrepreneurs/our-criteria> .  To apply, click here <http://www.investorscircle.net/join_form>  to register for our site, then complete the application found in the Entrepreneur Applicants section. 
 
Benefits of Circulation
Receive consultation from IC staff on how to best present your company information to the network.
Your company summary will be posted indefinitely on IC's secure online deal database for its investors to search and view.
Your company will be highlighted in the next monthly e-newsletter sent to IC's entire investor network.  
 
Benefits of Being Selected to Present
Present your investment opportunity to an exclusive audience of angel and institutional investors, including both IC-members and non-members.
Receive pre-event coaching on your presentation from IC investors.
Take advantage of extensive formal networking opportunities with investors.

More information on recent presenters. 
 
About IC
Investors' Circle is a leading social venture capital intermediary whose mission is to support early-stage, private companies that drive the transition to a sustainable economy. Its members and active affiliates are high net worth individuals, professional venture capitalists, family offices, and foundations looking for both financial and social returns. Since 1992, the IC network has invested more than $120 million into 190 companies and small funds.

To learn more about this event, please visit www.investorscircle.net, or call our office: 415-255-6844.

The Investors' Circle 2008 Spring Conference is the premier meeting place for angel investors, professional venture capitalists, philanthropic investors, and entrepreneurs who are using private capital to promote the transition to a sustainable future. The last three conferences have resulted in over $10 million in total investment in approximately 1/3 of presenting ventures, with additional investments pending.

Investors' Circle is seeking submissions from companies in the following sectors: energy & environment, food & organics, health & wellness, education & media, and community & international development. Learn more about who should apply.

If you are interested in presenting at the Venture Fair at our 2009 Spring Conference, please apply by February 1, 2008 (final deadline).

To apply, register on the site, then complete the application found in the Entrepreneur Applicants section.