Hello, welcome to Impact Insights, Asteria's new podcast series.

In this series, we will try to answer the questions we most commonly get from our clients,

prospects and journalists.

In the very first episode, Natasha Gerda had a free search at Asteria.

We'll answer the question most of us is embarrassed to ask, what is exactly impact investing?

What is its definition? Who is it for? What are its main pillars?

And what is its basic goal?

Impact investing consists of investments made in companies, organizations and funds with

the intention to generate social and or environmental impact along the financial return.

The term impact investing has been first formalized at the Rockefeller Foundation gathering in Bellagio and Italy in 2006,

where multiple public, private and non-profit sector leaders had come together to create a framework for collective action around investing for both financial and social returns.

By allocating assets towards products, services or companies that generate positive social impact,

the movement toward impact investing has the potential to create real value both for investors and the society.

Impact investments may take the form of numerous asset classes,

and may result in many specific outcomes.

The point of impact investing is to use money and investment capital for positive social results.

In September 2009, the Global Impact Investing Network, a field builder for the impact investing sector,

launched a definition in common standard for impact investing.

They have defined four core characteristics of impact investing, being first, intentionality.

The second is the use of evidence and impact data in investment design,

so having the appropriate process and tools to achieve impact.

The third is the commitment to manage impact performance, also known as measure the impact.

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