Insights
Staramaki just announced a 3-way industrial partnership with Depia Automations and Robovision
Staramaki just announced a 3-way industrial partnership with Depia Automations and Robovision for the upgrading of its sustainable production of natural straws, with the support of Investing For Purpose. The transaction also involves Depia and Robovision becoming shareholders in Staramaki, an innovative and collaborative model for advancing home-grown Greek sustainability solutions to global pollution challenges like plastic straws.
FlexThis secures €100k bridge round backed by high-profile investors to accelerate international expansion
FlexThis, the fast-growing e-mobility marketplace and spin-off of Greece’s pioneering bike subscription service bFlex, has secured a €100k bridge round through a SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity). The round was again coordinated by Investing for Purpose and includes new participation from high-profile investors such as Lars Rasmussen (co-founder of Google Maps), and Ester Martinez & Tejasvi Mohan Ram, via their investment arm MintStreet. Long-time supporter Helidoni Group also returned to join this round.
Bank of Karditsa and Helidoni Group strategic partnership
Helidoni Group just announced its strategic partnership with the Cooperative Bank of Karditsa. Located in the heart of agricultural Greece and led by ethical banking practices, Cooperative Bank of Karditsa is renowned for its deep-rooted commitment to the principles of social responsibility and community development. The investment was originated by Investing For Purpose, which identified the high social impact of the bank, combined with a strong and resilient financial performance. The transaction marks the 10th purpose-driven funding completed through our investor community.
Interview on Naftemporiki channel
Maria Smilidou interviewed Markos Komondouros live on Naftemporiki channel last week. The discussion covered the evolving dynamics for impact investing in Greece, and the potential for impact investing to help bring about an investor shift towards blended value.
Titan joins our investor community
IFP welcomes Titan to our investor community. Titan announced our strategic cooperation this week, outlining the company's intention to promote social and environmental impact by investing in innovative Greek initiatives.
Staramaki raises over €1 million and converts from a KOINSEP to SA, in double first for Greece
We successfully closed a €1M investment in Staramaki, by far the largest ever for a Greek social enterprise. This transaction marks our 9th completed funding for a Greek purpose-driven company. The overall capital-raising included the capitalisation of €255k of existing debt and a new equity injection and revenue based loan of €755k. Staramaki is a social enterprise based in Kilkis which makes drinking straws from the stems of wheat. This new investment will allow staramaki to increase its production efficiency, thereby reducing unit production costs to more competitive levels against environmentally damaging plastic and paper straws. As part of the transaction, staramaki transformed its legal structure from a KOINSEP to an SA, the first ever such transformation in Greece. This financing will set the base for Staramaki to grow and expand its market presence, becoming a model for other purpose-driven founders and initiatives in Greece.
Robenso secures €500k in funding
We this week closed the €500k investment of Helidoni Group in Robenso, marking our 8th completed funding for a Greek purpose-driven company. Robenso helps private and public Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) to recover numerous recyclable materials efficiently and at a low cost through the use of their intelligent, autonomous robots capable of identifying, categorising and physically sorting all sorts of waste. Through its robotic arms, Robenso makes recycling more efficient, directly reducing landfill waste.
FlexThis secures €198k in funding to drive sustainable transportation in Greece
FlexThis, an all-in-one bike marketplace and spin-off of bFlex, has successfully closed a €198,000 first funding round, organized by Investing for Purpose. The round saw participation from notable investors including Helidoni Group, Coco-Mat.bike, Boxo and a group of angel investors. This financing marks a significant step forward in FlexThis's mission to reduce transportation-related pollution in Greece through sustainable e-mobility solutions.
Project Parenting completes €320k financing
Last week, Project Parenting announced the completion of its €320k financing round, including a strategic investment from the E. Latsis family office and two angel investors. Investing For Purpose has been working with Project Parenting’s inspiring founder, Marina Arplia, from early on and we are delighted to help her complete the goal of a significant fund-raising, with such an important and supportive investor as Erietta Kourkoulou Latsis, who is fully aligned with the company’s values. Project Parenting is Greece’s leading source of parenting information, expert advice, education and training and enables significant social impact through a more engaged and committed parenting approach.
Kind Talks
Markos Komondouros was recently a guest on Kind Talks, Erietta Kourkoulou Latsis’ podcast on all things impact and purpose-driven in Greece. The discussion centred on the evolving landscape for impact investing in Greece, and the possibility of an emerging new economic model that fully combines and accounts for impact (positive or negative) as well as financial returns. Greece is seeing more and more inspiring purpose driven entrepreneurs and Investing For Purpose has the ability to help fund them and match them up with value-adding investors.
Take a trip to Kilkis and understand the magic of nature based solutions
#impactstories #staramaki #naturebasedsolution #greeceimpact #kilkis #circulareconomy
Orbito travel secures funding of €125,000 with the support of Investing for Purpose and HeBAN
We are delighted to have just led and structured the first closing of €125,000 for orbito travel, the first online travel platform based in Greece aimed at travellers with mobility impairments and limited mobility. The investors comprised of one IFP investor and two business angels from HeBAN - Hellenic Business Angels Network (Association), the Greek network of business angel investors. The funding will strengthen the business of orbito travel and allow it to accelerate positive impact by expanding to new destinations in Greece and abroad, delivering holistic travel experiences with verified accessibility across the travel chain.
The Purpose Pod launch!
We’re delighted to launch the Purpose Pod, twice-monthly interviews with cross-industry impact entrepreneurs and expert practitioners from Greece and across the world! With each interview we aim to draw out the most topical professional stories alongside personal reflections to inform and inspire anybody active or interested in the world of impact and impact investing. You'll learn about what drives purposeful founders of successful commercial start-ups and social enterprises; what impact angels, family offices and VCs are looking for in impact investments and why they are looking for a lot more than financial returns; and from thought-leaders you’ll build a picture of the steps necessary for us to reach a global balance between purpose and profit. Our first podcast is with Hans Stegeman, Chief Economist of Triodos Bank, as he shares his thoughts on the importance of scaling up impact investing, the true meaning of Degrowth, ESG vs Impact and much else! Search “the Purpose Pod” on Spotify podcasts, Apple podcasts and all other podcast platforms.