This Week in Impact

Hosted by Impact Alpha

BusinessInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

283

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

About the show

Your weekly roundup of the news and features from this week in ImpactAlpha

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 12, 202618 min

Battery storage makes Europe’s cheap renewable power more valuable + The growth opportunity behind S2G’s $1 billion raise

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: Why battery makers and investors are pivoting from EVs to grid storage for renewable energy in Europe; a look at Lukas Walton-backed S2G investments following its $1 billion; and, the reasons that the world cup is a sportswashing bonanza.To try ImpactAlpha Edge, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.This week's stories:“⁠Battery makers and investors pivot from EVs to grid storage for renewable energy in Europe⁠,” by Danielle Rossingh.“⁠G is for growth after $1 billion raise for Lukas Walton-backed S2G Investments⁠,” by Erik Stein“⁠A ‘sportswashing’ bonanza, brought to you by Saudi Aramco⁠,” by Dmitriy Ioselevich

June 5, 202621 min

Taking stock of Alterra’s impact on emerging market climate finance + Going down-market to uplift women

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: Is Altérra’s ambitious effort to mobilize climate finance for the Global South working?; how Fervo Energy pulled off the biggest clean energy IPO in Wall Street history; and, Working Capital Fund secures $31 million for its third supply chain resilience fund.To try ImpactAlpha Edge, ⁠⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠⁠. This week's stories:“Is Altérra’s ambitious effort to mobilize climate finance for the Global South working?,” by Erik Stein, Amy Cortese and David Bank“Fervo’s IPO recipe includes a dash of federal funding and a scoop of catalytic capital,” by Antony Bugg-Levine"Working Capital Fund secures $31 million for its third supply chain resilience fund," by Amy Cortese

May 29, 202622 min

Two impact approaches to addressing the AI data center buildout + Private equity firms eye retirement account trillions

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor Amy Cortese. Up this week: Two different approaches that impact investors are taking to address Big Tech’s AI data center buildout; who wins when access to private equity is opened up to American retirees; and, how 2x is spurring a global race to the top in gender-lens investing.To try ImpactAlpha Edge, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. This week's stories:“⁠Investors must push for transparency on AI’s water risks⁠,” by Ceres’ Kirsten James."⁠Elemental Impact teams with hyperscalers to deploy clean tech solutions⁠," by Amy Cortese.“⁠In the name of ‘democratization,’ private equity firms eye US retirement savings⁠,” by Isaac Silk and Amy CorteseSubscribe to Impact(ed) on ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Apple⁠ or wherever you listen.“⁠Spurring a global race to the top in gender-lens investing⁠,” by David Bank

May 22, 202624 min

Building African ecosystems for impact investing + LPs bridging the "second-wave" capital gap

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with Lucy Ngige and Amy Cortese. Up this week: The first edition of ImpactAlpha Africa explores new ways capital is being mobilized for impact on the continent; a spotlight on two African funds investing in human capital and creating high productivity jobs; and, how some LPs are stepping up to help emerging managers cross the chasm to their next fund.To try ImpactAlpha Edge, ⁠⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠⁠.This week's stories:“⁠Seeding impact investing ecosystems in Senegal, Zambia, Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire⁠,” by Lucy Ngige“⁠(Some) LPs step up to help emerging managers cross the chasm to their next fund⁠,” by Amy Cortese with Roodgally Senatus

May 15, 202617 min

Los Angeles lowers the cost and complexity of capital for affordable housing + Big DAF platforms on notice

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: How Los Angeles is working to lower the cost and complexity of capital for affordable housing; the Southern Poverty Law Center controversy, and who really controls the funds in Donor Advised Funds; and, a closer look at a $140 million deal to build a sustainable aviation fuel plant in Egypt.This week's stories:“⁠Los Angeles tries to show how affordable housing can be built more quickly and cheaply⁠,” by David Bank“⁠Choose wisely: Big DAF platforms drop Southern Poverty Law Center⁠,” by Candide Group's Morgan Simon“⁠Jewish investors are calling on PayPal to provide services in Palestine⁠,” by Chicory Wealth’s ari rosenberg and Mission Driven Finance board member Dorianna Blitt"⁠Ninety One arranges $143 million for sustainable jet fuel production in Egypt,⁠" by Lucy Ngige⁠

May 8, 202619 min

Fear and frenzy at Milken’s global conference + Strange bedfellows for a climate investment

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: Navigating the fear and frenzy at Milken’s annual gathering of global capital players; how the war with Iran is a boon for renewable energy and the private equity that invests in it; and the strange bedfellows backing a company building floating data centers in the ocean.To try ImpactAlpha Edge, ⁠⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠⁠.Story links:"⁠Renewable energy gains steam despite headwinds, as energy demand surges⁠,” by Amy Cortese and Erik Stein."⁠Climate investors team with Peter Thiel to back ocean power startup Panthalassa⁠," by Amy Cortese

May 1, 202625 min

The latest in Africa's carbon markets + The vibe at Mission Investors Exchange

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editors Jessican Pothering and David Bank. Up this week: The latest in Africa’s carbon markets, from nature-based solutions to clean cooking; which wealthy athletes are getting into the impact investing game; and debriefing this week’s Mission Investors Exchange conference.To try ImpactAlpha Edge for yourself, ⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠."⁠Outcomes and offtakes spur a 250,000-acre restoration project in South Africa⁠," by Jessica Pothering."⁠Why has it been so hard to crack the code on clean cooking solutions⁠," by Jessica Pothering.“⁠Wealthy athletes are getting into the impact investing game⁠,” by Roodgally Senatus.“⁠Agents of Impact share new narratives and continued resolve at Mission Investors Exchange⁠,” by David Bank and Dennis Price

April 24, 202621 min

Local capital for local fund managers and enterprises in Africa + Will the real ownership economy please stand up?

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: What’s significant about Uganda’s national pension fund’s effort to stand up a locally focused fund of funds; unraveling the controversy surrounding KKR’s lucrative employee ownership exit from CoolIT; and, unpacking the failure of the impact advisory firm Align Impact.To try ImpactAlpha Edge yourself, ⁠⁠click here⁠⁠.For more on these stories:“⁠Let KKR do its thing while we convert thousands more companies to 100% employee ownership⁠,” by Aner Ben-Ami"⁠With shared ownership, $4.8 billion sale of CoolIT gives workers a cut of AI-driven gains⁠," by Roody Senatus"⁠Better financing can make employee ownership a game-changer for workers⁠," by Antony Bugg Levine“⁠Pension fund in Uganda readies a $100 million fund of funds to create jobs – and savers⁠,” by Lucy Ngige“⁠After 12 years, advisory firm Align Impact to shut down at the end of the month⁠,” by David Bank

April 17, 202625 min

Shareholders fight for the right to proxy vote + Responsible look to assert human agency over the future of AI

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week:"⁠Dear Shareholders: Your votes and your voice are needed more than ever⁠," by As You Sow's Andrew Behar“⁠Impact investors seek to assert human agency over the future of AI⁠,” by David Bank and Dennis Price“⁠Collaboration Fund sparks a conversation around M&A in impact investing field-building⁠,” by David Bank and Amy CorteseTo try ImpactAlpha Edge for yourself, ⁠click here⁠.Correction: Sorenson Impact Institute, not Foundation, is hosting the Collaboration Fund as well as the Webinar next week.

March 13, 202614 min

The unfortunate growth market of investing in refugees + building portfolios that value aging

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week:"⁠Conflict in the Middle East creates (even more) refugees in need of livelihoods, services and impact investment⁠," by Lucy Ngige."⁠Valuing Aging" Agents of Impact Call⁠ (5:05)." ⁠Profit and punishment: The portfolio risks lurking inside private prisons⁠,"by Andrew Behar (10:45).