The new initiative will generate a critical mass of new social ventures big enough to raise a permanent self-sustaining fund that will back university social ventures emerging across the capital.
- Social ventures emerging from a university’s knowledge base have massive potential to create social and economic impact – yet often struggle to secure enough funding and support to grow.
- This is holding back the growth of university social venture activity. The ventures require funding to grow and prove they can be sustainable, but a fund would require a pipeline of ventures to attract capital and be sustainable. There is a bind, such that a dedicated fund cannot exist without a substantial pipeline, but a pipeline will not emerge without a fund.
- A new initiative from Queen Mary University of London and UCL has brought together an innovative coalition of London universities and partners to generate a critical mass of new social ventures big enough to raise a permanent self-sustaining fund that will back university social ventures emerging across the capital.