Workshop 1: Mobilising Innovative Resources for Entrepreneurs - Fuelling up for our mission

Entrepreneurial innovators are key enablers towards a transition into a sustainable society. As Europeans are increasingly focused on confronting the most pressing global challenges - environmental degradation, an ageing population, and rising inequality to name a few –entrepreneurs are equally seeking to create, develop and implement innovative solutions to tackle these problems. Notably, the investment journey for this kind of impact enterprise is very similar to that of traditional businesses, with one major difference: impact investors.

Impact investors are challenging the long-held views that investment in social and environmental issues should be addressed only by philanthropic donations. The impact-investment-market offers investors the opportunity to further boost societal solutions that can also yield financial returns.

Members of EBN have been promoting local economic development and entrepreneurial innovation for over 35 years. The focus on inclusion and diversity among European BSOs has always been at the heart of their missions. Being part of a leading international community, EBN members and EU|BICs are well-positioned to boost solutions to the challenges of our times by embracing social and inclusive entrepreneurship.

This session is brought to you by INNORATE - 'Brings Innovation to Finance and Finance to Innovation'

InnoRate has received funding from the European Union’ Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement no. 821518. More information here.