Investment Opportunities

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Invest in and Prosper with a Social Enterprise

GIFT’s Social Enterprise Investment Opportunities represent the final stage of the Global Young Leaders Programme (YLP) process. This component, also known as Module 3, turns ideas into action and builds long-lasting relationships by connecting well defined, robust community business projects with institutions or individuals looking for worthy investment options.

Project Criteria

All projects that are taken to the investment stage are carefully chosen and meet the following criteria:

• Are well-suited to a business-oriented approach
• Already have a solid business case to build on
• Have the potential to nurture local entrepreneurs to create sustained social and environmental benefits for the community
• Have strong local leadership to ensure long term project success
• Have the potential for substantial scaling up
• Infrastructure such as roads, water supply, and electricity are in place
• The local partner (NGO, government or enterprise) has strong relationships in the area

The business plans created by participants from multinational companies, MBA programmes and non-profit groups during the YLP become the vehicles for soliciting investor interest in developing community business projects. Investment in these projects could be in the form of funding from institutional investors, private entities or foundations.

Implementation Stages

A number of stages are necessary before project implementation can be achieved.

Stage 1. Business Plan
The Business Plan created during the YLP process is refined by GIFT in collaboration with the social enterprise partner.

Stage 2. Investment Note
An Investment Note summarising the financial projections, potential scalability of the project and equity options is prepared by GIFT for dissemination to potential investors two weeks after the Business Plan is finalised.

GIFT distributes the Investment Note to various investor networks to determine levels of interest and answers preliminary questions as well as helps organise initial meetings and site visits as necessary.

Stage 3. Feasibility Study
If, after this, an investor indicates an interest in proceeding to the next stage, a third party will be commissioned by the investor to conduct a Feasibility Study in order to establish the viability of the business project. A decision on whether to invest will depend on the outcome of the study. GIFT will be available to support the Feasibility Study as required by the potential investor.

GIFT’s Role

GIFT’s role throughout the Feasibility Study stage covers project management and liaison between investors and the social enterprise. If an investor decides to proceed with financing the project, GIFT’s role will vary depending on whether the investor requires further involvement from the GIFT team.

To find out more about Investment Opportunities, please contact Megan Pillsbury at 
Phone: (852) 3571 8133 
E-mail: