VC Impact Playbook
Invest for impact with confidence.
The VC Impact Playbook is a practical resource for venture capitalists looking to embed impact thinking into how they source, select, support and manage startups. It is designed to help VCs unlock better outcomes for both impact and financial returns.
Why we created it
The world’s most pressing challenges call for capital that is both ambitious and informed. Many VCs want to engage meaningfully with impact but lack accessible, actionable guidance tailored to venture investing.
This playbook was first developed at Better Society Capital and then iterated at ImpactVC through a Playbook Working Group with more than 35 top-tier VCs across the UK and Europe.
It reflects real experience and practical thinking from across the impact VC community, and will continue evolving with input from practitioners across the ecosystem.
Who it is for
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Venture capitalists seeking to embed impact thinking into their investment process
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Investment teams refining or building an impact strategy
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Partners and associates evaluating impact-driven opportunities
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Investors aiming to boost impact and financial performance in equal measure
What you will find inside
The playbook focuses on making impact actionable across the full venture journey:
1
Impact Foundations and Strategic Clarity
Establish shared definitions and a coherent impact mindset that shapes how your firm approaches opportunity and value creation.
2
Impact Strategy and Fund Alignment
Build an intentional strategy that aligns impact goals with your investment thesis, decision criteria and operating model.
3
Impact Assessment and Investment Discipline
Assess opportunities with an impact lens, evaluate risks and returns, and understand how impact potential drives value alongside performance.
4
Impact Management and Portfolio Value
Support portfolio companies to integrate impact strategically and strengthen outcomes throughout the investment lifecycle.
"From the perspective of generalist tech VC, the content is really rich and thought-provoking, and will definitely be of value as we continue to back more and more impact-led businesses.”
Elodie Broad
Head of Impact and ESG at Balderton Capital
"The playbook feeds into the systems change role that AENU aims to play: to attract more attention and funding into impact venture capital, we need to share learnings and build capacity in the ecosystem, especially among the new generation of impact managers.”
Melina Sánchez Montañés
Investment Principal & VP Impact
Access the VC Impact Playbook
Complete the form below to receive access.
You will be redirected to the VC Impact Playbook on GitBook and receive an email with the link so you can return to it anytime.