Dedicated Swiss blockchain investor Crypto Valley Venture Capital (CV VC) and its ecosystem company CV Labs have opened CV Labs Cape Town, the African region’s first in situ blockchain incubation and ecosystem hub. As an initiator of Crypto Valley, Switzerland – the world’s most mature blockchain hub, with an admirable regulatory landscape and 14 blockchain Unicorns, the opening of CV Labs Cape Town is a result of CV Labs actioning its expertise to enable blockchain as a transformative tech in Africa.  CV Labs already has blockchain hubs in Switzerland (Zug) and Liechtenstein (Vaduz). This new hub in Africa will soon

Inflexion has further strengthened its ESG commitments during the first half of 2022 by signing the United Nations Global Compact and formalising its commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals whilst also joining the ILPA’s Data Convergence Project. These commitments come a year after achieving carbon-neutral status and becoming a signatory of the UN’s Principles for Responsible Investment. Inflexion has also joined the Institute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability. The Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact are derived from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Labour Organisation’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the

Impax Asset Management (Impax), a specialist asset manager investing in the transition to a more sustainable economy, has appointed Nana Li as head of sustainability & ESG, Asia-Pacific. Li joins Impax from the Asian Corporate Governance Association (ACGA), where she was research and project director, China. The ACGA is an independent organisation dedicated to working with investors, companies and regulators in the implementation of effective corporate governance practices in Asia-Pacific.   In this newly created role, effective as of 1 July 2022, Nana will be based in Impax’s Hong Kong office and will report to Lisa Beauvilain, head of sustainability

After less than five years, Moonfare has become one of the world’s leading digital private equity investing platforms, its AUM now totalling over €2 billion. The Berlin-based FinTech is disrupting private market investing by opening access to leading private equity funds for qualified investors and their advisors at low minimums (starting at around $125.000).  Moonfare’s rapid growth underlines the rising trend of “Private Equity goes Retail”. This phenomenon continues to gain momentum as investors are looking to alternative assets for portfolio diversification and to benefit from PE’s record returns. Fund managers too are looking to tap into the private capital

The India-based venture capital division of Bertelsmann SE & CO, Bertelsmann India Investments (BII), is looking to invest $500 million in local start-ups, according to a report by DealsStreetAsia. Since its launch in 2013, BII has invested in more than 17 companies in the country, some of which are already unicorns. Its investments include Eruditus, Licious, Shiprocket, Pepperfry, AgroStar, and Lendingkart. BII, which has invested in over 15 companies since launching in 2013, is planning to makes six to eight Series A and mid-stage investments a year with initial values of $5-20 million, rising up to $40 million over time.

Stellus Capital Management (Stellus), a middle market direct lending specialist, has become a signatory to the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). The PRI is recognised as the leading global network for investors who are committed to integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations into both their firm governance and investment decisions.   The PRI acts in the long-term interests of its signatories, the financial markets and economies in which they operate, and ultimately of the environment and society as a whole.  Signatories pledge to incorporate the PRI’s six Principles for Responsible Investment into their investment, due diligence and

Foresight Group (Foresight), a sustainable infrastructure and private equity investment manager, has selected the Eden Project (Eden) as its new sustainability partner. Eden will advise Foresight on enhancing biodiversity across its portfolio with an initial focus on its infrastructure and forestry assets.   The partnership will provide Foresight with a framework for implementing a nature recovery programme and will enable Foresight to further develop its nature recovery statement – anticipated to be released later this year. This will provide a blueprint for Foresight’s assets and will demonstrate how businesses can contribute to nature recovery efforts.   The UK is considered