CEO Asher Craig Speaks at V4CE Social Investment Webinar
Pathway CEO Spoke on the Ways in Which Black and Ethnically Minoritised Organisations can Access Social Investment
On March 4, 2025, Voice4Change England hosted an enlightening webinar titled "Cracking the Code: Understanding Social Investment."
The event brought together experts from various sectors to demystify social investment for charities and social enterprises seeking to enhance their financial resilience and drive social impact.
Asher Craig, Chief Executive of Pathway Fund, shared insights on the fund's mission to raise £65m-£100m to support social investments benefiting Black and Ethnically Minoritised communities.
She discussed social investment providers, introduced Pathway Fund, and highlighted challenges faced by minority-led organisations in accessing funding.
She emphasised the importance of equitable and inclusive finance, addressed common misconceptions and barriers in social investment, and explored strategies for organisations to overcome these challenges and achieve long-term sustainability.
Asher was joined by other key stakeholders from the racial equity and social investment spaces.
Izzy Obeng, Co-Founder and CEO of Foundervine, brought her extensive experience in supporting over 1,200 businesses to start, scale, and raise capital. Izzy Obeng explored the criteria for investment readiness and common barriers faced by charities and social enterprises seeking funding.
She shared insights on how Foundervine supports businesses in overcoming challenges to access investment and scale, emphasising strategies for organisations to navigate these hurdles effectively.
Chris Colwell, Lead Investment Manager at Key Fund Investments Limited, provided valuable insights into the assessment process for blended finance investments and he provided an overview of social investment, including its various types.
He outlined practical next steps for organisations considering social investment.
It was fantastic to see so many Black and Ethnically Minoritised stakeholders attendant, keen to ensure that they think on the ways in which they can harness social investment, for their respective social enterprises.
Thank you to Voice4Change England for hosting - and to the brilliant panel of speakers! We look forward to continuing these conversations over the coming months’.