Blair Miller
Managing Partner, TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good
In a year where businesses and communities have been stretched, tested, and leaned on more than ever before, socially-responsible investing has surged, demonstrating the importance for organizations to do more than just make money, but also to contribute to their communities through innovative ideas that can improve the world for good. Corporate impact funds are playing a critical role in this social innovation by connecting big businesses back to the startup world.
We’re proud of the tangible impact we’ve made in these 12 short months and look forward to the next phase in our journey as an investment partner for mission-driven founders growing the next generation of responsible, for-profit businesses.
Take the $100-million TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good. As one of the world’s largest corporate impact funds, the Pollinator Fund has been working to reset traditional capitalism, connecting socially-conscious companies to necessary resources and empowering entrepreneurs and social innovators to deliver on TELUS’ promise of a friendly future for all.
“The Pollinator Fund was born from TELUS’ deeply-held commitment to social capitalism and a steadfast belief that to do well as a company we have to do good in the communities in which we live, work, and serve. One year in, our thoughtful approach to investing in innovation at an early stage has led us to meeting some of the most inspiring and visionary entrepreneurs across North America,” says Blair Miller, Managing Partner of the TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good.
The size and growing portfolio of the Pollinator Fund underscore the strong business case for supporting socially-responsible companies. In just the past year, the Fund has closed 10 investments and generated early results: 60 percent of portfolio companies are based in Canada, 50 percent are led by Indigenous and racialized people, and 40 percent are led by women — demonstrating the significant opportunity to advance diversity and inclusion, and support organizations doing good in our communities while also achieving strong financial returns.
The Pollinator Fund was also created in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, where investments are made in the next generation of entrepreneurs who are addressing the biggest challenges in health, education, agriculture, and the environment — connecting them with the resources and capital they need to grow and thrive.
“We’re proud of the tangible impact we’ve made in these 12 short months and look forward to the next phase in our journey as an investment partner for mission-driven founders growing the next generation of responsible, for-profit businesses,” says Miller.
As the Pollinator Fund for Good reflects on one year of impact across North America, the role of these socially-driven, responsible, community-focused businesses has never been more important. If we want to create a better future for generations to come, investing in impact is the way forward to creating a more sustainable and friendlier future.
