VERGE Capital Launches Breakthrough Fund II
VERGE Capital, a leading impact investment fund committed to fostering local economies and communities, proudly announced the launch of its highly anticipated Breakthrough Fund II with a $1.75 million initial investment. This Fund marks a pivotal step towards empowering the vibrant communities of Southwestern Ontario and driving sustainable growth through strategic partnerships and impact investments.
NEW INVESTEE: SALT LEISURE WEAR
VERGE is proud to announce SALT Leisure Wear as one of our newest investees. While our loan was approved and funded in late 2021, SALT just recently celebrated its public launch and is now officially open for business!
INTRODUCING THE CATALYST: COMMUNITY FINANCE INITIATIVE
A cross-sectoral group of community finance stakeholders in Ontario is embarking upon a new collaborative effort called the Catalyst: Community Finance Initiative.
NEW MILESTONES AT URBAN ROOTS LONDON
Since becoming VERGE’s first investment of the year, our friends at Urban Roots London (URL) have shown resilience and optimism despite the ongoing challenges brought by COVID-19, and have continued to create social, environmental, and community impact through new partnerships and initiatives.
REFLECTIONS FROM OUR SUMMER INTERNS (PT2)
Zoe Sun shares her thoughts and lessons learned as she wraps up her summer internship with VERGE Capital.
REFLECTIONS FROM OUR SUMMER INTERNS (PT1)
Sanchi Shah shares her thoughts and lessons learned as she wraps up her summer internship with VERGE Capital.
NEW INVESTEE: A FRIENDLIER COMPANY
VERGE is thrilled to announce and welcome its newest investee, A Friendlier Company!
NEW INVESTEE: FOREST CITY SYNBIO
VERGE is thrilled to announce and welcome its newest investee, Forest City SynBio (FCSB)!
FINANCING CONSERVATION IN THE CAROLINIAN ZONE, PART 3: THREE KEY INSIGHTS FROM ENGAGING OUR COMMUNITY
In part three of three of this blog series, we are delighted to share insights and learnings we’ve derived from two of our public community consultation sessions over the past several weeks on the Carolinian CIB.
OUR LETTER TO MINISTER HUSSEN: FIVE KEY ACTIONS TO BOLSTER CANADA’S SOCIAL FINANCE STRATEGY
In April 2021, the federal government released its budget and featured landmark commitments to Canada's social innovation and social finance sector. We made five recommendations to the Hon. Ahmed D. Hussen to bolster the social innovation strategy.
FINANCING CONSERVATION IN THE CAROLINIAN ZONE, PART 2: THE LONG POINT WALSINGHAM FOREST CONSERVATION IMPACT BOND
In part two of this blog series, we highlight Phase II of the Carolinian CIB — an even more ambitious investment to scale up conservation efforts in southern Ontario.
PLACE-BASED IMPACT INVESTING: CATALYZING WOMEN-LED ENTERPRISES IN ONTARIO’S COVID RECOVERY
As communities consider how to rebuild their local economies in a post-COVID era, investing in women-led organizations will be a critical part of our path to a just recovery that champions equity, innovation, and prosperity for all.
FINANCING CONSERVATION IN THE CAROLINIAN ZONE, PART 1: THE DESHKAN ZIIBI CONSERVATION IMPACT BOND
Carolinian Canada’s Conservation Impact Bond (CIB) is a place-based and multi-regional initiative to rehabilitate 1,000 hectares of land and to bolster social, environmental and economic benefits in southern Ontario.
FIVE WAYS TO CATALYZE COMMUNITY CAPITAL IN ONTARIO
In Fall 2020, over 50 representatives from Ontario’s community of place-based funders, investors, and intermediaries gathered for three days at the Catalyst Ontario convening to discuss discuss community capital approaches for our province’s journey to recovery and resilience.
HOUSE OF FRIENDSHIP: A BOND TO TRANSFORM ADDICTION TREATMENT IN WATERLOO REGION
In 2019, House of Friendship successfully raised $1.2 million in investment capital from community-based investors across Waterloo Region, Ontario to expand an addiction treatment facility for the region.