What are impact investors looking for? This course offers a practical introduction to the impact investing marketplace. You’ll learn how the market is structured, including the roles of asset owners and asset managers, and how capital flows between them. The course explores how impact investors pursue both financial and social or environmental returns, and the different types of investors involved along with their motivations, constraints, and preferred investment vehicles.
You’ll hear directly from impact enterprise leaders about their experiences raising capital, and from investors about what they look for when evaluating opportunities. The course also highlights common mistakes enterprises make when seeking funding and offers strategies to attract aligned capital. By the end of this course you’ll be able to identify an effective impact investing strategy, and be prepared to start your journey in the impact marketplace.
This course requires no prior knowledge and is designed for anyone interested in impact investing: whether you're an aspiring investor, an enterprise leader, or exploring a career in the field. We break down key concepts, explain investor types in accessible language, and define essential financial terms.
Status: Social Impact
Social Impact
Status: Finance
Finance
Beginner·Course·2 hours
Featured reviews
4.0
·Reviewed Feb 15, 2026
A great introduction to impact investment. Gives a high-level overview of existing structures as well as an extensive list of additional resources for continued learning.
5.0
·Reviewed Apr 6, 2026
Well pitched course, clear definitions and sector explanations, good blend of videos and reading to maintain interest and pace.
5.0
·Reviewed Nov 23, 2025
Very understandable and practical overview of the potential, challenges and key strategies to enter impact investing.
5.0
·Reviewed Aug 27, 2025
Fantastic overview of the impact investment ecosystem, the different stakeholders and the challenges of and opportunities for alignment.
5.0
·Reviewed Dec 25, 2025
Good course, clearly explains the landscape and gives some good advice on how to proceed with impact fundraising and investing
5.0
·Reviewed Dec 10, 2025
A really solid foundation for someone new to this space. Ready to build upon...
5.0
·Reviewed Nov 19, 2025
Clear commentary interspersed with real-life examples, visuals and downloadable tools.
5.0
·Reviewed Apr 10, 2026
Simple and effective. Appreciate inviting guest who made it more experential
5.0
·Reviewed May 5, 2026
Good as a start to understand about impact investment
5.0
·Reviewed Jul 6, 2025
Useful for investors to get an understanding of impact investing, the objectives and the participants.
5.0
·Reviewed Jul 7, 2026
Good for those like me who need(ed) the 101 of Impact investment
5.0
·Reviewed Jul 30, 2025
The course offers a fundamental idea about the nuances of Impact Investment. The interviews by the industry stalwarts made the course more interesting
All reviews
Showing: 20 of 20
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Most Helpful
F
Fiona
5.0
·Reviewed Aug 24, 2026
This was a great introduction to the basics of impact investing for non investment professionals. It is engaging with videos and course reading material. I do like the fact that it has an integrated AI learning bot which can ask you questions as you go along to check your learning. However, I cannot work out how to close it again to allow me to be able to see the full screen once I want to move on. This needs a button!
Thanks.
M
Milena
5.0
·Reviewed Apr 5, 2026
I liked the course, everything is very clearly explained. I particularly liked the butterfly visual for supply and demand players and their relations. The guide to types of impact investors is a very useful document; the description of the various investors is complemented with info on the financial and impact motivations as well as with real life references/links. Thank you!
T
Tamar
5.0
·Reviewed Nov 4, 2025
I really enjoyed the course. Thank you, Cathy Clark, sharing valuable knowledge, experience and real-world insights about impact investing. The course helped me see the field from a fresh perspective and inspired me to keep exploring new ways to create meaningful impact.
I
Iris
5.0
·Reviewed Sep 12, 2025
The course did an amazing job at explaining the difference between asset managers and asset owners clearly. I really liked the interventions from people in the field and I think this did a great job at introducing impact investment finance concisely and clearly.
C
Chidiebere
5.0
·Reviewed Jun 18, 2026
Excellent course! The trainer explained the material clearly, and the modules were easy to follow. The content was practical, well structured, and provided valuable insights. I would definitely recommend it.
M
Manuela
5.0
·Reviewed Jan 26, 2026
I loved it — practical, grounded, and highly relevant. It helped me connect theory with real-world fundraising dynamics and put into motion learnings I’ve already experienced working in the sector.
A
Abir
5.0
·Reviewed Jul 31, 2025
The course offers a fundamental idea about the nuances of Impact Investment. The interviews by the industry stalwarts made the course more interesting
K
Katie
5.0
·Reviewed Sep 21, 2025
Helpful overview of impact investing and its challenges and opportunities for all actors that play a role, from entrepreneurs to asset managers.
M
Manuel
5.0
·Reviewed Aug 28, 2025
Fantastic overview of the impact investment ecosystem, the different stakeholders and the challenges of and opportunities for alignment.
L
Lexie
5.0
·Reviewed Apr 7, 2026
Well pitched course, clear definitions and sector explanations, good blend of videos and reading to maintain interest and pace.
S
Sayyed
5.0
·Reviewed Dec 26, 2025
Good course, clearly explains the landscape and gives some good advice on how to proceed with impact fundraising and investing
R
Raevene
5.0
·Reviewed Nov 24, 2025
Very understandable and practical overview of the potential, challenges and key strategies to enter impact investing.
A
Abhinav
5.0
·Reviewed Jul 7, 2025
Useful for investors to get an understanding of impact investing, the objectives and the participants.
C
Christina
5.0
·Reviewed Nov 20, 2025
Clear commentary interspersed with real-life examples, visuals and downloadable tools.
J
Janrobinson861
5.0
·Reviewed Dec 11, 2025
A really solid foundation for someone new to this space. Ready to build upon...
A
Abhishek
5.0
·Reviewed Apr 11, 2026
Simple and effective. Appreciate inviting guest who made it more experential
B
bweme
5.0
·Reviewed Jul 8, 2026
Good for those like me who need(ed) the 101 of Impact investment
T
Tri
5.0
·Reviewed May 6, 2026
Good as a start to understand about impact investment
A
Asmaa
4.0
·Reviewed Sep 29, 2025
I was already familiar with most of the content but it was good to review it organized in such order and visualized. The information in the Guide to Types of Impact Investors was mostly new and quite informative.
I'd have liked to know more on how the impact investing landscape differs among different regions, for example MENA vs. Sub-Saharan Africa.
Also, if I'm pursuing a career in impact investment, what kind of roles can I take, and what kind of learning do I need to achieve? since the career thing was mentioned as part of the objecties.
Y
Yarrow
4.0
·Reviewed Feb 16, 2026
A great introduction to impact investment. Gives a high-level overview of existing structures as well as an extensive list of additional resources for continued learning.