The Hidden Opportunity for Impact Investing in the Creative Economy - ft. Laura Callanan - Founding Partner at Upstart Co-Lab - Impact Everywhere

Impact Everywhere | Positive Impact in Unexpected Places

As impact investing becomes an increasingly popular investment philosophy, are creatives being left out of the equation? Upstart Co-Lablooks to create an ecosystem where impact investors can connect with funds, businesses, and real estate projects that drive social and environmental impact through the creative economy. Laura Callanan, the organization’s founder and today’s guest, joins us to share why the creative economy should be a priority in the impact investing space. We begin by looking at current investing in the creative economy and the work Upstart Co-Lab is doing to make investments in creative industries more intentional. We hear about how they categorize industries and why the metrics of investing in these enterprises are the same as other impact investment metrics. Impact investors look for things like job creation, environmental impact and community development, so investing in the creative economy should meet identical outcomes.

Laura anchors the theory she shares with incredible examples of social impact enterprises she has worked with over the years. As is clear from her evidence, creative entrepreneurs — because of their position in their communities — are still able to express themselves artistically, all while making a broader social impact. Our discussion also touches on the intersection of philanthropy and impact investing, the need for the creative economy to tap into impact investment capital in light of minimal government funding, and Laura’s experience of becoming an entrepreneur later in life.

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