Venture Studio & Impact Investment
We build, acquire and invest in businesses, organisations and assets that generate financial returns and lasting community impact, aligned to the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
What we do
Every organisation and asset in our portfolio either generates revenue while creating positive impact, or delivers impact funded by that revenue.
Self-sustaining, profitable ventures whose core purpose or structure creates genuine positive community or environmental impact. These fund everything else, and give a minimum of 10% of profits to charitable causes every year.
Focus 1 — Revenue generatingCharities, nonprofits and community projects we support through grants, pro bono work and the surplus from our commercial activities. Not expected to return capital to Small Strategies. Expected to help change things.
Focus 2 — Impact firstHow we work
We are playing a long game. This is a journey toward a portfolio of organisations that generates compounding impact and compounding returns.
We ideate and build our own ventures, starting with those closest to our expertise and the communities we know. Each one must be profitable within its first year, give back to its community, and generate a return.
We show up, in communities, at events, online, in conversations with councils and nonprofits. We build the relationships and the reputation that eventually becomes a portfolio. Authority is built over years, not campaigns.
We back organisations we believe in, financially, strategically, practically. Whether for-profit or not-for-profit, if they're aligned to the SDGs and creating something real, we want to be part of it.
Our framework
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are our compass. Every venture we build, every organisation we back, every asset we acquire must contribute to at least one of them.
Our long-term ambition is to become a recognised strategic partner of the United Nations Foundation, working alongside it to accelerate progress across all 17 Goals.
Who we work with
We work with a wide range of people and organisations, connected by a shared belief that business can and should be a force for good.
Communities that want to own and control local assets such as buildings, land, energy infrastructure, for long-term benefit. We help navigate the process and find the funding.
Organisations doing meaningful SDG-aligned work that need strategic, financial or operational support. We are a long-term partner, not a grant funder.
Founders with SDG-aligned business ideas who need a venture partner to help build and grow. We invest time, expertise and, when the time is right, capital.
Public bodies wanting to activate empty assets, support regeneration and develop community ownership models. We bring the ideas, the structure and the patience.
Individuals and organisations wanting to deploy capital into SDG-aligned assets and businesses with genuine commercial returns. We are early stage, which is the opportunity.
If you are working on something that could genuinely make the world better, however small, we want to hear about it. Start the conversation.
Our ventures
We're at the start. Here's what's underway and what's coming. Every venture must be profitable, give back and drive at least one SDG.
● Active
A travel platform generating early-stage revenue for Small Strategies. Our commercial engine while we build. Simple, honest, effective.
Revenue engineEarly stage
● In development
We're exploring how we can support sustainable energy co-operatives, which provides more affordable energy to local communities. Less reliance on fossil fuels.
SDG 7 — Clean EnergySDG 11 — Sustainable CitiesSDG 13 — Climate Action
◌ Exploring
Community ownership facilitation. Community energy cooperatives. Biodiversity net gain. Rewilding tourism. The pipeline is full. The work is just beginning.
Multiple SDGs
Get in touch
We're always interested in conversations with people doing meaningful work. Whether you have an idea, an organisation, an asset or just a question — start here.
Or email us directly at hello@smallstrategies.co.uk