The SDG Finance Geneva Summit created in 2016 is an innovative platform to advocate for stronger alignment of global capital flows with the SDGs. About 300 participants attended the event in 2019 organized as a key pillar of the Building Bridges Week, including innovative start-ups, impact investors, development finance actors, Fortune 500 representatives, development agencies, and more.

The pitches of the Growth Stage Impact Ventures (GSIV) finalists, a selection of entrepreneurs from developing countries working at scale on solutions for the SDGs while representing substantial investment opportunities, is the core element of the event.

In 2020, the GSIV sourced bankable and impactful solutions that tackle access to quality health, clean energy, and waste management in developing countries. With over 240 nominations, the top 12 finalists represent best-in-class companies striving to serve the bottom of the pyramid, including women and people with disabilities, with products and services that have already proven their added value and market competitiveness. The 12 GSIV entrepreneurs will come to the Building Bridges Week to meet with partners to scale up their innovation throughout Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

The GSIV « Circle of Friends » aims at bringing together a group of companies that are committed to share the 12 ventures’ perspectives and delivering a positive impact in developing countries through meaningful investments. By joining the Circle of Friends, you join entrepreneurs in their journey to contribute to the SDGs. Benefits include visibility associated with the entrepreneurs’ success but also access to data at the global and local levels. You will also be invited to shape with us the GSIV and you will have an opportunity to nominate more entrepreneurs for the next round of nomination.

Why does your contribution matter?

• You make developing countries entrepreneurs’ contribution to the SDGs visible during the BBW
• You support entrepreneurs’ networking to scale up their business and impact
• You support the concept of investing more capital to developing countries