Our catalytic investment model

We invest in potential

We recognize that there is limited funding for early-stage ideas and solutions—yet it is this early stage where funding needs are the highest. This is a gap we aim to fill. We also recognize that investing in early-stage solutions requires a higher risk tolerance than investing in proven solutions, and that the time horizon to see results and impact is longer.

As a technology company with a long history of innovation, we are comfortable with a higher level of risk because we understand the potential for deep and sustained impact as the ultimate reward.

We are intentional about investing in potential—providing patient and catalytic capital for innovation. We provide early-stage, seed-level funding to high potential organizations to ideate, innovate, and experiment. To design, create, and test technology enabled and delivered solutions that can result in deep impact. And then to scale and replicate those solutions.

In doing so, we aim to demonstrate the viability of this investment model, and the ecosystem impact of the solutions and organizations we invest in.

Why the focus on digital solutions?

As a technology company, we believe in the power of technology to connect the unconnected—to close the digital and data divide—and to drive impact at scale.

We put this investment model to work in executing against Cisco’s 10-year, 1 billion lives positively impacted goal. Our achievement of the goal a year ahead of schedule was driven by this investment approach and focus on technology enabled solutions—validating its efficacy.

Our investment model

Initial funding, time, and flexibility for early-stage solution ideation and prototyping. We encourage creativity, unconventional thinking, innovation, and a talent for leveraging the unique opportunities engendered by emerging technologies.

Solution testing and validation to advance the solution from idea to proof of concept.

Once the solution is proven, we offer extended funding to help our partners replicate their solution to additional geographies, scale to reach more people, and demonstrate positive social impact outcomes.

Support for transitioning out of our funding, ensuring our partners have the capacity to continue operations and deliver impact long after the tenure of our partnership ends.

Throughout the lifecycle of our engagement with partner organizations, we complement our funding with additional offerings of technology donations from Cisco, advisory/consulting services, employee engagement opportunities, and communications support.

Our investment model in action

How does this investment model work?

One example is our investment in the LaborLink solution, conceived by Good World Solutions, whose vision is a world where every worker is heard and where worker well-being is integral to business success. Their idea was to use mobile technology to connect directly with workers in real-time.

Stage 1 and 2

We provided initial seed funding both to design the initial version of LaborLink and conduct a proof-of-concept pilot with 100 apparel sector factory workers in Peru.

Stage 3

We then provided follow-on funding to help Good World Solutions replicate LaborLink to additional sectors and geographies, scale to reach more people, and add new features and functionality.

Within only a few years, more than 1 million workers in nearly 400 factories used LaborLink—in multiple sectors, and across 16 countries in every region of the world, enabling workers to securely and anonymously provide feedback to factories and enabling brands including Cisco—to share critical information with workers and get first-hand insights into key workplace issues. LaborLink drove improvements in workplace safety and communications, reduced sexual harassment and verbal abuse, and created transparency on issues related to worker pay, overtime, and more.

Stage 4

Throughout our engagement with Good World Solutions, we supported them with our advisory services to help them think through their model for scale, and to test pricing models for earned revenue. Our final exit grant supported their transition to long-term financial viability.

As Good World Solutions explored various pathways to disrupt traditional factory audit models and advance toward financial viability, ELEVATE (now LRQA)—a leading global assurance company—acquired and integrated LaborLink into their offerings. In this way, LaborLink lives on and continues to drive impact for workers around the world.