ClearlySo

ClearlySo is a London-based impact investment bank that connects environmentally and socially focused businesses, charities, and funds with institutional and high-net-worth investors to raise capital. The firm provides deal structuring and advisory services exclusively for organizations generating measurable ethical impact, while also offering an online impact assessment tool called ClearlySo ATLAS for private equity and venture capital firms. Operating across diverse industries, the institution facilitates transactions for clients within the energy, food, enterprise software, education, and financial technology sectors. Throughout its operational history, the bank has advised on more than 130 transactions, successfully helping over 75 organizations secure in excess of £140 million in total capital. Prior to ceasing operations, the financial services provider reached an estimated enterprise valuation between $8 million and $12 million in 2016. ClearlySo was founded in 2008 by Rodney Schwartz.

High-Level Overview

ClearlySo is Europe's leading impact investment bank, founded in 2008 and headquartered in London, UK. It specializes in advisory and capital-raising services exclusively for businesses, charities, and funds that deliver positive social, ethical, and/or environmental impact alongside financial returns, with a mission to integrate impact into all investment decisions and transform the financial system into a force for good.[1][2] The firm has supported over 150 clients in raising more than £404 million for funds and £224 million for businesses and enterprises from its network of institutional investors, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals, operating with around 7-10 employees and annual revenue of approximately $7 million.[1][2]

Its investment philosophy centers on growing the social investment marketplace to build a more equitable economy, focusing on impact sectors like social enterprises, ethical businesses, and environmental initiatives.[1][3] ClearlySo plays a pivotal role in the startup ecosystem by bridging impact-driven ventures with capital, having facilitated nearly 200-200+ transactions totaling over £400 million, including through its angel network Clearly Social Angels.[4][5]

Origin Story

ClearlySo was founded in 2008 in London by pioneers in the impact investing space, emerging from a vision to catalyze the nascent social investment market in Europe amid growing interest in ventures blending profit with purpose.[1][2] Key figures include its leadership team, though specific founders are not detailed in available records; the firm evolved from helping social entrepreneurs raise initial capital to becoming a full-service impact investment bank.[3]

Early traction came from building an extensive network of high-net-worth individuals and institutions, enabling it to assist nearly 100 clients in raising £108 million by the mid-2010s, scaling to over 150 clients and £628 million+ combined by recent years—a pivotal shift as impact investing gained mainstream traction post-financial crisis.[1][4][5] This evolution reflects a focus on enterprises and funds prioritizing social, ethical, and environmental outcomes.

Core Differentiators

• Exclusive Impact Focus: Works solely with ventures delivering measurable social, ethical, or environmental benefits plus financial returns, distinguishing it from traditional investment banks.[1][2]
• Proven Capital-Raising Track Record: Facilitated 150-200+ deals raising £400m-£628m+ for clients, leveraging a proprietary network of institutional investors, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals.[1][5]
• Comprehensive Advisory Model: Offers end-to-end services from strategy to execution for businesses, charities, and funds, including its dedicated angel network Clearly Social Angels for early-stage social enterprises.[4]
• Network Strength and Operating Support: Deep connections in Europe's impact ecosystem provide unique access to capital and expertise, with regulatory backing as an appointed representative of a Financial Conduct Authority-authorized entity.[1]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

ClearlySo rides the surge in impact investing, a trend accelerating as investors prioritize ESG (environmental, social, governance) factors amid climate urgency, inequality, and post-pandemic recovery—market forces amplified by regulatory pushes like the EU's Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation.[1][2] Its timing is ideal, capitalizing on the growth of tech-enabled social enterprises in fintech, clean energy, and edtech that blend innovation with purpose.

By channeling £400m+ into impact ventures, ClearlySo influences the ecosystem by de-risking early-stage startups, fostering a pipeline of scalable tech solutions for global challenges, and normalizing impact as a core investment criterion—shaping a broader shift where tech landscapes increasingly demand purpose-driven capital.[5]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

ClearlySo is poised for expansion as impact investing matures into a multi-trillion-dollar asset class, potentially doubling its deal volume amid rising demand from millennials and institutions for aligned portfolios. Trends like AI-driven impact measurement, green tech booms, and tokenized social assets will shape its trajectory, enhancing its network's efficiency.

Its influence may evolve toward global reach beyond Europe, pioneering hybrid models that integrate tech platforms for deal matchmaking—reinforcing its role as the vanguard making finance a force for good, much like its founding mission to transform investment decisions.[1]