Dealflow | September 1, 2021

Australia’s Giant Leap raises $15 million for second impact fund

Roodgally Senatus
ImpactAlpha Editor

Roodgally Senatus

ImpactAlpha, September 1 — The venture firm, launched in 2016, spun out of Melbourne-based Impact Investment Group in March.

Its $15 million first fund, raised in 2018, has invested in 19 early-stage companies in waste and cleantech, sustainable agriculture, medtech, wellbeing and education.

Raising Giant Leap I took two years, said Giant Leap’s Will Richardson. The second vehicle hit its mark in four weeks due to growing demand for impact investments, according to Richardson.

Giant Leap II received commitments from returning and new investors, including insurance company QBE Australia, and high-net-worth investors Mark Joiner and Peter Haasz. 

Clean and wellbeing

Among the companies already in Giant Leap’s portfolio are Sendle, a low-carbon delivery company for small businesses; Work180, which connects women with workplaces with a proven commitment to gender equality; food waste management infrastructure company Goterra; and health motivation startup Perx Health.