Looking back and forward — 2024 in Review
BOTH by Ring Capital Issue #25 — Reflections on 2024 and on what's next
Dear community,
This month’s newsletter takes a slightly different focus.
As we wrap up 2024, we wanted to reflect on the interviews we led throughout the year and look ahead to what’s next.
Over the past year, we’ve interviewed entrepreneurs, investors, and other key stakeholders who are actively tackling some of today’s most pressing social and environmental challenges. Together, we’ve journeyed across Europe and Africa, venturing into several topics related to impact. And we’re excited to continue this exploration in the months to come.
Because this is what BOTH is about: showing how individuals, companies, investors, and institutions can take meaningful action and play their part in this transition.
2024 in a nutshell
A notable growth in our subscriber base: +70% between December 2023 and December 2024.
A variety of topics: regenerative economy, carbon contribution, blockchain, AI, investing in emerging markets, customer marketing, governance models, education, carbon contribution, agriculture…
2024’s top 3 most-read issues are:
🥇 Elisabeth Moreno & Cedric Mangaud on the investment opportunity in French-speaking Africa and on the importance of supporting solutions tailored to local realities.
🥈 Sebastien Boyer on the use of data analysis and technological tools in agriculture.
🥉 Eva Gladek on steward ownership, a model of corporate governance in which control and profits are structured to prioritise long-term impact over short-term financial gain or shareholder profit maximisation.
Standout quotes from the past year’s interviews:
“As part of the impact ecosystem, we must work together to demonstrate the attractiveness of the impact investment segment: it’s possible to have a positive social or environmental impact, while creating economic value. Impact needs to become mainstream.”, Elodie Donjon, Investment Manager @European Investment Fund (EIF).
“The ability to be creative and to invent rather than replicate, is a skill hard to find in the job market. This is reinforced by shorter investment and strategic cycles that leave little time for R&D and error. Regenerative economy demands long-term investments and accepting that some projects may fail, as this is how innovation occurs.”, Marie-Sarah Mailliard, Co-founder @Regen School.
“The African continent is undergoing a new era of development, characterised by a dynamic mix of local entrepreneurship, international interest, and collaboration between the public and private sectors. This collaboration is essential to mobilise the resources needed to address the environmental and social challenges of the continent and to support sustainable and inclusive economic growth.”, Elisabeth Moreno, former Minister & Ring Capital’s Chairwoman.
“There was always this dual focus — developing solutions with environmental sustainability and economic viability. It's a personal conviction of mine, and I think it ought to be applied to all impact companies: the key is to identify the economic levers that are aligned with impact, and play on those economics.”, Sebastien Boyer, Co-founder & Chairman @FarmWise.
“Promoting steward ownership and evolving governance structures are crucial steps towards creating an economic system that operates within planetary boundaries. It’s about moving away from 'runaway cowboy capitalism' towards a model where resources are equitably, or at least fairly, distributed.”, Eva Gladek, Co-founder & CEO @Metabolic.
On how to use marketing as a lever for impact: “We promote a humble approach where companies and their customers move forward together to support tangible projects. By embedding impact into the customer journey, we facilitate genuine engagement, where each gesture becomes the beginning of a story.”, Georges Basdevant, Co-founder & CEO @Dift (by Captain Cause).
What is at stake for BOTH?
And what to expect in 2025…
✨ Streamline the newsletter’s format to focus exclusively on interviews, because we believe that vital solutions need to be embodied. The power of vital solutions is incredible. As impact stakeholders, we must all collectively shine a light on these solutions and the various successes in impact.
🌍 Bring international solutions to the light, with a strong focus on territorial impact. In 2024, we interviewed individuals based in the Netherlands, Luxembourg, the United States, and even the Ivory Coast.
✍️ Create more content around the interviews: react to current events, highlight top quotes…
🫵 No matter where you’re from or which sector you work in, don't hesitate to share with us the impact solutions that have inspired you the most!
What about you?
Open question:
👀 Which entrepreneur, solution, project or concept related to impact would you like us to cover in this newsletter?
Feel free to send us your ideas!