Our Impact Strategy

At B the Change Investments, we support companies that make a positive contribution to the protein transition, labour participation and/or regenerative agriculture. We focus on companies in Northwest Europe that are active in the food and agriculture sector.

Protein Transition

Feeding the growing world population while staying within planetary boundaries requires a shift towards more plant-based and alternative protein sources proteins in our diets. Plant-based and alternative protein sources have a lower environmental footprint than animal proteins and require less land and water.

B the Change aims to contribute to a transition from a diet that includes 60% animal proteins and 40% plant-based proteins to a diet that includes 40% animal proteins and 60% plant-based proteins. Our investments focus on:

Production

Enterprises that produce scalable and high-quality proteins from plant-based or alternative sources.

Distribution

Enterprises that enable the distribution of plant-based protein products to the mass market.

Marketing

Enterprises that promote the qualities of plant-based protein products to a wide audience.

Protein Transition

Production

Enterprises that produce scalable and high-quality proteins from plant-based or alternative sources.

Distribution

Enterprises that enable the distribution of plant-based protein products to the mass market.

Marketing

Enterprises that promote the qualities of plant-based protein products to a wide audience.

Labour Participation

Work is key to people’s health, social connections, personal development, skills development, and financial independence. In the Netherlands, more than million people are making up the untapped labour potential. A more inclusive labour market will not only contribute to a positive impact on individuals' lives, it will also give employers access to a new pool of talent and make us stronger as a society.

B the Change acknowledges that for jobs in food enterprises to be inclusive, they require suitable and effective mediation, special attention from employers as well as the recruitment of trained talents. Our investments focus on:

Inclusive Jobs

Food enterprises that create inclusive jobs.

Work-Learn Trajectories

Food enterprises that offer people training and coaching on the job.

Mediation and Training

Enterprises that provide suitable intermediary, training and recruitment services to people that want to work in the food sector.

Labour Participation

Inclusive Jobs

Food enterprises that create inclusive jobs.

Work-Learn Trajectories

Food enterprises that offer people training and coaching on the job.

Mediation and Training

Enterprises that provide suitable intermediary, training and recruitment services to people that want to work in the food sector.

Regenerative Agriculture

Regenerative agriculture puts soil life at the center and contributes to restoring biodiversity, sequestering carbon from the atmosphere, and increasing the resilience of our food system. With the right conditions, regenerative agriculture offers an alternative livelihood for farmers and reconnects people with food and nature.

B the Change Investments recognizes that a supportive ecosystem is necessary for regenerative agriculture to thrive. Our investments focus on:

Land Access

Land management organizations that facilitate access to land for farmers using regenerative agricultural practices.

Payment for Ecosystem Services

Companies that provide solutions for farmers to be paid for their ecosystem services.

Plant Growth

Companies that provide tools, inputs, or techniques that enable optimal plant growth and soil health in regenerative agricultural systems.

Crop Valorization

Companies that process sustainably produced crops or by-products.

Food Distribution and Marketing

Companies that distribute and market sustainable food products.

Regenerative Agriculture

B the Change Investments recognizes that a supportive ecosystem is necessary for regenerative agriculture to thrive. Our investments focus on:

Land Access

Land management organizations that facilitate access to land for farmers using regenerative agricultural practices.

Payment for Ecosystem Services

Companies that provide solutions for farmers to be paid for their ecosystem services.

Plant Growth

Companies that provide tools, inputs, or techniques that enable optimal plant growth and soil health in regenerative agricultural systems.

Crop Valorization

Companies that process sustainably produced crops or by-products.

Food Distribution and Marketing

Companies that distribute and market sustainable food products.

Our Role

B the Change invests in funds and directly in companies. We provide loans and equity financing, preferably in a consortium with other impact investors. Where possible, we support companies with a suitable network and expertise from the food sector.

Investment Criteria

These investment criteria apply to our direct investments. For our fund investments, we assume that the fund applies similar criteria to the companies in which it invests.

Food and Agriculture Sector

A company is active in the food and agriculture sector or its activities directly support the food and agriculture sector.

Northwest Europe

A company is based in Northwest Europe and the majority of its impact occurs in this geographic area.

Impact Mission

Entrepreneurs act from an intrinsic motivation to contribute to a better world. The company's impact mission is enshrined in its articles of association.

Theory of Change

A company has a theory of change or is willing to develop one. A company is able to provide quarterly impact KPIs.

Product-Market Fit

A company has a clear product-market fit and is post-revenue.

Path to Profitability

A company is EBITDA break-even or plans to be EBITDA break-even within two years. A solid sales pipeline and financing plan form the basis of the financial planning.

Scalability

The company's impact is scalable; within the company's own value chain and/or with a successful model that can be adopted by third parties.