TELUS launches new $100 million social impact fund to invest in new sustainable businesses with bold ideas to drive social change

Rhea-AI Summary

TELUS has launched the TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good, a $100 million initiative aimed at investing in startups focused on societal benefits in health, agriculture, environmental sustainability, and social inclusion. The fund seeks to support entrepreneurs who tackle pressing challenges and promote social innovation in Canada. With an advisory board to guide investments, the fund emphasizes engagement with early-stage companies and partnerships with organizations like Windmill Microlending and Tidal Vision. TELUS aims to combine profit with purpose, enhancing social and economic outcomes.

Positive

• Launch of a $100 million fund for social impact investment.
• Focus on healthcare transformation, inclusive communities, responsible agriculture, and environmental care.
• Partnerships with established organizations like Windmill Microlending to enhance impact.

Negative

• None.

The TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good will invest in new businesses that drive enhanced societal outcomes in health, agriculture, environment, and social and economic inclusion

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, TELUS announced the launch of its new TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good, a $100 million social impact investment fund created to power the biggest, boldest, bravest ideas in new responsible and sustainable startup businesses. The fund will invest in entrepreneurs building solutions aimed at improving healthcare, furthering social and economic inclusion, ensuring sustainable food production, and reducing our environmental footprint. The TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good will fuel greater social innovation in Canada through investments in companies that generate both financial and social returns benefiting our society.

“The Pollinator Fund for Good represents the progression of TELUS’ social capitalism thesis, as we invest in entrepreneurs and prescient business models that share our belief that to do well as an organisation, we must do good in the communities where we live, work, and serve,” said Darren Entwistle, President and CEO, TELUS. “This $100 million investment will accelerate potent, scalable and socially responsible services coming to market, helping to answer some of the most pressing challenges facing our world, including socio-economic inclusiveness. As one of the largest corporate impact funds globally, our TELUS Pollinator portfolio will improve health, environmental and food sustainability outcomes by investing in our next generation of innovators, leveraging transformative digital technologies, to advance TELUS’ promise of a friendly future for all.”

TELUS remains committed to helping Canadian businesses and entrepreneurs adapt and navigate the massive social and economic disruptions posed by COVID-19. The TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good will help scale early-stage companies and invest in those brave enough to tackle societal challenges, deliver value to communities, and fuel economic growth. Investments will focus on for-profit companies and founders committed to driving social innovation and economic growth in the following four areas:

• Transforming healthcare: Digital solutions that make safe and quality physical and mental healthcare accessible and efficient for all Canadians.
• Enabling inclusive communities: Startups building solutions to further social and economic inclusion and ensuring everyone has an opportunity to reach their full potential.
• Supporting responsible agriculture: Companies providing innovative technology-first solutions that empower the agriculture industry to improve Canada’s food systems.
• Caring for our planet: Companies and entrepreneurs building solutions to better the planet and reduce our environmental footprints.

An advisory board of entrepreneurs, investors and thought leaders with expertise across the impact areas is being formed to advise on strategy, markets, and deal sourcing. Early-stage companies receiving investment will benefit from the insights and expertise from TELUS’ depth and breadth of resources, including the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation, TELUS’ Community Boards, TELUS Health, Sustainability, and TELUS Ventures with its broad-reaching network within the venture capital space, to drive meaningful social impact in Canada.

“As a leading corporation in the world, we have an accountability to invest in new responsible businesses to ensure their success and impact,” said Jill Schnarr, Chief Social Innovation Officer. “At TELUS, we boldly believe profit and purpose are mutually inclusive and we’re doing our part to support purpose-driven businesses that are addressing the needs of our communities today, as well as those we expect to be significant drivers of our economy for years to come.”

The TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good is proud to announce three cornerstone partnerships:

• Windmill Microlending is Canada’s largest microlending program, offering microloans and individualized learning plans to help skilled immigrants and refugees continue their careers in Canada. On average, clients’ incomes increase 3.4x upon completion of the learning plan.
• Rhiza Capital is a Sunshine Coast-based impact investment fund that invests in B.C.-based companies that drive both social and economic impact within the regions that they serve.
• Tidal Vision is a US-based company that has developed a proprietary process for upcycling crustacean shells to develop a non-toxic, zero waste biopolymer that has applications across many industries, including textiles, agriculture, and wastewater treatment.
  
  

“As a global leader in social capitalism, we believe that responsible business means purpose and profit go hand-in-hand. The investments made by the TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good aren’t restricted to Canadian-based companies driving social innovation; it’s open to entrepreneurs worldwide looking to scale and grow their impact in Canada,” said Blair Miller, Managing Partner. “We look forward to working with our partners and advisors to identify and support purpose-driven companies doing good around the world.” 

Since 2000, TELUS has contributed $1.3 billion in value, time, and financial support to Canadian charities and grassroots organizations, making TELUS one of the most giving companies in the world. The new TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good is an extension of TELUS’ continued commitment to lead the charge in social capitalism through new investments in socially innovative and responsible products to drive financial return and economic growth while providing portfolio companies with the expertise and support from a world-leading communications and information technology company.   

About the TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good
The $100 million TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good is one of Canada’s largest corporate impact funds, and will focus its investment on for-profit companies and founders committed to driving social innovation. The TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good is an extension of TELUS’ long-standing commitment to leveraging the power of technology to drive positive social and environmental outcomes for all Canadians by funding the development of solutions for transforming healthcare, caring for our planet, supporting responsible agriculture and enabling inclusive communities. To learn more about the TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good, please visit: telus.com/pollinatorfund

About TELUS
TELUS (TSX: T, NYSE: TU) is a dynamic, world-leading communications and information technology company with $15 billion in annual revenue and 15.4 million customer connections spanning wireless, data, IP, voice, television, entertainment, video and security. At TELUS, we leverage our world-leading technology’s potential to enable remarkable human outcomes. Our long-standing commitment to putting customers first fuels every aspect of our business, making us a distinct leader in customer service excellence and loyalty. TELUS Health is Canada’s largest healthcare IT provider, and TELUS International delivers the most innovative business process solutions to some of the world’s most established brands.

Driven by our passionate social purpose to connect all Canadians for good, our deeply meaningful and enduring philosophy to give where we live has inspired our team members and retirees to contribute $736 million and 1.4 million days of service since 2000. This unprecedented generosity and unparalleled volunteerism have made TELUS the most giving company in the world.

For more information about TELUS, please visit telus.com and follow us on Twitter (@TELUSnews) and on Instagram (@Darren_Entwistle).

For media inquiries, please contact:

Jill Yetman
TELUS Public Relations
416-992-2639
jill.yetman@telus.com

A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5d3b12c6-3b3f-4ccd-9829-2150547d205e

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8522795b-bb20-47ee-8c6d-f70d3e10021e
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9192f687-ee3b-4a3c-8405-78ada7b9475a

FAQ

What is the TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good?

The TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good is a $100 million social impact investment fund aimed at supporting startups that drive societal benefits in health, agriculture, environment, and social inclusion.

When was the TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good announced?

The TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good was announced on November 24, 2020.

What areas does the TELUS Pollinator Fund focus on?

The fund focuses on transforming healthcare, enabling inclusive communities, supporting responsible agriculture, and caring for the planet.

Who are the partners involved in the TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good?

Key partners include Windmill Microlending, Rhiza Capital, and Tidal Vision, which align with the fund's goals of social innovation.

How does the TELUS Pollinator Fund aim to impact society?

The fund aims to enhance social innovation and economic growth by investing in startups that address pressing societal challenges and generate both financial and social returns.