Yellowdog is an impact venture capital that takes impact investment as the basic premise of its investment philosophy and strategy. We invest in startups that will achieve growth by approaching various environmental and social problems, unresolved by existing markets and social systems, by utilizing innovative technologies and business models.
Since our first investment in April 2017 until last year, Yellowdog has prioritized sustainable urban solutions, which aim to solve large social problems arising from the context of population density and urbanization. As a venture capital pursuing rapid growth, we judged this area would create the most effective environmental and social impact. As a result of steady investment in this field, Yellowdog has come to two realizations; and based on our understanding, we seek to advance our existing investment strategy.
First, climate change is the most urgent and critical agenda for mankind, who have built civilizations and lives based on the planetary environment. Defending the resilience of our planet will soon become the basic condition for all socio-economic decision-making. This is evidenced by the fact that increasingly more countries, local governments and companies, in the age of COVID-19, are participating in the declaration of “Net Zero Carbon Emissions.” As an impact investor, Yellowdog is dedicated to supporting startups and entrepreneurs who are trying to solve this massive problem through innovative climate technologies.
Second, gender equality, which Yellowdog designated as a key agenda from the beginning, is not a separate investment domain. It must be a ‘viewpoint’ that penetrates and applies to all domains. We believe that when we view all investment opportunities through the gender lens, we can create new perspectives in investment, by discovering implicit market biases, underutilized talent and potential demands. Yellowdog understands the social and business values created by women as entrepreneurs, women as professionals advancing their careers, and women as consumers. We seek to reflect our understanding in our investment strategies.
Yellowdog’s key investment areas
● Climate solutions: Businesses that contribute innovatively to the climate response and the transition to a decarbonized economy
● Wellness & healthcare solutions: Businesses that provide healthier eating and lifestyle services, as well as quality healthcare services to a wide range of people
● Quality education solutions: Businesses that present innovative educational models and provide access to education across physical and economic barriers, from children to adults
● Workstyle solutions: Businesses that enhance the quality and diversity of jobs according to the changing paradigms of ‘work,’ and resolve the gap between supply and demand in the labor market
