Reflecting on My First Year as CEO of NESsT: Honoring a Legacy, Building for the Future

Reflecting on My First Year as CEO of NESsT: Honoring a Legacy, Building for the Future

As I celebrate my one-year anniversary as CEO of NESsT, I wanted to reflect on what it means to lead a purpose-driven organization defined by vision and impact. NESsT was created with the vision that businesses could thrive while prioritizing social and environmental outcomes. That visionary approach continues to guide us today as we actively choose to evolve and grow.

NESsT's 2023-2024 Dignified Employment Survey Results

NESsT's 2023-2024 Dignified Employment Survey Results

In 2023, we outlined objectives that focused on those directly impacted by our work and the work of the social enterprises in our portfolio. Our survey, completed by NESsT portfolio managers and team members sitting down with the 531 respondents who participated, captures the following information: Who are the direct beneficiaries of our work? Are their jobs well-paid and secure? How do they feel about their career opportunities? How do they feel about their workplaces? How does our work impact their families overall? Is our work making a real difference in their lives? 

Why an Inclusive Definition of the Bioeconomy Matters for Financing Amazon Enterprises

Why an Inclusive Definition of the Bioeconomy Matters for Financing Amazon Enterprises

NESsT’s recent study and extensive research identifies that the term ‘bioeconomy’ is often broadly interpreted by bioeconomy funders and global policymakers, sometimes straying far from a vision of environmental stewardship. We interviewed Indigenous leaders and entrepreneurs as part of ongoing efforts to deepen our understanding of their perspectives, vision and expectations of the bioeconomy as not just as an economic model, but as a way of life rooted deeply in ancestral tradition.  

Summary Blog: NESsT's Pledge to Invest $6M into Amazon Conservation

Summary Blog: NESsT's Pledge to Invest $6M into Amazon Conservation

At COP16, NESsT reinforced its ongoing commitment to improving access to funding for locally-led bioeconomy initiatives in the Amazon. This work, including its plans to invest $6 million in seed-stage financing through 2025 to support these efforts, was recently featured in Carbon Pulse.

The Methods Behind NESsT’s Study to Bring Local Perspectives to Bioeconomy Financing Discussions

The Methods Behind NESsT’s Study to Bring Local Perspectives to Bioeconomy Financing Discussions

This blog delves into the methodology behind NESsT’s publication to improve the targeting, accessibility, efficacy, and efficiency of investments in the Amazon bioeconomy; it homes in on NESsT’s firm intention to bring local voices to global discussions around Amazon bioeconomy funding and explores how NESsT anchored the publication in authentic narratives and diverse Amazonian contexts while tailoring the message for the international financing community.

NESsT Lirio Fund Expands into Brazil to Further its Efforts to Enhance Livelihoods and Sustainable Development in Latin America

NESsT Lirio Fund Expands into Brazil to Further its Efforts to Enhance Livelihoods and Sustainable Development in Latin America

As part of its ongoing commitment to address the pressing challenges faced by entrepreneurs in Latin America, particularly in the Andes-Amazon region, the NESsT Lirio Fund is expanding its reach into Brazil. The fund is investing in small and medium-sized enterprises that create dignified income opportunities and improve local livelihoods while contributing to environmental conservation.

NESsT Amplía su labor de aceleración de empresas dirigidas por indígenas en la cuenca del Amazonas, con el apoyo de la Fundación Gordon y Betty Moore

NESsT Extends its Acceleration Work for Indigenous-Led Enterprises in the Amazon Basin, Supported by The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation

NESsT y la Fundación Gordon y Betty Moore se asocian para consolidar y ampliar las empresas de los pueblos indígenas y las comunidades locales (IPLC) de la Amazonia que contribuyen a la bioeconomía y conservan el medio ambiente.

NESsT y IKEA Social Entrepreneurship dan la bienvenida a nuevas empresas para catalizar el cambio positivo en Sudamérica.

NESsT and IKEA Social Entrepreneurship Welcome New Enterprises to Catalyze Positive Change in South America

Las nueve empresas que se unirán al Programa de Aceleración de América del Sur, creado conjuntamente por NESsT y IKEA Social Entrepreneurship, están preparadas para impulsar el desarrollo sostenible y el crecimiento inclusivo en toda la región.