How Venture Capital Can Join the ESG Revolution

(SSIR) ESG has become increasingly mainstream for investors in recent years, as part of a broader wave to embrace purpose and stakeholder capitalism…However, venture capital has largely been left by the wayside: In a quick scan of the of the websites of the top 50 largest venture capital funds, we only found five which mentioned…

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Blackstone-backed company cuts ties with Servpro franchise that allegedly neglected child migrants

(MarketWatch) When a Blackstone-backed company in March sold $260 million in bonds under its Servpro Industries banner, a franchise specializing in fire- and water-damage cleanups, the financing went off without much notice. But three months later, a whistleblower complaint from two former workers at Fort Bliss, Texas, one of the nation’s largest emergency migrant youth…

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Tying CEO pay to carbon emissions works. More companies should try it

(CNN) Since 1993, the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) has said that CEO pay should be more in line with what other employees receive. Boards, we have said, should not approve pay plan elements that result in unexpectedly high compensation, such as mega stock-option awards, and plans should be expressed simply, so that shareholders…

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Venture capital undermines human rights

(TechCrunch) The future of technology is determined by a handful of venture capitalists. The world’s 10 leading venture capital firms have, together, invested over $150 billion in technology startups. The venture capitalists who run these firms decide which startups today will develop the new platforms and technologies that will shape our lives tomorrow. Read more…

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How 500 Startups Built An ESG Strategy Across Its Latest Funds

(Startups & Society) 500 Startups was founded in 2010, and has invested in 2,500+ startups in 77+ countries. The global accelerator and early-stage investment fund has prided itself on being different from Sand Hill Road VCs. On the threshold of raising its 5th Global Flagship Fund, the organization’s leadership took decisive action to integrate environmental,…

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Germany: Gorillas delivery riders protest unfavorable working conditions

(DW) The Berlin-based grocery delivery startup, which launched its service during the pandemic, is expanding rapidly, but workers say the billion-dollar company should fix local problems first. Gorillas Technologies has faced multiple worker strikes and protests in the past month over the termination of certain employees, a lack of suitable equipment and pay discrepancies. Read…

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