In Indonesia, startups are turning plastic waste into paving blocks and building tech that boosts income for waste collectors. Yet, MSMEs driving circular innovation remain locked out of capital. Through our Future Economy Lab, we worked with Duitin, PlusTik, and Rezycology to explore what inclusive finance must look like—flexible, patient, and tied to impact. The innovation exists. What’s missing are financial systems built for their reality.

When creditworthiness is code for privilege, character-based lending offers a quiet rebellion. From Native CDFIs asking “who are their people?” to group lending in Bangladesh, finance rooted in trust, accountability, and relationship is rewriting the rules. It’s not about abandoning rigour but redefining risk—proving that when trust performs, communities thrive.

Young people co-create the tools they actually need, leading to more trust, traction, and impact. The result: 8.4 million reached, over 75 million dollars raised, and a model that is changing how funders think about innovation. At SecondMuse Capital, we see this not as a trend, but a blueprint for designing capital that truly supports mental health equity.

This piece explores three financial mechanisms—impact bonds, green jobs outcome funds, and impact-linked loans—that align capital with youth employment outcomes. These tools shift risk, reward results, and move capital closer to people. We’ve also begun designing other products to support the full learning-to-earning journey.

At Istanbul Innovation Days 2025, Natalia Arjomand of SecondMuse Capital joined a global panel to reflect on how institutions must adapt in a world shaped by complexity. Drawing from our Future Economy Lab work, she shared why real innovation requires shifting power, resourcing learning, and centring care. This post captures key takeaways for funders, policymakers, and ecosystem builders reimagining public institutions.

Canada’s impact investing market is growing, but who’s being left out? We unpack key insights from SVX’s 2025 report and what they mean for equity and action.