By Natalia Arjomand, Senior Director, SecondMuse Capital & David Ball, Head of Well-being, SecondMuse Brain capital, the prevention and promotion of brain health and brain skills, is gaining real momentum as an investment priority. A recent McKinsey Health Institute and World Economic Forum report puts the potential at $6.2 trillion in cumulative GDP gain by 2050. The evidence is compelling, but compelling evidence alone has never been enough to build a market. What's missing is the...

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.