Design and structuring of impact investment vehicles.
We offer tailored advice and services according to our clients’ needs and desired impact.
Our services range from design and structuring of different impact investment vehicles or tools, to the complete implementation and management of the initiative launched.
We have experience in the development of Impact Investment Funds, Outcome Payment Contracts, Social Impact Bonds, and the development of ICMA Aligned Green, Social and Sustainable Bonds frameworks, among others.
Strategic advisory and impact management
We provide strategic advice to clients within the governmental, multilateral, corporate, financial and non-profit sector in the development and diversification of their fundraising and impact investment strategies; including the incorporation of best international practice in their impact management and reporting.
- Our clients include:
- Banks: Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo, Banco de Desarrollo Productivo de Bolivia, Banco de Galicia y Buenos Aires, ASOBAN, Tarjeta Naranja
- Governments: Mesa Técnica de Finanzas Sostenibles de Argentina, Gobierno de la Provincia de San Juan
- Non-profit organisations: Fairtrade International, Pro Mujer International, Save the Children
- Social Enterprises: Fundación Zambrano, Fundación Compromiso, Grid X
- Investment Funds: NXTP Ventures, Puerto Asís Investments
Market and field building
We developed and manage key peer networks for the development of the impact investment ecosystem in Latin America such as the Impact Investment Task Force for Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, the Latin-American Outcomes Payment network with peers in Brazil, Colombia, Chile and Mexico, and the LATIN SIF (now part of the UNPRI).
We develop market research and intelligence both as a public good and for specific clients. Please see reports
We successfully concluded the first Social Impact Bond in Argentina!
And we are raising the bar to create the first Outcomes Fund focused on youth employment in the country, and one of the first ones in the region.
The first Social Impact Bond in Argentina focused on the employability of vulnerable youth in the south of the City of Buenos Aires, and was implemented between December 2018 to May 2022.
89% of participants finalized the capacity building program
36% entered into formal employment
76% remained in employment for 4 months
59% remained in employment for 12 months
Un launched the Gender Platform
Together with Pro Mujer and financed by USAID DAI we developed and launched the Gender Platform, a one stop shop with latest data, best practice, tools, and support needed so that financial institutions across Latin America and globally can develop their strategies and gender lens investment products and learn from peers.
Visit websiteWho we are
We have the experience developing the solutions, opportunities and vehicles through which investors can align capital with purpose, to catalyse lasting economic and social change.
We know that investment has the power to achieve the change we want to see happen in our lifetime, at the speed and scale needed.
We are driven by the conviction that building a thriving, inclusive, and sustainable economy represents a unique opportunity to shift course for Latin America
WE EXIST TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN
WE ARE ACRUX
Services
We tailor our strategic advice and solutions to client needs, which include private equity and venture capital funds, family offices, banks, governments, multilateral agencies, non-profit organisations and corporates.
We bring more than two decades of experience in sustainable finance and impact investment, to add value to our clients, providing practical and results focused solutions. We specialize in thinking “outside of the box” and adapting the solutions and innovation needed to our client’s needs.
1. Strategic advisory and impact management
We advise and support our clients in the development and diversification of their sustainable and impact investment strategies and fundraising activities. We support them in implementing the strategies and develop a robust impact management practice. Our services include:
- Theory of Change development
- Development and evaluation of impact indicators and KPIs
- Development and implementation of impact monitoring and evaluation tools
- Digitalization of impact reporting
- Impact evaluation and reporting
2. Structuring of impact investment vehicles and products
Advise in the development and structuring of impact investment vehicles or instruments, including:
- Impact investment funds
- Outcome payment contracts and Social Impact Bonds
- Development of ICMA Aligned Green, Social and Sustainable Bonds frameworks, among others
- Wholesale impact funds
Our services adapt to the client needs, and range from the design and structuring to fund management.
3. Training and capacity building
We have partnered with key international stakeholders to deliver state of the art capacity building, training and services.
4. Market intelligence and field building
We develop market research and information as a public good and for private clients.
We forge and work within and through networks.
We produce in depth market research and market intelligence.
We work in alliance with other like-minded organisations to promote the development of sustainable finance and impact investment at a global level.
Team
We have a multidisciplinary team with diverse expertise that includes specialists in finance, management, development and impact measurement.
Together we can provide multi-dimensional solutions to our clients and the projects we work on, from governments to private investors and companies, generating value in everything we do.
Acrux has a unique network of pro-bono advisors, experts in areas including: investment and finance, financial innovation, regulatory and legal frameworks, management, entrepreneurship, international development and impact investing, who motivate, challenge and support us to think "outside the box" and find innovative solutions to complex problems.
María Laura is the Director of Acrux Partners and Strategic Business Development Advisor for Pro Mujer International.
SEE MOREMARÍA LAURA TINELLI
Director & Co Founder
María José Castelli, works as Project Manager in Argentina. María José has many years of experience in the labour market both...
SEE MOREMARIA JOSÉ CASTELLI
Project Manager in Argentina/Uruguay
Flavia is the Impact Director at Acrux Partners, leading impact evaluation and measurement projects as well as research...
SEE MOREFLAVIA TINELLI
Impact Director
Agustina works as an Analyst at Acrux Partners. She has experience in various sectors: government, academia, private...
SEE MOREAgustina Zamprile
Analyst
Juan María works as a consultant specialized in project management and has extensive experience leading work teams...
SEE MOREJuan Maria Abal
Advisor
Florencia has more than 8 years of experience in planning social and environmental projects in public and...
SEE MOREFlorencia Casas
Project Planification
Juan Savino has been an Advisor to Acrux since 2015, and is in charge of Investor Relations for Lexington Partners in...
SEE MOREJUAN SAVINO
Advisor
Federica has been an advisor to Acrux since 2022, having previously been in charge of new business development in Uruguay and Latam.
SEE MOREFEDERICA ABELLA
Advisor
Constanza Connolly is co-founder of Keidos impacto legal, a consulting firm focused on generating, facilitating and/or scaling...
SEE MORECONSTANZA CONNOLLY
Counsel
Adolfo has been a consultant at Acrux since 2020. His area of expertise is project management, developed from a varied professional...
SEE MOREADOLFO DIAZ VALDEZ
Advisor
Damian Gerbasi served for 2 years as an Investment Associate for Acrux and is now a strategic ally of the organization. His work...
SEE MOREDAMIAN GERBASI
AdvisorMilestones
2015
We created and lead the Impact Investing Working Group for Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay and we represent Argentina in the Global Steering Group on Impact Investment.
Co Launch with the BID FOMIN the call for an Impact Investment Fund for Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. Getting the MIF to place up to 10% of the total Fund. $5 million
2019
We launched the Latin American Network of Payment for Results with counterparts from Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Chile and the UK
2020
Development for PNUD of an in-depth study for Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Chile on the demand for impact capital for the development of investments aligned with the identified needs.
2021
Development for ONU Woman of two studies on investments with a focus on gender in Uruguay and Chile
We created two working alliances: Pro Mujer, leading organization in the region that works on the empowerment of women in Latin America; and with Keidos, an impact legal consultancy for sustainable development.
2022
Together with Pro Mujer and financed by USAID we concluded a fantastic Project to mainstream a diverse and more nuanced gender-lens into the investment strategies of mainstream financial sector actors in Latin America. The USAID-funded project titled PRO MUJER AND ACRUX PARTNERS: Mainstreaming Gender Smart Investment Strategies among Institutional and Commercial Investors in Latin America included a technical assistance (TA) component to support key financial sector actors to recognize gender gaps in both their internal processes and external business activities that could prevent the full inclusion of diverse and minority women’s access to financial services, capital or institutional decision-making processes.
Financed by Fundación Avina under the INDELA Fund we delivered a series of capacity building sessions for non profit organisations to develop their impact strategy and managemet practices.
2016
Acrux begins operations in Argentina helping investors and companies develop viable investments seeking positive financial, environmental and social returns in Latin America.
2017
With GCBA, BID Lab y Social Finance UK We develop and coordinate the offer of the First Social Impact Bond of Argentina in employability of vulnerable youth.
We act as performance managers and administrators of the Social Impact Bond of the City of Buenos Aires in employability of vulnerable youth. We lead the feasibility study and design of an Education Impact Bond for the province of Salta, Argentina
2019
We work with the Agencia de Inversiones de San Juan in the development of an investment fund with social and environmental impact in conjunction with PNUD Argentina.
We developed the feasibility study and the design of a pay-for-results contract to work on the issue of refugees and displaced persons in Argentina.
2020
Desarrollo en conjunto con la Red de Banco de Alimentos Argentina and the Fundación Alimentaris of a payment-by-results scheme to improve the nutritional quality of the food delivered
2021
2021 We developed consultancies for the design of impact strategies for Fundación Compromiso, Tarjeta Naranja and Pro Mujer Internacional.
2020-2021
We work with PNUD Bolivia in the development of an impact measurement system for the Productive Development Bank, for the socioeconomic recovery of MIPYMES
Together with the Productive Development Bank of Bolivia, we developed the country's first Sustainable Bond aligned with SDG Standards (SDG Impact UNDP) ICMA
2021-2022
2021-2022 We work with UNDP Bolivia in the development of an impact measurement system for ASOBAN, which measures the impact of Bolivian banking on compliance with the SDGs.
2020
Acrux starts operations in Uruguay.
2015
Acrux establishes itself in the United Kingdom seeking to connect highly developed impact and responsible investment markets with developing ones.
2020
The Director of Acrux was named a Fellow of Practice in Go Lab, of the University of Oxford in the UK, leading to an investigation into the use of Sibs in the region.
Publications
Transition to impact management
We launched the “Transition towards impact management” Program Promoted together with our allies Keidos and Fixit. There are 4 meetings designed for those who start or seek to progress their knowledge and practices on issues of sustainability, impact and ESG.
Towards the development of investments with a gender perspective in Bolivia
A study on the situation of impact investment with a gender perspective in Bolivia.
2016-2021 FIRST 5 YEARS
Acrux Partners was established in 2015 in the United Kingdom and in 2016 in Argentina, to connect capital and innovation in sustainable finance and impact investing between developed and developing markets, supporting investors, companies and actors to develop viable investment opportunities that seek a positive financial, environmental and social return in Latin America.
Vínculo de Impacto Social de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires
El Vínculo de Impacto Social "Proyectá tu Futuro" llega al final de su implementación y se presentan a continuación los resultados obtenidos y los principales aprendizajes y recomendaciones a futuro.
Mapping of investments with a gender perspective in Chile
This work forms part of the work headed by UN Women under the programme “Win-Win: Gender equality means good business”, a strategic partnership between UN Women, the ILO and the European Union, aimed at
Mapping the situation of impactful investments with a gender perspective Uruguay
Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development is a frame- work of action for the adoption and implementation of policies and practices to surmount the challenges of environmental, economic and social development,
Bonos de impacto social en América Latina
IDB Lab's pioneering work in the region. Lessons learned
The Impact Principle
Widening participation and deepening practice for impact investment at scale
Catalysing an Impact Investment Ecosystem
Working Group Report from The Global Steering Group for Impact Investment
Inversión de Impacto en Argentina
An opportunity for the country's sustainable development
Inversión de Impacto en Chile
Opportunities and challenges in a market with great potential
Inversión de Impacto en Paraguay
Opportunities and challenges of a market with enormous potential.
Building Impact Investment Wholesalers
Key Questions in Design of an Impact Investment Wholesaler. Working Group Report from The Global Steering Group for Impact Investment.
Inversión de Impacto en Argentina 2017
The following report is made as part of the work and actions of the Mesa Ejecutiva de Inversion de Impacto Argentina.
Manual de Métricas e Indicadores de Impacto
Why and how to measure the environmental and social impact of your business?
News
Investments: how are the new bonds that help finance activities with social and environmental impact
Two civil associations issued Negotiable Obligations for a total of $228 million and new operations are planned, with increasing amounts; in a few days a microfinance entity with a gender asset will join; what destinations are given to the resources
Unpublished: they place the first NO of gender, with social impact, for $200 million
"This obligation opens the door to other entities, highlighted María Laura Tinelli of Pro Mujer, which provides microcredits and assistance to women"
What are the most effective tools to incorporate the gender approach in the investment world of Latin America?
During the GLI 2022 Forum in Guatemala, the Gender Platform was officially launched, developed by Acrux Partners together with Pro Mujer, with the support of USAID DAI.
Investments that pay off if more young people study and work.
Financial entities, companies and NGOs developed, with the Buenos Aires government, a pilot test of a bond whose returns are tied to the fulfillment of social objectives; how is the strategy and what lessons were learned
Inversiones que rinden si se logra que más jóvenes estudien y trabajen.
Entidades financieras, empresas y ONG desarrollaron, con el gobierno porteño, una prueba piloto de un bono cuyos retornos están atados a que se cumplan objetivos en el plano social; cómo es la estrategia y qué aprendizajes hubo
PARTNERSHIP ACRUX PARTNERS - PRO MUJER
Pro Mujer a mission-driven social enterprise focused on empowering women in Latin America, announced today that it is partnering with Acrux Partners, to jointly develop the next generation of Gender Lens Investment opportunities and vehicles in Latin America.
The "opportunity" for Uruguay in impact investment and the government's plans for it
A new UNDP report in Uruguay looks at what the country has achieved in recent years in terms of impact investment, as well as the challenges it faces.
Invertir buscando impacto: una solución de largo plazo para el progreso de argentina
Interview with María Laura Tinelli, where she explains the trends in impact investment in the region and the opportunities that Argentina presents.
Conocé la tendencia mundial de inversión que llega a Uruguay
Interview with Federica Abella, who explains the impact investment trend in the region and her role as New Projects Manager for Acrux Partners in Uruguay.
Invertir con una mirada 360, una solución de largo plazo
Si por un minuto nos corremos del ruido, y miramos hacia atrás (nuestra historia), hacia alrededor (que ocurre en el mundo, que experiencias podemos tomar para aprender), y hacia adelante: qué oportunidades
Inversión con impacto social y ambiental, bajo un nuevo impulso por la pandemia
Los capitales para proyectos con propósito llegan en el mundo a US$715.000 millones y crecen al 17% anual; qué planes hay frente al Covid-19, qué pasa en el país y cuál es el riesgo del "lavado de imagen"
Ronald Cohen: "Para dar ayuda social son necesarias inversiones, no donaciones
Sir Ronald Cohen entra en el salón del Sheraton de Retiro y las casi 500 personas presentes toman aliento e inmediatamente comienzan a aplaudir. Aunque en la Argentina su nombre es desconocido, este hombre de pelo blanco y 74 años es
Los inversores evalúan cada vez más el impacto social y ambiental de los proyectos
Para cumplir con los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS), una serie de 17 ítems (eliminar la pobreza es el principal) planteados por la ONU de aquí a 2030, el rol de las finanzas es central.
Inversión de impacto: el retorno con el que ganan todos
Entre hoy y mañana se realiza la Cumbre Anual de Impacto GSG, una tendencia que crece en el mundo. El encuentro, que reúne a figuras de nivel internacional, es la primera vez que se realiza en América latina.
La nueva agenda es una vuelta a las bases
El pasado 26 de junio se alcanzaron los límites planetarios. Se debería haber dejado de emitir dióxido de carbono o empezar a hacerlo de forma diferente y, según el Banco Mundial, la Argentina deforesta al doble de velocidad que otros países del mundo:
Economía verde. Cuál es la agenda que se viene en el mundo y la Argentina
El pasado 26 de junio se alcanzaron los límites planetarios. Se debería haber dejado de emitir dióxido de carbono o empezar a hacerlo de forma diferente y, según el Banco Mundial, la Argentina deforesta al doble de velocidad que otros países del mundo:
Impact project/investment of the year - Education: Argentina's first social impact bond
An update on the SIB of the Government of the City of Buenos Aires.
Los bonos de impacto social llegan a la Argentina
Por medio de una innovadora herramienta financiera, inversores privados apostarán $ 40 millones para mejorar la inserción laboral de más de 1000 jóvenes vulnerables de la zona sur de CABA; ONGs expertas ejecutarán los programas y el gobierno de la Ciudad solo pagará por los resultados obtenidos.
- G20 DWG / GSG Engagement
At the G20 in Buenos Aires, the GSG hosted delegates of the Development Working Group (DWG) with representatives from 11 countries, the World Bank, OECD and UNDP. The group's efforts are focused on promoting inclusive economic growth, primarily through Inclusive Business. Acrux represented the Argentinean NAB.
Macri´s Argentina wants to muscle in on impact investing
Director of Acrux Partners interviewed by the Financial Times about the current opportunities for the Impact Investing market in Argentina.
SUSTAINABILITY: it's time for articulation
Working together between business, the public sector and civil society organisations is giving rise to a new way to synchronise agendas and meet sustainable development goals.