Giant Leap Fund

Giant Leap Fund is Australia’s pioneering venture capital firm dedicated entirely to impact investing. Launched in 2016 as part of the Impact Investment Group, it supports startups that blend scalable business models with meaningful social and environmental benefits. The firm focuses on early-stage companies, investing from pre-seed to Series A, and prioritizes sectors like clean technology, sustainable agriculture, health, and education. Giant Leap’s portfolio reflects this ethos, featuring companies such as Sendle, a carbon-neutral delivery service, and Goterra, which converts organic waste into livestock feed using insects​. The fund’s investment strategy emphasizes long-term relationships, often engaging with founders before they even need capital, to offer guidance and build trust. Although startups can approach them directly, Giant Leap favors warm referrals, such as introductions through portfolio founders or angel investors. Their rigorous impact assessment ensures that the businesses they back can deliver measurable positive outcomes, like reducing carbon emissions or improving workplace equality. In 2022, their portfolio companies collectively avoided over 54,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions and supported thousands of individuals through job creation and better health outcomes​. Giant Leap is led by partners like Will Richardson, who brings extensive experience in venture capital, and Rachel Yang, a seasoned advisor in impact finance. They have set ambitious targets for diversity, aiming to support more women-led and ethnically diverse businesses, thus aligning their financial goals with a strong social mission.