Our global community includes around 500 investors from 25+ countries. Our members are high net wealth individuals, family offices, and foundations, as well as a few invited wealth advisors. Toniic investors are interested in transformational enterprises and impact funds that deliver positive social and/or environmental impact across any sector, asset class, and geography.
In curating investment opportunities, while Toniic seeks to support the impact investing ecosystem, we primarily serve our members, who are asset owners. Our criteria for inclusion on our investment opportunity platform are designed primarily to identify opportunities we believe will be of interest to our members, which starts with a compelling impact thesis. We regret we cannot be of service to all those interested in fundraising from our community. Toniic facilitates only investments with financial return characteristics, and not grants.
Toniic Investment Programs FAQ
How does Toniic support its members with access to investment opportunities?
Toniic supports its member network through access to impact investment opportunities.
This includes both impact investment programs where Toniic members can learn about new impact investments, and working groups where members actively collaborate on specific investment themes to co-invest.
Toniic’s investment programs are focused on co-investment among members of the network as well as on sourcing new investment opportunities. Members choose to learn about investment opportunities through a variety of channels, including:
- direct deals and funds across the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on Toniic’s global investment platform,
- investment roundup webinars,
- thematic webinars,
- personalized notification emails based on the themes of interest of Toniic members, and
- shared due diligence calls.
Toniic’ investment programs are strongly member led: they rely on opportunities sourced from members of the community, reviews by members, and shared due diligence with other Toniic members.
Also Toniic is not a syndicate, every member invests or co-invests independently.
How does Toniic help its members with impact investment selection?
Toniic’s investment sourcing focuses exclusively on impact investments – funds and enterprises seeking to make a net positive contribution to big social or environmental issues (the SDGs). The Toniic team helps its members to apply impact investing frameworks to evaluate investments, but does not perform that evaluation for members.
Through Toniic’s deal and fund programs, investors can identify SDGs of interest and be matched to funds and direct deals aligned with their interests. Members also participate in global calls focused on the presentation of investment opportunities by the Toniic investment team, as well as those referred to the Toniic community by multiple members.
Toniic is a non-profit membership organization and not an investment advisor or broker dealer. Toniic does not recommend investment opportunities to its members, nor receive financial compensation for investments made by its members.
Do Toniic’s investment programs present investment opportunities that are only broadly sustainable or responsible?
No, only the narrower category of impact investments, which we define as those seeking to make a net positive contribution to addressing the SDGs. This excludes from our investment programs (but not, of course, from our members’ investment portfolios) funds and enterprises that integrate ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) factors to mitigate financial risk or improve values alignment for the investor, but do not seek to make an identifiable positive contribution to addressing big world problems.
Does Toniic take into account the mitigation of ESG risks in selecting impact investments to present?
ESG Positive Factors Integration
Yes. While we focus on presenting impact investments only, we believe that rigorous integration of ESG factors in the investment process can advance environmental standards and data disclosures for many industries, promote good workers and supply chain practices, and favor companies that behave responsibly as global citizens. However, because ESG is not highly regulated, and not consistently defined or applied, an ESG label does not always mean that an investment is aligned with an investor’s goals or values.
Most ESG data is based on unaudited voluntary corporate disclosure and there are many ESG data providers in the market that use different datasets and deploy different methodologies which lead to different and sometimes contrasting results. Toniic members use different data sources (FossilFuelfreefunds, Truecost, Sustainalytics, S-ray Arabesque, Impact Cubed, & HIP Investor are frequently used), depending on their preferences. Some of the platforms used by Toniic members also select top-scoring ESG funds based on their methodologies and highlight such funds.
ESG Negative Risk Mitigation
In Toniic deal and fund programs, Toniic makes its best effort to identify ESG risks but will leave the ESG analysis to the individual members as a part of their due diligence based on personal values and investment criteria.
The Toniic team systematically asks funds and companies entering our process to disclose ESG risks, which we define using a double materiality standard. Specifically, we request disclosure to potential Toniic investors (we do not require public disclosure of any diligence responses) of any potential Environmental, Social, or Governance matter arising from the activities of the enterprise, a portfolio company, or the fund manager, which may be considered material by a Toniic investor, from either a financial or an impact perspective.
- We then review ESG risk disclosures accordingly. Based on our knowledge of the preferences of investors in the Toniic community and the likelihood that any disclosed matter would be considered material by some Toniic members, the following will apply:
- If the response suggests no such material risks, we proceed to share the opportunity without further disclosure.
- If the response suggests something we anticipate would be of concern to some members:
- If we believe the disclosed matter would be sufficiently material to a large number of Toniic members such that they would not consider the investment, we will decline to share the opportunity
- If we believe the disclosed matter would not preclude a large number of members from investing, we will disclose the issues(s) without further evaluation, leaving to members further investigation and evaluation of the issue and alignment to individual values as part of their due diligence.
- If ESG risks that were not initially disclosed by an investment fund or enterprise in our investment programs are brought to our attention by a Toniic member, we reach out to the fund manager or entrepreneur to request that they comment or clarify the issue. We then share both the mention of the ESG risk and the fund manager/entrepreneur’s response in all subsequent communication.
- If we are made aware of ESG risks after the completion of our programming, we contact all investors who informed Toniic that they are considering the opportunity and report to them the potential ESG risks as well as the response from the fund manager/entrepreneur. We also include ESG risks and responses on the corresponding Gust profile and update deal summaries in the library of deal summaries that members can access for future reference.
Please note that while Toniic makes its best effort to identify and disclose material ESG risks, Toniic makes no representation about the completeness and accuracy of ESG risks.
Are the selection criteria for funds and direct investments in enterprises the same?
No, they are different. Direct investments in enterprises must be proposed as co-investment opportunities by members who have already invested or are actively considering an investment. Fund managers, on the other hand, may apply to be featured. Our selection criteria are available on Toniic’s website, and include a subjective determination by the Toniic investment team of the likely interest level of members.
Can the Toniic team recommend impact investments to its members?
Investment opportunities highlighted on the Toniic platform undergo a screening process for their impact investment thesis, proof of concept, team track-record, and other factors, but Toniic does not provide due diligence support or investment advice. Toniic is not a regulated investment advisor. Toniic members make their own investment decisions. Toniic also recommends its members consult with a tax, investment and legal advisor before making investments.
How are investment opportunities selected for virtual and in person presentations?
Toniic prioritizes investment opportunities selected for investor presentations based on the expressions of interest of Toniic members, and alignment with the impact themes of events.
Toniic members presenting opportunities in which they are directly involved or for which they may receive financial compensation receive no advantages or special promotion within the Toniic community. Members are expected to disclose such potential conflicts-of-interest to the investment team and community to increase transparency.
Is Toniic paid any kind of success fee for investments made by its members?
No. Toniic’s investment programs are supported only by member dues and a modest processing fee for funds to cover administrative costs, a fee which is based on the size of the fund and not success. Toniic does not accept referral fees, finders fees, nor receive any asset-based fees for investments made by members.
Do direct deals and funds pay to be featured on Toniic? How does this ensure that the selection is driven by the fund quality and alignment with Toniic members’ interest?
There is no charge to enterprises recommended by members co-investment to be featured in our programs. Many early stage companies operate in low resource income settings and lack the ability to pay a processing fee.
Funds that are selected for Toniic’s investment programs pay a modest processing fee to offset our administrative costs.
The listing fee has a tiered pricing structure, with smaller funds paying a fee starting at $1,000 to participate, and larger funds paying $2,500-$3,500. In order to promote diversity and racial equity , Toniic provides discounts for funds focused primarily on diversity, equity and inclusion so that our fund program is inclusive for smaller, diverse and first time fund managers.
To share an investment opportunity with our community of investors, please see our investment criteria for funds and enterprises.
Toniic Fund Program
Toniic provides its members with access to a global investment platform focused on impact funds across multiple asset classes. The Toniic platform integrates the Sustainable Development Goals and related Toniic Impact Themes so Toniic members can identify impact funds that align with their themes of interest.
What we provide to fund managers
Toniic will provide high visibility of fund profiles to our members (accredited investors and qualified purchasers) who have certified compliance with the applicable legal requirements. We curate two fund programs.
Fund Listing Program
- A listing and description of your fund for up to 12 months on our investment platform, accessible to all of Toniic members
- Coverage of the fund during our internal bi-monthly call in which the Toniic team presents highlights of the latest funds on the platform to investors of the network
- Inclusion of the fund in Toniic’s fund newsletter
- Direct notifications with details of the fundraise to investors who expressed interest in impact themes relevant to the fund
- Exceptionally – depending on the number of expressions of interest that we may receive from our members – Fund Managers can also be invited to present in one of our webinars or in-person meetings.
Our key fund criteria
- High social and/or environmental impact
- Strong management team
- Risk mitigation strategy
- Differentiating investment theory
Please submit your fund investor deck and PPM, if you think that your fund would satisfy our criteria, and you are interested in joining our global platform.
How the process works
Within 2 to 3 weeks of the submission of your materials, you will receive a response from our Investment Research team.
If there is a clear match, you will be invited to create a profile on the Toniic investment opportunity platform. The fee, which ranges between $1.000 and $3.500 (depending on the size of the fund and the type of fund program) helps Toniic to offset the fund program expenses.
Our Investment Research Team will provide you with guidance on how to optimize your fund profile before sharing it with our members.
Please note that Toniic does not invest itself, nor provide investment advice to its members. Participation in the fund programs does not guarantee that any investor will choose to invest. Investors of the Toniic network see a large number of investment opportunities and not all funds will receive funding. No direct marketing efforts to Toniic members is allowed outside approved channels. Our communication is intended to be structured in accordance with US legal requirements, which prohibit Toniic from providing advice about specific investments or otherwise expressing investment opinions and actively promoting investments. Funds are responsible for complying with any legal requirements in applicable jurisdictions for any transaction eventually consummated with investors introduced through the platform. For these reasons, it is important for fund managers to keep their information on Toniic’s investment opportunity platform complete and up to date.
Toniic direct investment program for Enterprises
Toniic features only co-investments in direct deals. If one of your investors is a Toniic member or if a Toniic member is currently considering an investment in your company, and you are looking for additional funding, please ask your Toniic member investor to contact the Toniic team. The Toniic team will guide you through the direct investment program and share an invitation to join our platform.
Investor deck requirements
In the investor deck, please include information about the following:
- Vision
- Customer problem
- Business model
- Target market & competitive landscape
- Competitive advantage
- Management team experience
- Capital seeking & use of funds
- Proof of concept, traction & scalability
- Go to market strategy
- Financial history & projections
- Social impact history & projections
How the process works
Within three weeks of receiving your application, you should receive a response from our Investment Research Team. If, after reviewing your materials, we conclude you meet our criteria, you will be invited onto Toniic’s investment opportunity platform where your company will be available for consideration to all Toniic members for review.
Depending on the expressions of interest received on the platform, you may be featured on our thematic investor webinars and investment round-up calls, or live at one of Toniic’s regional member meetings.
If one or more Toniic members are interested in exploring an investment opportunity relative to your venture, they will contact you directly.
Please understand that Toniic members see numerous investment opportunities and that Toniic members cannot invest in every deal. For that reason, it is important for entrepreneurs to keep their information on Toniic’s platform up to date and as complete as possible. Should your status change in any way, please update Toniic at your earliest convenience.