Global Steering's Ronald Cohen: We must wake up to a new revolution in investment

'The impact revolution'

In the 1970s, I co-founded Apax Partners during the early days of venture capital and he idea we rallied around was simple but powerful: believe in the potential of young entrepreneurs and the tech businesses of tomorrow. Value for society will inevitably follow through increased employment and innovation.

While most are familiar with the advent of venture capital, the growth of tech startups, and how they changed the world, not as many sat around tables at the Bank of England in the 1970s when the idea was very fresh. Like most bold new ideas, it invited sceptics in droves. In those days, the idea of measuring risk alongside returns was only beginning to make its impression felt within the financial community. Shift in sentiment towards UK economy amid increased optimism from financial institutions However, soon heralded a sea change in new thinking about investment emerged, bri...