The Catalyst, a new podcast from Firstport.
The Catalyst, a new seven-part podcast season by Firstport, hosted by our Head of Investment Programmes, Emily Macdonald.
Introducing The Catalyst, a new podcast from Firstport.
Social investment can feel difficult to understand from the outside. There are different terms, different types of finance, different expectations, and often a sense that you are supposed to already know how it all works before you start asking questions.
That is exactly why we created The Catalyst, a new seven-part podcast season by Firstport, hosted by our Head of Investment Programmes, Emily Macdonald.
The series takes founders, partners, and ecosystem organisations inside the world of social investment. It opens up the conversations that usually happen behind the scenes, speaking to founders who have taken on investment, social investors who design and manage funds, and partners helping organisations become ready for finance.
Across the season, we explore what social investment is, how it works, what funders look for, and what it really means to become investment ready. You do not need to know all the language before you listen. The aim is to help social entrepreneurs gain clarity, feel more informed, and more prepared before making decisions about finance and support.
Episode 1 is out now and in the first episode, Emily is joined by Angie Lee from The Ventures Lab. Together, they explore investment readiness, founder confidence, commercial sustainability, patient capital, and what impact-led ventures really need in order to grow.
It is a thoughtful starting point for any founder trying to understand the world of social investment, or any partner interested in how the ecosystem can better support purpose-led organisations.
We hope you enjoy joining us on this six-episode journey. You can watch the full video episodes on YouTube or listen on your podcast app of choice.