KIBOW Social Investment Fund Unveils 'IMPACT REPORT 2024,' Highlighting Contributions to Social Issues

KIBOW Social Investment Fund Releases 'IMPACT REPORT 2024'

On April 7, 2025, KIBOW, a general incorporated foundation based in Chiyoda, Tokyo, officially launched its latest impact report, titled 'IMPACT REPORT 2024.' This document highlights the contributions made by the fund and its partner enterprises towards social changes and can be accessed online at IMPACT REPORT 2024.

Purpose of the Report

The 'IMPACT REPORT 2024' aims to communicate KIBOW's past contributions towards achieving a sustainable and improved society, along with the wisdom gained from these experiences. The report outlines the vision for an ideal society that KIBOW and its investment partners aim for, providing a roadmap for how these objectives will be achieved and detailing current progress.

KIBOW seeks to spread its mission through this report, aiming to amplify social impact and contribute to the growth of social impact investing in Japan. This investment strategy specifically targets the resolution of significant societal challenges such as poverty, discrimination, environmental issues, education, and welfare while also pursuing economic benefits.

Report Contents

The report is constructed around several key components, including KIBOW's vision and mission, theory of change, highlights, investment process and criteria, along with in-depth information about the partner companies involved. In the segment dedicated to partner companies, the report touches on the social issues they are facing, an overview of their businesses, and the pathways they are pursuing towards generating social impact.

Additionally, a special feature presents the findings from a comprehensive survey conducted among all partner firms, aimed at validating the social impact facilitated by KIBOW's support. The survey asked questions such as, 'How significantly has KIBOW contributed to enhancing social impact?' and 'What further contributions do you expect from KIBOW for generating more impact?' The results revealed that approximately 80% of the respondents felt that their social impact had indeed increased, illustrating that KIBOW acts as a driving force behind these entrepreneurs' impact-making endeavors.

KIBOW plans to host related events in the future, facilitating further expansion of social impact and the development of impact investing across the board.

About KIBOW Social Investment Fund

Founded in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011 to support recovery efforts, KIBOW transitioned from a project to a foundation for sustained support. In September 2015, the KIBOW Social Investment Fund was established to contribute not only to the affected areas but to society at large. The fund champions a mission to solve social problems and create hope through innovation, actively engaging in social impact investments targeted at social entrepreneurs.

Over the past eight years, KIBOW has invested in a total of 22 startup companies and currently manages 'KIBOW Social Investment Fund No. 3' with a total of 1 billion yen. KIBOW addresses currently unsolved social issues, accelerating solutions to these challenges via social impact investing.

KIBOW continues to pioneer change in society by collaborating with hopeful entrepreneurs to enact business creations and societal transformation.

Message from KIBOW's Chief Partner, Reiji Yamanaka

In the 'IMPACT REPORT 2024,' it's crucial to focus on the numbers and stories emerging from KIBOW's partner enterprises, all of whom are grappling with severe social issues. This report also includes a special feature on 'Ai-Sansan Taku-Shoku,' which will reach its exit point in 2025, reflecting on how we’ve contributed to social impact. We welcome comments and feedback as we further enhance KIBOW's initiatives.

About KIBOW

Founded three days after the earthquake, 'Project KIBOW' was named from the merging of 'Hope' and 'Rainbow,' emphasizing the long-term commitment to support the affected areas. KIBOW operates under three main pillars:
1. Providing a platform – Creating spaces (events) for those devoted to regional recovery to converge and collaborate.
2. Donations – Support has garnered collaboration from over 1,400 individuals, amounting to about 100 million yen directed towards NGOs and local leaders engaged in recovery efforts.
3. Social impact investing – Investing in social entrepreneurs with aspirations to transform society, supporting their scaling efforts beyond affected areas.