'Investing for good' appeals in rocky start-up scene

San Francisco

AS valuations flounder for Silicon Valley start-ups once worth billions of dollars, investor interest is on the rise in start-ups with both financial and social benefits. Some examples would be healthcare software for poor communities or low-cost solar panels for homes.

So-called "impact investing" rose to US$15.2 billion globally last year from US$10.6 billion in 2014, according to a recent report by the Global Impact Investing Network. The figure includes several types of investment, from funds to foundations, which intend to generate social and financial returns.