“The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Social Investment” has been created as a clear, practical resource to bring everything needed to understand social investment together in one accessible place.

“Making sense of social investment can often feel more complex than it needs to be. For many social entrepreneurs, the landscape is filled with unfamiliar terminology, differing expectations from funders, and a lack of clarity about where to begin. Organisations can feel under pressure to already understand how social investment works, leading some to rule themselves out before fully exploring whether it could be right for them.”

Developed by Firstport, alongside partners Social Investment Scotland, Good Finance, and The Ventures Lab, the guide reflects multiple perspectives to support informed and confident decision-making. This collaborative approach aims to ensure the content supports better, more informed decision-making for social entrepreneurs at different stages of their journey.

The guide provides an overview of key topics, including:

the language of social investment, developed with Good Finance, to help demystify common terms and concepts
how social investment works in practice, with insight from Social Investment Scotland
understanding and building investment readiness, supported by The Ventures Lab
clear explanations of the differences between grants and loans
an introduction to revenue-based finance, helping organisations understand alternative funding options

The guide has been created by Firstport and its partners with the understanding that many organisations could be a strong fit for social investment, but have previously discounted it based on assumptions or incomplete information. By offering clear explanations and practical guidance, “The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Social Investment” encourages organisations to take a step back, explore their options more fully, and approach investment with greater clarity and confidence.

“Whether at an early stage or actively considering investment, this guide is designed to support organisations to make decisions that align with their mission, capacity, and long-term sustainability.”

To access “The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Social Investment”, or for further information, please visit the Firstport website (linked for your convenience).