Our vision

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People

Demographics are changing the shape of the global economy.

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Planet

A stable and prosperous society requires environmental sustainability.

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Unlocking economic growth through education and health

Demographic patterns show an increasing population in areas such as Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East, especially among the working-age group. We see enormous potential for economic growth if investments are made in:

  • Early childhood care, educational technology for kindergarten through to 12th grade (K-12 EdTech) and student financing.
  • Accessible primary healthcare, digital health solutions and affordable care systems

Our belief: A healthy educated population is the foundation of productivity and prosperity.

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Investing in nature and sustainability

Our future economy depends on nature. More than half of global output is linked to natural ecosystems. Climate change and resource degradation threaten this foundation. We are focused on investments that support:

  • Nature-based climate solutions
  • Carbon credits, regenerative agriculture and sustainable Forestry Tech-driven tools (technology tools that help manage forests responsibly) for sustainable natural resource management

Our belief: A thriving planet is the backbone of long-term economic stability.

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More capital for impact

Investing philanthropic capital and using blended finance approaches to attract private investments means:

  • More funding can be mobilized
  • More investments can be made into social business incentivizing sustainable business models that attract private investment in the long-run.
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Better outcomes

Achieving better results by shifting the focus from actions to outcomes

  • Measuring results & verifying impact
  • Flexibility & innovation in execution to deliver impact
  • Continuous improvement

 

Raising more capital for impact

To achieve greater impact, we mobilize more capital by complementing our direct investments with exploratory approaches to innovative financing, such as blended finance. By considering tools like return-enhancing structures and risk-sharing mechanisms, we aim to make sustainable development more investible, drawing in private capital that might not otherwise engage.

This approach helps us identify a robust pipeline of investable opportunities, supporting high-impact initiatives that can scale sustainably. By blending philanthropic, public, and commercial capital where possible, we extend our reach and accelerate progress toward lasting solutions.

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Our partner stories

Accelerate the future

Accelerate the Future (ATF) is our direct investment portfolio designed to drive capital into early to mid-stage impact enterprises that focus on improving educational attainment, healthcare access, and supporting inclusive low-carbon growth. Since mid-2023, the initiative has invested over USD 15 million into twelve impact enterprises, including two funds managed by emerging impact-first fund managers.

Goals and objectives

The strategy aims to invest early when capital is most catalytic and additional, with 76% of investments in Seed to Series A and 24% in Series B1. As of end 2024, the portfolio companies have shown strong growth, and secured follow-on investments totaling USD 60 million since the initial investment. The initiative focuses on tech-enabled health and education companies that tap into the impact and financial opportunities created by the growing and prime-aged populations in Africa and Asia.

UBS Optimus Foundation's role

Accelerate the Future is designed to drive investment into 15–20 early to mid-stage impact enterprises that achieve improved educational attainment, healthcare access, and support inclusive low-carbon growth. The UBS Optimus Foundation actively engages in corporate governance, holding board seats, board observer seats, impact advisory council seats, and advisory committee roles.

Impact and achievements

In 2024, the initiative touched the lives of 10.9 million people, including 2.2 million children, through education and healthcare products and services and nature-based solutions. The focus for the next 12-18 months will be on engaging in new education and environment investment opportunities globally, with a particular interest in debt investments.

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Achieving better outcomes

We are committed to paying for outcomes rather than activities and inputs. Instead of paying for textbooks and pens, we want to pay for verified learning. This is why outcomes-based funding (OBF) has the power to address the world's most complex social and environmental challenges.

Our approach is ambitious and results-driven, ensuring that funds are only allocated when programs have proven their effectiveness. By shifting the focus from activities to outcomes, we offer service providers with the incentives, transparency and flexibility needed to achieve tangible results. And a way to continuously improve.

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      Our partner stories

      Outcomes Accelerator

      The Outcomes Accelerator, founded by the UBS Optimus Foundation, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and the Swiss State Secretariat of Economic Affairs (SECO), seeks to make outcomes-based financing approaches more efficient and mainstreamed, moving the market ecosystem toward maturity. This public-private initiative brings together governments, development agencies, investors, service providers, intermediaries, and corporates to accelerate the adoption of outcomes-based financing approaches to address the SDGs.

      Goals and objectives

      The policy-level objective of the Outcomes Accelerator is to facilitate greater resource efficiency and effectiveness in achieving the SDGs for international development funding agencies and domestic governments that utilize pay-for-success strategies. To do this, it supports early-stage program development with seed funding, expert guidance, and matchmaking through its pipeline acceleration work. It also helps with market facilitation and capacity creation efforts.

      The industry-level objective is to advance a thriving global market of viable stakeholders, including government and institutional outcomes payers, service providers, evaluators, and private investors, with the aim of delivering better and more cost-effective services targeting the SDGs.

      UBS Optimus Foundation’s role

      UBS Optimus Foundation is one of the key funders of the Outcomes Accelerator, providing financial support and resources to help make outcomes-based financing approaches more efficient and mainstreamed.

      Impact and achievements

      • The Outcomes Accelerator has supported 12 initiatives with USD 1.5 million by the end of 2023.
      • Over 40 public and private organizations working in outcomes-based finance have supported the design of the Outcomes Accelerator.

      Learn more

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      Why invest through us

      Partner with us to leverage our innovative financing models and deep expertise in social impact investing, ensuring your capital drives sustainable and measurable change. Here’s how we support you:
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      Evergreen impact through recycling 

      Your funds are catalytic in creating impact and are recycled back into impact on maturity

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      Connect and share ideas

      You receive opportunities to connect through UBS client collectives, conferences and networking events

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      Direct insights

      Receive reports, join check-ins with the programs team and insight field-trips throughout the investment life cycle

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      Access to follow-on investments 

      Opportunity to invest in social enterprises when they scale-up and seek follow-on funding

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      Gain, without pain

      UBS Optimus Foundation oversees investments including sustainable exits, performs monitoring and reporting, ensuring impact is delivered

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      What’s in it for investees?

      Our investees receive patient capital and in-kind support from committed partners with a long-term focus on impact and success 

      Support our partners

      Get in touch with us for more information on how to get involved and support our partner programs.

      Why partner with us

      Unlock your vision with maximum impact and ease through our curated programs, backed by our expertise and multi-stakeholder social impact partnerships

      Development impact bonds are not financial products.

      The UBS Optimus Foundation (UBS-OF) is a global network of separately organized and regulated, tax-exempt, charitable organizations founded by UBS, that make grants to established non-profits and invest in social impact ventures that are aligned with its values and objectives. These materials have been prepared by UBS AG and or a subsidiary or affiliate thereof, which are altogether referred to below as "UBS.” They have not been prepared with regard to any specific investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any specific recipient, current client, or prospective client. These materials are published solely for informational purposes and are not to be construed as a solicitation or an offer to buy or sell any securities or related financial instruments or services of UBS, or to participate in any particular trading strategy endorsed or not endorsed by UBS. Any recipient of these materials should not consider their contents to be either legal, tax, accounting, regulatory, or other specialist or technical advice or service, or investment advice, or a personal recommendation or endorsement of any kind whatsoever. No representation or warranty, either express or implied, is provided in relation to the accuracy, completeness or reliability of the information contained in these materials, nor is any of the information herein intended to be a complete statement or summary of the securities markets or other developments referred to in these materials. The information in these materials should not be regarded by any recipient as a substitute for the exercise of their own judgment and any opinions expressed in these materials are subject to change without notice and may differ or be contrary to opinions expressed by other business areas or groups of UBS, which may make different assumptions or rely on different criteria. UBS is under no obligation to update or keep current the information contained in these materials. Neither UBS nor any of its directors, officers, employees or agents accept any liability for any loss or damage arising out of the use of all or part of these materials or reliance upon the information contained therein. These materials are not for distribution or redistribution, except under such circumstances as may be permitted by UBS and or applicable law. UBS specifically prohibits the redistribution or reproduction of these materials in whole or in part, without the written permission of UBS and UBS accepts no liability whatsoever for the actions of third parties in this respect.
       
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