Galileo International Impact Investing Centre

GALILEO IIIC
Galileo International Impact Investing Centre is a Non-Profit, Tax exempted association based in Zug, Switzerland.
Galileo IIIC promotes the theme of Impact Investments internationally and provides access to Camomile Impact Community Platform.
Impact investments refer to investments which achieve significant positive, measurable social and environmental impacts beside financial returns.


Our vision
Impact investing - the new normal. We believe that impact investing should become a major catalyst for social and environmental reforms. More people becoming aware of and having access to impact investing will improve the quality of everyone's lives and the health of the planet.
Our mission

Our mission is to promote impact investing internationally and to provide accessible education in impact investing. Camomile Impact Community aims to transform impact investing into efficient, reliable, transparent and professional practice.

Our mission is to create global community of people with the unifying idea of making the world a better place. We are building a bridge between social enterprises, financial institutions and individuals who want to invest in such companies. As a result, we enable an additional flow of capital into companies that create positive social and environmental impact and increasing number of such projects globally.

THE CREATIVE TEAM

  • Sveta Banerjee

    CO-FOUNDER, CEO SWITZERLAND

    President and Co-Founder of Galileo IIIC, Managing Director of the Impact Investing School and Board Member of SIIA (Swiss Impact Investing Association). Sveta is an expert in impact investing and is actively raising awareness about this topic in the Swiss financial industry.

    Sveta is frequent guest lecturer, TEDx speaker and Keynote Speaker at various conferences.

    She has working experience at various banks, such as J. Safra Sarasin, Societe Generale, Family Office and Asset Management companies in Zurich.

    Sveta has a Master’s degree in Banking & Finance from University of Zurich (UZH) and completed the Impact Investing Executive Education at Oxford University.

  • Sergei Ponomarev

    CO-FOUNDER, CEO RUSSIA

    Sergei is Co-Founder of Galileo IIIC, Business trainer, candidate of political sciences, expert in social entrepreneurship.

    Sergei is engaged in educational programs in the sector of social entrepreneurship in regions of Russia and abroad. Directly advises social entrepreneurs about business and social impact.


    Sergei has 19-years of experience in NGO sector and helped to implement about 100 social projects (from local to international). He held more than 500 training seminars and completed various trainings in 11 countries of the world.


    Author of the books "Russian and American best practices of social entrepreneurship support", "Social entrepreneurship in Great Britain".

  • Late Andrey Bazarnov

    CO-FOUNDER, CHIEF STRATEGIC OFFICER, IT

    Unfortunately, Andrei left this world in the end of 2021, but we will always remember him.

    Andrey had many years of experience as impact investor and entrepreneur.


    He was IT genius, expert in software development, online business and digital Marketing.

  • Céline Goetzelmann

    SENIOR FINANCE OFFICER

    Céline is a finance professional with 15 years experience acquired in diverse industries accross Europe.


    She covered various responsabilities in international companies, from accounting to controlling and tax.

OUR AMBASSADORS & ADVISORS

  • Rishi Deva

    CEO AT KUPID'S PLAY

    Rishi is a recognized Climate Reality Leader, personally trained by former US Vice President Al Gore.

    With over 25 years experience, Rishi is a gold-record winning music industry veteran, specializing in artist management and versed in all sectors of the music industry.

    He is the CEO of the record label Kupid’s Play, dedicated to bringing commercially viable artists to the pop mainstream to inspire millions of people to live in a world of positive possibilities. He has helped numerous multi-Grammy-winning and platinum sales artists navigate to profitability.

    Rishi is the Executive Producer and Director of Marketing and Communications for Parvati.org, a not-for-profit devoted to the realization of MAPS: the Marine Arctic Peace Sanctuary, an effective and cost-free solution to help stop climate change and keep our oceans alive. The work is publicized through compelling media narratives and high-quality artistic experiences that support a global shift to a sustainable future.

  • Deniz N. Erkus

    BOARD MEMBER OF SIIA, MANAGING PARTNER OF SIDEMI

    Deniz, CFA is a Board Member of SIIA and the Managing Partner of SiDeMi Business Consulting GmbH. She is a senior strategic and financial advisor in the finance and investment industries with a multi-cultural and international background.


    Deniz has 25+ years of experience from serving in leading roles and senior executive positions in international financial institutions.


    She has extensive expertise in investment vehicles and structures, asset management, corporate governance, audit & compliance, sustainable investing and Fintech.


    “Do something today that your future self will thank you for”

  • Patrick Elmer

    FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR, IGRAVITY

    Patrick works at the intersection of finance and global development, focusing on innovative solutions and partnerships that create opportunities for underprivileged people and protect our planet.

    iGravity is an advisory boutique specialized on both innovative finance and impact investment solutions. Patrick previously worked as Head of Business Development at BlueOrchard, leading the sales strategy across multiple markets and developing new partnerships and structures.

    He was also Head of Philanthropy Services and Responsible Investments at Credit Suisse, advising clients on investment solutions and leading the bank’s efforts in creating novel partnerships and products in areas like microfinance, education, agriculture and conservation finance. Before that, Patrick worked for many years in Mozambique, Tanzania and Madagascar, first managing the private sector development portfolio of SECO (Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs) and later establishing and managing microfinance banks on behalf of public and private investors.

  • Christin ter Braak-Forstinger

    FOUNDER OF CHI IMPACT CAPITAL

    Dr. Christin is the co-founder and CEO of Chi Impact Capital in Zurich an independent Impact Fund Manager.

    Christin is passionate about pro-actively making the shift towards a regenerative and deep impact economy a reality.

    Christin has a long-standing experience and a 15 year+ track record in the financial services sector, private equity, the impact investing field, sustainable investing, strategic philanthropy advisory and the collaboration with international organizations and public stakeholders; she completed her Doctoral Thesis at Harvard Law School (summa cum laude) and her Master Studies at Duke Law School; Christin has published numerous peer reviewed articles in the field of sustainable investing and impact investing, authored and co-authored several books the latest of which is “Conscious Investing”;

    Christin is a lecturer at various universities on impact investing; Privately, Christin is the co-founder and president of award winning NGO Braveaurora, active in North Ghana since 2009. Christin also served as an honorary board member for Plan International Switzerland for seven years.

  • Ana von Bock

    DOW CORPORATE VOLUNTEERING MANAGER

    Ana is a compassionate professional with 15+ years of multinational corporations and entrepreneurial experience in different countries.

    Engaged and passionate about Philanthropy, Social impact investment, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities and community programs with the objective of improving people’s life.

    Positive and resilient woman able to drive and develop initiatives creating verified social impact at company and community level.

    She is part of the DOW Corporate Volunteering planning team, managing more than 15 mil volunteers worldwide and President of ESADE Alumni Zurich Chapter.

  • Fabrice d'Erm

    CO-FOUNDER, CEO OF THE ROCKET FOUNDATION

    Fabrice is a co-founder and CEO of the Rocket Foundation.


    Having spent more than 20 years in the finance industry (London, Paris, Zurich and Geneva), Fabrice currently dedicates his time and energy to projects which have a positive social and environmental impact.


    He has been working with start-ups as an investor, coach and board director for more than 10 years and has supported many philanthropic projects across

    multiple themes. He also acts as a mentor to several social entrepreneurs.

  • Susanne Bregy

    MANAGING DIRECTOR, RHODANUS CAPITAL

    Susanne is the Founder and Managing DIrector of rhodanus Capital - Impact Investing Advisory. Prior to establishing Rhodanus, Susanne was an investor relations (IR) and public relations (PR) professional and led fundraising efforts for a number of private equity and hedge funds.


    Originally from Switzerland, she has established relationships with private wealth investors based in Europe and the UK. Susanne was previously responsible for IR and Fundraising at investment funds including: GoldenPeaks Capital, a European activist hedge fund in Guernsey and Zug RCapital, a turnaround strategy private equity investor in London Aurelius AG, a listed distressed and turnaround private equity investor in Munich GeMit Genussscheinfonds Mittelstand, a mezzanine fund in Munich.

  • Daniel Brühwiler

    FOUNDER & CEO, GLOBAL STRATEGIC CAPITAL

    Daniel is the founder of Global Strategic Capital and the driving force behind the company. He looks back on a long and highly successful career in the financial industry.

    Among other things, he managed an investment fund with a total asset base of more than three billion Swiss francs for the Swiss bank Credit Suisse.

    In addition, he led the investment management of Credit Suisse (Switzerland) with client assets of more than CHF 30 billion.

    Daniel is the manager of the Green Tech Portfolio.

  • Ivan Belga

    SENIOR BANKER, BANQUE INTERNATIONALE À LUXEMBOURG

    Ivan has 25 years of international experience in Corporate Finance, Investment Banking and Wealth Management and is passionate about Sustainable Finance.

    He has in depth banking experience at UBS, Pictet & Cie and Credit Suisse successfully managing international HNWI and UHNW clients.

    In addition Ivan was leading various advisory and M&A projects in infrastructure, retail, media, food, financial services and other industrial goods.

OUR ACTIVITIES

IMPACT EVENTS

We are Speakers and raising awareness about impact investing existence through organizing various workshops, seminars, performing at conferences and other events with a goal to make it mainstream.
Invite us to your conference or event!

EDUCATION

We provide educational courses, seminars, tailor-made programs, webinars at Impact Investing School.

CONSULTING

We provide consulting services to institutions and social entrepreneurs.
We are ready to share our knowledge and experience with you.

NETWORKING

We have extensive international network of experts and practitioners and discuss the most recent trends and developments in impact investing.

MANIFEST OF GALILEO

Galileo is associated with a PARADIGM SHIFT in our


- Financial System

- Way of Doing Business

- Investing Decisions

- Human Consciousness


Galileo stands for the search for truth, life, nature and

discovering new ways of co-existence of humanity itself and together with our planet


We challenge the existing financial and economic systems which are currently serving itself and its players, to transform into eco-financial-system which would serve all people and the environment. Galileo stands for expanding the knowledge of humankind,

protection of research freedom and expression

OLD PARADIGM


Business is for profit only.


Charity, Philanthropy, Government and other non-profitable organizations are there for making good for people and planet.
Investments are done for receiving financial return taking into consideration the risk dimension, no impact (negative or positive) is measured.

Impact Investments are currently reserved to wealthy people, so-called UHNWI / HNWI (Ultra High Net Worth Individuals)

NEW PARADIGM


Business is done in sustainable way only, meaning helping solving environmental & social problems alongside achieving financial return. "Money - force for good"

Private and institutional capital, individuals and corporations are actively involved for making good for people and planet.
We see Impact Investments as an important instrument for a paradigm shift. In the future all existing investments will apply the concept of Impact Investments - investing for solving social problems of the humanity and our planet. Impact Investments are available to anyone, it is truly MAINSTREAM

GALILEO GALILEI (1564-1642)

Galileo Galilei was an Italian Physicist, mathematician and astronomer. He made a number of observations that finally helped convince people that the Sun-centered solar system model (the heliocentric model), as proposed by Copernicus, was correct. Galileo has been called the "father of observational astronomy", the "father of modern physics" and the "father of modern science"

THE TELESCOPE

Galileo Galilei was the first astronomer to use a telescope to study the heavens. 
In 1609 Galileo became the first person to look at the Moon through a telescope and make his first astronomy discovery - the Moon was not smooth, but mountainous and pitted - just like the Earth! He also discovered four of the moons circling Jupiter, studied Saturn, observed phases of Venus, and sunspots on the Sun.

SUN-CENTERED SOLAR SYSTEM MODEL

Galileo's observations validated the revolutionary theory of Nicolaus Copernicus that Earth orbits the Sun, and not the other way round (Heliocentrism).
Heliocentrism contravened with geocentrism, which interprets the as Earth being the center of the universe. Coined by the Greek philosopher Aristotle, the geocentric model was received by all, including the Catholic Church. However, starting from the late 16th century, heliocentrism began to overrule geocentrism.

PARADIGM SHIFT

Galileo's heliocentric theory had sparked conflict and dispute among the masses. As his theory contradicted biblical texts, it challenged the Roman Catholic Church. With Aristotle’s geocentrism possibly being inaccurate, the views embraced by the people were confronted as more evidence surfaced. The Earth was no longer known as the center of the universe. For that reason, not only was the world of science affected, but it also gave rise to new ways of thinking.

OUR VALUES

Impact
We help social businesses to solve social and environmental problems. We care about our planet & people. We seek to create transformational, sustainable and scalable economic acceleration resulting in positive and high-impact outcomes. We believe, it is possible to make a change, and we act to achieve Sustainable Development Goals - 2030.

Include

Our approach is to include diverse individuals and organizations to impact investment community around the world, give them proper technical and methodological tools. We aim to find together best solutions for most burning social and environmental challenges. We believe that we will be strongest when we support one another as individuals and value each other’s contributions.
Excellence
Our pursuit of excellence is driven by high professional standards in delivering quality products and services. In the interest of our members we aim to be fast, safe and reliable. We are highly capable professionals with global network. We are thoughtful, collaborative entrepreneurs who use our resources with purpose and sustainability.
Innovation 
We seek to pioneer the effective deployment of technology to maximize the impact & benefits to our members, partners and stakeholders. New ideas, new possibilities and new ways of working strengthen our global outlook and boundless creativity.
Inspire
With our passion, own example, examples of many others creating positive changes in this world we strive to inspire people to take an action and create a network of trust. We are idealistic at heart and pragmatic in approach.

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