Specialisterne Denmark have received an injection of growth capital from the newly established The Social Capital Fund (“Den Sociale Kapitalfond”), Denmark’s first social venture fund, which is focusing on investing capital, and competencies, in promising social entrepreneurs, to scale their social impact, and economic performance.
The Chairman of The Social Capital Fund, Ms. Gurli Martinussen, calls Specialisterne a prime example of social entrepreneurship: “Specialisterne have spotted a unique potential, in people who are often seen as a vulnerable group in society, and used this potential to create exciting, and meaningful jobs. It is a sustainable, social solution, that also helps, to further develop the understanding of how we create more opportunities for everyone in society. It is exactly the type of businesses we want to help spread, and develop,” she says.
For Specialisterne, Denmark, the new financial platform will make an important difference, in its endeavours, to create more jobs for people with autism spectrum disorders. CEO Henrik Thomsen says: “We have lacked growth capital, to exploit our potential in the market to a greater extent, and expand our team of consultants with autism spectrum disorders. Where Specialisterne might have been too “social” for some commercial investors, but too “commercial” for some social funders, we have, in the Social Capital Fund, encountered an investor with the social aspect as a priority, as well as knowledge, and resources to help us, in our business mission, to create further sustainable jobs. We will now be able to take a major step forward, and get much more ‘specialist people’ in work”.
Links:
www.specialisterne.dk
https://www.densocialekapitalfond.dk/english/ (english)
https://www.densocialekapitalfond.dk/ (danish)