Equality Transformative Tool

The Equality Transformative Tool is a practical framework for investors and early-stage ventures committed to tackling inequality at its roots.

Inequality is systemic, but it isn't immovable. If we want to back ventures that can truly challenge the structures that uphold injustice, we need better ways to see their potential early on. 

The Equality Transformative Tool was developed with this in mind, as a practical, interactive framework for identifying and supporting early-stage ventures that centre equity in both their mission and their methods. Co-created with the Equality Impact Investing Project, Connect Fund, and a network of social impact ventures, it reflects the lived experience of founders and the insight of practitioners working at the intersections of tech, justice, and investment.

The tool guides investors in evaluating both the principles (intent, influence, intervention) and practices (bringing voice, demonstrating reflective practice, role modelling change, and navigating towards transformation) that underpin truly equality-transformative innovation.

What the tool offers

Designed for investors and ventures alike, the tool helps users:

• Identify equality-led innovation during early-stage due diligence.

• Evaluate both intention and action, across principles (intent, influence, intervention) and practices (voice, reflection, modelling, transformation).

• Provide meaningful, developmental feedback to support mission integrity and inclusive growth.

• Integrate equity into investment decisions, portfolio strategy, and venture support.

Who it's for

• Impact investors seeking to align capital with social justice outcomes, without compromising financial rigour.

• Early-stage ventures working with marginalised communities and aiming to embed equity into the DNA of their product, service, or organisation.

• Incubators, accelerators, and grantmakers looking to strengthen the equity lens in their selection or support criteria.

Traditional due diligence often misses what matters most: how ventures challenge unjust systems, build trust, and redistribute power. This tool helps bring those questions into the core of investment decisions as critical indicators of long-term impact and resilience.

Used well, it can help:

• Prevent mission drift

• Support more authentic, community-led ventures

• Build a pipeline of ventures that are not just doing good, but changing how good is done

Click here to access the Equality Transformative Tool.

Click here to access our How-to guide.

Click here  to access our article which outlines our insights and how investors can tackle structural inequality.