What if investing wasn’t just about financial returns, but about creating meaningful, lasting social change? In this episode of The Invisible Experts Podcast, David Lim, a social investment specialist and network builder, unpacks the complexities of impact investing, social enterprises, and the future of funding for purpose-driven businesses.

With a background in corporate finance, government policy, and social impact, David has seen firsthand how money shapes the world we live in—and why traditional finance often fails to support truly sustainable, community-driven solutions. He explains why many social enterprises struggle to survive—not because they lack vision, but because they lack the right financial models to scale.

But can investment be truly ethical? Or is impact investing just another capitalist trend repackaged in a feel-good narrative? David takes a critical approach to the promises and pitfalls of social investment, diving into how investors measure success, the problem with rigid funding models, and why real impact goes beyond financial metrics.

This episode is essential listening for social entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and anyone curious about the future of ethical finance.

Key Topics Covered:

✅ Why Social Enterprises Struggle with Money – The real reason many fail isn’t a lack of passion—it’s a lack of financial planning.

✅ Impact Investing vs. Traditional Finance – How investing for good differs from capitalism—or does it?

✅ The Future of Philanthropy – Why unrestricted, long-term funding is more effective than short-term grants.

✅ How Governments Can Help Scale Social Investment – What policies are needed to drive sustainable funding for social enterprises?

✅ Holding Investors Accountable – How to prevent impact investing from becoming another extractive financial system.

✅ Measuring Social Impact: The Hard Truth – Why numbers and data alone don’t tell the full story of meaningful change.

✅ The Rise of Social Investment in Southeast Asia – How the region is leading the next wave of sustainable finance.

David also shares personal insights from his transition from corporate finance to social impact, revealing what he’s learned about funding social enterprises, building networks for change, and rethinking the way money can be used as a tool for justice.

📌 Do you think impact investing is the future of finance, or is it just another form of capitalism? Drop your thoughts in the comments!

Guest:

David H. Lim: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-h-lim-trabajoporlatierra/

Company: https://avpn.asia/

Host:

Andrés Morales:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/drandresmoralespachon

Minca Ventures: https://mincaventures.com

🔔 Subscribe to The Invisible Experts Podcast for more in-depth conversations on sustainability, social impact, and the future of ethical investment.