An Angel and a VC on ROI and impact

Welcome to the 908 new techies who have joined us. If you haven’t already, subscribe and join our community in receiving weekly tech insights, updates, and interviews with industry experts straight to your inbox.

Insights and exclusive interviews from the global LEAP community – expand your knowledge and change your perspective. 

This week we’re quoting…

Elsa Hyland (Angel Investor and Startup Advisor)

What Elsa said: 

“One principle I stand by as an investor is however to always develop my own conviction when evaluating a company.” 

And we’re also quoting…

Vusi Thembekwayo (Investor and Managing Partner at MyGrowthFund Venture Partners)

What Vusi said: 

“I care deeply about the social impact of my investments. For me, it's about creating sustainable change and empowering communities. Financial returns are vital but investing in people and their growth helps contribute to a more equitable economy.” 

Two investors in one newsletter? 

Yes – you’re in luck. This week we caught up with both Elsa and Vusi, and we wanted to share both of their perspectives with you. Because they prove that investors are people first, with their own goals and motivators. 

A lesson in investor perspectives 

When we asked Elsa to share a moment from a real startup pitch that has stuck in her mind, she said: 

“One of my best investments (or rather, a founder I deeply believe in) actually started on the opposite note.” 

By this, she meant she didn’t feel good about the pitch or the entrepreneur straight away. “We didn’t really click in our first interaction and I thought he was slightly arrogant.” 

“But he was persistent, and over time we built a great relationship with close contact that made me understand him better.” 

This taught her an important lesson that she’s carried with her ever since: that first impressions aren’t always right. And that’s very different from many investors’ approach – we frequently speak to investors who say they trust their initial instincts and know right away if an investment is a good fit for them. 

Neither approach is wrong, but Elsa’s experience here highlights that different investors have a different way of doing business. Entrepreneurs are often told that they have just one shot to capture an investors’ interest – but in Elsa’s case, that’s not true. She’s open to a slower burn. 

The takeaway? If you didn’t nail your pitch on the first go, don’t worry. All is not lost. There are always more opportunities ahead. 

Is anything more important than ROI? 

We asked Vusi to tell us one thing he cares about more than financial ROI. He’s an impact-driven investor who – as he said at the top of this email – cares deeply about the social impact of his investments. 

“Investors have a unique opportunity to shape the future,” he added. “They should care about the impact of their portfolios because every investment has the power to influence social change, drive innovation, and support marginalised communities. By prioritising companies that align with ethical and societal values, investors can contribute to a legacy that transcends financial gains.”

It’s another reminder that different investors approach their portfolios in different ways. Every investor cares about financial gains – they have to. You couldn’t be an investor if you didn’t have the skills to select companies that would bring gains. 

But for Vusi (and many others), money isn’t the only kind of gain that matters. They see the gains of an investment from a broader perspective – asking questions like: 

• What do we want this business to do?
• What impact (on a community, society, or economy) would make this business a success?
• What are the harder-to-quantify outcomes that signify whether this business is achieving its goals? 

Financial ROI will always be a central focus of investments. But it’s not the only thing that matters. At LEAP, we’re all about making an impact on the global tech industry (and by extension, on people’s lives) – so we feel a natural affinity with impact-driven investors who care about the work their portfolio is doing in the world. 

Smart investors recognise high-impact startups 

Elsa urges investors to do their own due diligence and “avoid following others’ investments blindly.” 

This is great advice for investors – because what’s right for you won’t be the same as what’s right for someone else. And on the flipside, it’s also a very reassuring insight for entrepreneurs and startups that are ready for investment, but don’t quite fit with current investment trends. 

There is an investor out there who’ll get your business and be ready to back you. 

Keep going. 

Have an idea for a topic you'd like us to cover? We're eager to hear it. Drop us a message and share your thoughts.

Catch you next week,
The LEAP Team