Investment Readiness for Systemic Impact Program (IRSI)

A Masterclass for Startups & Scaleups

Turn Your Vision into Investable Impact

Get your business investor-ready and fast-track your journey to funding with the Investment Readiness for Systemic Impact Program (IRSI) — a practical, high-impact masterclass designed for bold founders and growth-stage leaders.

Through IRSI, you’ll refine your strategy, sharpen your story, and build the confidence to engage investors who share your ambition for change. This is your opportunity to unlock the capital, clarity, and connections you need to scale your impact.

Apply now to be selected for the IRSI February or March 2026 cohort*

*Cohort limited to 6 participants

*Mentorship from leading VCs & impact investors

*Inperson or online model

Apply now to join

Why do companies need to be investment-ready?

Startups with great ideas succeed at raising capital when they’re well-prepared to meet investor expectations. Being “investment-ready” means you're not just building a business, you're building one worth betting on.

What is investment readiness?

We offer a practical, high-impact masterclass designed to help your startup prepare for your funding pathway investment round by confidently communicating your business’s value, growth potential, and structure.

Understanding Funding Pathways: Explore the pros and cons of bootstrapping, debt, and equity. Understand the funding journey from pre-seed to exit, and understand investor types: Business Angels, VCs, family offices, accelerators, and more.

Impact Strategy & Governance: Integrate your mission into your core strategy by clearly defining your impact, selecting the right tools to measure it, and establishing governance structures, such as an engaged and aligned board, to support long-term growth. Ensure your approach includes alignment with planetary boundaries, climate resilience and action, and a commitment to systems transformation.

Crafting a Strong Narrative: Shape a story investors believe in. Use your vision, team, traction, and mission to build credibility and emotional connection across decks, content, and brand touchpoints.

Building Your Pitch & Plan: Create an investor-grade pitch deck, one-pager, and business plan. Align your messaging across materials and tailor communication for different audiences and stages.

Financial Readiness: Build a financial model that supports your growth story. Get clear on assumptions, market size, revenue potential, and valuation to back up your pitch with real numbers. Make this document a dynamic tool to support your investable strategy.

Legal & Structural Preparation: Understand key documents like SAFEs, term sheets, and shareholder agreements. Protect your equity and prepare a clean, investor-ready data room. Find the best mix of debt and equity for the fundraising stages.

Investor Targeting & Engagement: Find the right investors, craft personalized outreach, and build trust before, during, and after the raise. Learn how to manage investor relationships, open doors, and onboard them as part of your team.

Founders, impact-driven entrepreneurs, and startup or scale-up teams preparing to raise their next financing round and develop a clear exit strategy while driving systemic change and delivering long-term value for their investors.

This program is for you if you're:

A climate startup raising pre-seed or seed capital
Working on scalable solutions in energy, biodiversity, carbon or food systems
Committed to long-term, systemic impact
Seeking strategic investor and mentor connections

Format

4x Masterclasses (3 hours each)
4x 1:1 Advisory Sessions (1 hour each)
Templates & Handouts

2025 Cohort Course Dates:

Session 1: Wednesday, February 4, 2026, 09:00–13:30.
Session 2: Wednesday, February 11, 2026, 09:00–13:30.
Session 3: Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 09:00–13:30.
Session 4: Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 2025, 09:00–13:30.

Coaching sessions

First session: March 4, 16:00–19:00
Second session: March 11, 16:00–19:00
Third session: March 25, 16:00–19:00
Fourth session: April 1, 16:00–19:00

Note: the 1:1 coaching sessions should be scheduled for one hour during the time proposed above.

Cost

The fee for the Investment Readiness for Systemic Impact Program (IRSI) is CHF 7,500. To ensure financial barriers do not limit participation, we offer scholarships.

“As first-time founders we go through accelerator programs, but from the ones that I went through there is a lack of real in-depth knowledge on the fundraising process. If you don’t have all the information, it creates more barriers to entry. This program really helped us step into the mindset of how an investor is thinking — what parameters they are actually calculating and how they look at you as a business. It’s nothing personal. It’s a very fact-based, very straightforward process. Once you understand that part, your whole conversation will change with the same people. The Investment Readiness for Systemic Impact Program has essentially allowed me to be that person who can now have a comfortable conversation around not just my business, but business in general."

— Namrata Upadhyay, Founder & CEO of NamNR Pro

"While the content itself was not new, the program brought clarity on what truly matters in fundraising and in which order to address it. Having experienced practitioners as a sounding board was particularly valuable. For first-time founders, the IRSI program provides a reliable foundation for investment readiness."

— Marc-André Beck, Founder & CEO of grivix GmbH

Enrique Alvarado Hablützel, Msm

Co-Founder of Helvora

Enrique is Co-Founder & CIO of Chi Impact Capital, a VC firm driving systemic change through circular and regenerative models. With 17 years of experience in venture capital and impact investing, he is also a Partner at Bamboo Capital, advising family offices and ventures across Europe and Latin America, and is an active business angel. He holds a Master’s in Management and Innovation from UNIL/EPFL and completed IMD’s Venture Asset Management program. Enrique has successfully coached 100+ companies on their path to growth.

Gabrielle Slavik, CFA

Co-Founder of Helvora

Gabrielle is the Founder of Cerium Partners, a private markets advisory firm. She brings 15 years of experience across hedge funds and private markets, with roles at Edesia Asset Management, Cumulus, and Edmond de Rothschild. At Edmond de Rothschild, she managed direct investments for ultra-high-net-worth individuals, overseeing sourcing, fundraising, structuring, and closing.

The Villars Institute

The Villars Institute was established in 2022 as a nonprofit foundation to accelerate the transition to a net zero and nature positive economy and to restore the health of the planet. Located in the Swiss Alps, the Villars Institute is a platform for systemic change and a place for intergenerational collaboration. It is also a curator of artistic, cultural, and educational activities that promote biodiversity, planetary health, and sustainable development.

Helvora

Helvora is a Switzerland-based financial advisory firm supporting companies at every stage of growth, with deep expertise in fundraising, investment strategy, and long-term financial planning.

Investment Readiness for Systemic Impact Program (IRSI)