INVESTOR-READY ESG PACKAGE

Founders approaching Series A or B increasingly receive ESG questions during due diligence. Institutional investors, climate-focused funds, and sovereign wealth funds now include sustainability criteria as standard in their evaluation process. Most founders lack the time, internal expertise, or budget to build this infrastructure from scratch — yet arriving at a data room without a coherent ESG story creates friction, delays, and uncertainty.

Generic frameworks from online sources are difficult to apply without sector context. Building internally without guidance risks producing materials that do not address what investors actually ask for. At the same time, engaging a large consultancy for this scope is rarely cost-justified at early stages.

This service fills that gap: structured, investor-aligned ESG foundations designed specifically for companies preparing to raise.

Our project leads — with direct experience in ESG due diligence and sustainability strategy for growth-stage companies — work with your founding team to identify material ESG topics for your sector and geography, translate those into measurable KPIs, and produce documentation formatted for investor review. We follow double-materiality methodology aligned to ISSB and GRI standards, and adapt the output to your specific investor profile where known. The result is a defined ESG baseline, a prioritised roadmap, and investor-ready reporting materials — produced within a defined timeline.

Double-Materiality Assessment

• Identification of the 8–12 most material ESG topics for your sector, geography, and business model
• Structured assessment of both financial materiality (impact on company) and impact materiality (company's impact on environment and society)
• Stakeholder perspective integration where relevant

ESG KPI Framework

• Defined metrics for each material topic, including unit, data source, collection method, and baseline
• Alignment to ISSB S1/S2, GRI, or SASB standards most relevant to your sector and investor profile
• Baseline measurement where data is available; gap identification where it is not

Investor Reporting Template

• Board-ready ESG summary document structured for data room inclusion
• Narrative sections covering ESG governance, material topics, current performance, and planned actions
• One revision round to incorporate client feedback

Gap Analysis

• Assessment of your current ESG activities, disclosures, and data against investor due diligence standards
• Identification of gaps by priority: quick wins, medium-term actions, and longer-term capability builds

12-Month Priority Roadmap

• Sequenced action plan covering governance, data collection, reporting, and stakeholder engagement
• Connected to KPI framework so progress can be tracked against investor commitments

Expert Consultation

• Minimum one 60-minute consultation to review findings, answer investor scenario questions, and validate materials

• Investor Preparation: A structured ESG narrative and data room-ready documentation ahead of your next fundraise
• Framework Alignment: ESG KPIs mapped to recognised international standards relevant to your sector
• Baseline Established: Defined metrics with known current performance — or documented gaps with a plan to close them
• Strategic Clarity: A prioritised roadmap connecting ESG actions to business value, not compliance for its own sake
• Governance Documentation: Written materials demonstrating that ESG is managed, not ad hoc

• Fundraise Readiness: Reduce the risk of ESG questions causing delays or uncertainty in due diligence
• Structured Foundation: Deliverables and frameworks you retain and build on as the company grows
• Expert Input Without Retainer Cost: Access to experienced ESG advisors for a defined scope and investment, not an open-ended engagement
• Credible Documentation: Materials that reflect actual business practices rather than template language not connected to your company
• Modular Entry Point: Start with assessment; extend to ongoing advisory through the Extension package if needed

Designed for venture-backed companies at Seed through Series C preparing for an upcoming fundraise or responding to investor ESG requests for the first time. Most relevant where institutional investors, impact funds, or corporate venture arms are involved — as these investor types consistently apply ESG criteria in due diligence. Particularly applicable in sectors where ESG topics connect directly to core business risk: climate-exposed sectors, supply chain-intensive businesses, and companies with direct environmental or social impact.

• Discovery call (45–60 min) — brief on business model, target investors, and current ESG activities
• Company overview materials — investor deck or one-pager, product/service description, markets served
• Current ESG data or reports — any existing sustainability disclosures, internal policies, or relevant metrics
• Target investor profiles — fund names, ESG mandates, or sample due diligence questionnaires where available
• Identify internal contacts — who holds data on energy, HR, supply chain, and governance
• Review draft deliverables — timely feedback within agreed revision window
• Attend expert consultation — 60-minute review session with lead expert

What Makes This Service Different

Our Approach

What's Included — All Packages

				

					
Additional expert consultation sessions — €350/hour
					
ISSB or GRI framework alignment report — €1,800 flat fee
					
Data room review (ESG section audit) — €950 flat fee
					
Employee ESG survey design and analysis — quoted per project
				
Prerequisites for Successful Engagement
				

					
Basic business information available — product, market, revenue model, headcount
					
Founder or CFO available for discovery call and feedback reviews
					
Some awareness of target investor ESG requirements — even approximate
					
Decision-making authority to act on roadmap recommendations
					
Realistic timeline — Discover requires 3–4 weeks minimum; rushing reduces quality
					
Basic internal data accessible — energy, headcount, supply chain, governance at minimum
				
Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Our company is very early stage — do we need this yet?
A: If you are raising from institutional investors, impact funds, or corporate venture arms, the answer is likely yes. The earlier you build the baseline, the easier each subsequent fundraise becomes. For pre-seed companies raising from angels only, this service is probably premature.

Q: We have no ESG data at all — can we still use this service?
A: Yes. The gap analysis is designed precisely for this situation. We document which data does not yet exist and build a plan to collect it — investors generally accept a credible gap analysis with a plan over silence.

Q: How long does the double-materiality assessment take?
A: The assessment itself takes 1–2 weeks after the discovery call. The total Discover package timeline of 3–4 weeks accounts for the assessment, KPI framework development, reporting template, and revision round.

Q: Will this guarantee we pass investor ESG due diligence?
A: No service can guarantee that outcome — it depends on your actual business practices and the specific requirements of your investors. This service ensures you have credible, structured, professionally documented ESG materials. Whether those materials satisfy a specific investor depends on their criteria.

Q: Can we do Discover now and Realize later?
A: Yes. The packages are modular. All Discover deliverables remain yours, and Realize builds directly on them. Many clients complete Discover before a funding round and proceed to Realize with the next round's proceeds.

Q: Do you work in languages other than English?
A: Yes. German and Spanish are available for DACH and Latin American clients respectively. All deliverables can be produced in the agreed language.

Getting Started
				

					
Step 1: Contact us at sales@impactmaker.co or complete the ESG service pre-proposal questionnaire
					
Step 2: Discovery call (30 min) — assess fit, confirm scope, recommend appropriate package
					
Step 3: Proposal delivery (3–5 business days) — confirmed scope, timeline, and investment
					
Step 4: Kick-off within 1 week of contract signature
				

Impact Maker | www.impactmaker.co | sales@impactmaker.co

Structured ESG foundations for growth-stage companies raising from institutional investors