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Firstport Launches New Social Investment Guide
A collaborative guide designed to demystify social investment for Scotland’s social enterprise sector.
Firstport, Scotland’s agency for start‑up social entrepreneurs and early‑stage social enterprises, has launched a new guide designed to help social entrepreneurs better understand and navigate the often‑complex world of social investment.
The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Social Investment brings together key information, terminology and practical insights to support organisations exploring repayable finance for the first time.
For many social entrepreneurs, the social investment landscape can feel confusing, with different expectations, unfamiliar language and a wide range of providers. The new guide aims to demystify the process by offering a clear starting point, outlining what it means to be investment‑ready, and explaining how social investment differs from traditional grants.
A significant focus of the guide is revenue‑based finance, a flexible form of repayable investment where repayments rise and fall in line with an organisation’s income. Firstport manages Scotland’s only revenue‑based finance product, the Catalyst Fund, which is specifically designed for early‑stage social enterprises that may not yet be ready for mainstream investment.
Developed in collaboration with partners including Social Investment Scotland, Good Finance and The Ventures Lab, the guide brings together a range of sector expertise to support more confident and informed decision‑making.
Emily McDonald, Head of Group Investment Programmes at Firstport, highlighted that many social entrepreneurs enter the investment landscape without a clear map, often ruling themselves out due to misconceptions. The new guide aims to provide clarity, build understanding and encourage organisations to explore what is possible.
The guide is now available for download, offering social entrepreneurs a practical resource to help them assess whether social investment is right for their organisation.
Find out more about Firstport and the The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Social Investment.
