St. Petersburg, Florida—March 10, 2026—Impact investing trailblazer ImpactAssets has named NESsT to the 2026 IA 50 Fund Managers list, a publicly available database that highlights fund managers delivering demonstrable social and environmental impact, setting the standard for uncovering opportunities across private markets. This is the fourth time NESsT has been included in the IA 50, first as an Emerging Manager in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Launched in 2011, the IA 50 has grown into the most recognized and respected list of fund managers in the impact investing sector.
“Over the past 15 years, impact investing has evolved into a sophisticated global marketplace. The depth, scale and diversity represented in today’s IA 50 demonstrates that impact investing is now a core investment strategy — one that brings together a wide range of asset classes, geographies and investment themes to drive measurable change.”
NESsT's inclusion in the IA 50 confirms its impact in supporting dignified employment to underrepresented communities in Latin America and Central and Eastern Europe by bringing appropriate investment capital and business assistance to small and growing businesses while sustaining the planet.
NESsT catalyzes these growing businesses through two lines: 1 – Impact funds that provide debt financing to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); and 2 – Accelerators that catalyze early-stage enterprises towards investment readiness.
The NESsT Lirio Fund was the organization’s first impact fund launched in 2019, designed to finance SMEs improving livelihoods and promoting sustainable land management in the Andes-Amazon basin. In 2024, the fund expanded its reach into Brazil.
Seven years later, the Lirio Fund has disbursed over $20 million USD through 37 loans. The current portfolio includes 21 companies across Brazil, Colombia, and Peru, and has reached close to 16,000 farmers and employees while sustainably managing over 1.5 million hectares of land.
The NESsT Violet Fund, the organization’s second impact fund, was launched in 2023 with a commitment to supporting inclusive workplaces and communities in Central & Eastern Europe. The Violet Fund has disbursed $448,000 USD to its portfolio companies, which report an average 82% of their workforces including people from underrepresented backgrounds.
“Being recognized in the IA 50 solidifies the positive impact NESsT is making across Latin America and Central and Eastern Europe. By using a range of lending products specifically designed for social enterprises, we support enterprises to scale sustainably without compromising their social or environmental mission. Our focus on rural and vulnerable communities places us directly at the intersection of social and environmental impact, ensuring that investments address the root causes of poverty, inequality, and ecological degradation.”
Since 1997, NESsT has deployed $54 million USD in investments to over 500 social enterprises spanning 13 countries across Latin America and Central and Eastern Europe. These investments have supported the creation of over 180,000 dignified jobs and over 4 million lives positively impacted.
About the ImpactAssets 50
ImpactAssets 50® (IA 50) is the definitive guide to impact investing fund managers globally. The publicly available database is composed of experienced and emerging private debt and equity impact investment fund managers committed to generating positive impact. The IA 50 2025 reflects the innovation and exponential growth of impact investing that the IA 50 has helped to spotlight over last 15 years.
The IA 50 is not an index or investable platform and does not constitute an offering or solicitation to buy or sell securities or a private placement, or recommend specific products. Nor is this an endorsement of any of the listed fund managers. It is not a replacement for due diligence. Additional details on the selection process are available here.