You hire or plan to hire people from under-represented groups, such as the LGBTQIA+ community, migrants and refugees, people from ethnic minorities, young people entering the job market, women, and people with disabilities.

You are implementing or want to implement diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) activities with a focus on inclusion in the following areas:

• Business model and company offering

• Building an inclusive organizational culture

• Corporate governance

• Recruitment and HR processes (policies, regulations)

• A company with a competent management team guided by strong ethical values, including understanding and respect for disadvantaged communities.

• A competent management team (2-4 people) with a minimum of two years of experience working together, preferably with complementary business skills.

• A proven track record of ethical business conduct (reflected in policies and practices).

• Implemented processes encompassing key stakeholder decisions and good business practices (i.e., annually approved budgets, financial audits, public procurement procedures).

We encourage enterprises founded and/or led by LGBTQIA+, women, and other entrepreneurs from under-represented backgrounds to apply.

The company should have a viable business model that shows potential to increase revenue and create a sustainable cost-revenue structure within the next 18-24 months. If it has not yet reached the break-even, it should demonstrate the potential to achieve it within the next 18-24 months.

The NESsT loan can be used to finance business development activities (e.g., scaling investments, business line development, position creation) and as working capital (to cover current liabilities). At the same time, the company, within the goals defined in the NESsT agreement, implements activities related to building an inclusive and friendly organization.

Yes, you are qualified to apply if your enterprise demonstrates the potential to create safe spaces, including inclusive workplaces, and generate jobs for under-represented groups in the next 4 years either by directly employing them or sourcing from suppliers that are coming from vulnerable communities. However, please apply only if your company already has experience of supporting under-represented communities. This demonstrated commitment will allow us to begin our due diligence process.

Your company should be registered in the European Union in one of the following countries: Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia.

No, NESsT only invests in entities with business activities. Your business’ legal status is not important (we accept applications from NGOs and cooperatives) if you conduct business activities.

We ask this to better understand your current social impact: For example, are you positively impacting people from under-represented groups through direct employment or through your supply chain? Or perhaps your product or service has a positive impact on disadvantaged communities or addresses a social challenge? Please also share details about your company's philanthropic efforts in this area.

NESsT invests in enterprises that create quality jobs for underserved communities while sustaining the planet. Therefore, your environmental impact matters and can strengthen your application. The application asks for you to include a description of any environmental practices and/or policies your enterprise has in place.

Standard due diligence process takes 2–4 months after the application has been submitted. Ultimately, the length of the process depends on how quickly the prospective enterprise is able to provide NESsT with needed information. Next, the preparation and signing of the Term Sheet and Loan Agreement is expected to take approximately one month. Once both documents are signed, the enterprise officially joins the NESsT portfolio and begins to receive funding and business assistance.

A "patient loan" is a type of patient capital. With this kind of funding, the investor (NESsT) is ready to invest in a social-impact enterprise without expecting quick returns. That’s why in our debt instruments we offer a flexible grace period tailored to your needs (up to 12 months), a repayment period of up to 4 years, competitive interest rates, and simpler guarantee requirements.

Once your loan is approved, the NESsT team will share a due diligence report, which could guide your company's development. 

The NESsT Violet Fund also aims to create a mutual learning platform where portfolio companies can share experiences, lessons learned, and best practices, especially around advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). 

Additionally, after joining our portfolio, your company will gain visibility through NESsT's channels, including the NESsT website, social media, and publications. We will also highlight your positive impact in media coverage and at external events.

Enterprises will also be promoted across NESsT’s network and featured in its relevant media channels, including the website, newsletters, social media, publications, etc.

The standard repayment period is 1–4 years. In certain cases, the NESsT team may consider the possibility of extending this period up to 5 years.

Unfortunately, the Violet Fund currently only supports enterprises or business activities within non-governmental organizations that have been operating for at least one year. 

In addition to offering fixed-rate loans, the NESsT Violet Fund also offers financing based on your company's future revenue. This form of financing can be particularly attractive for rapidly growing businesses whose revenues may fluctuate rapidly over time.

While not required, if your company can make a financial contribution, it may increase the likelihood of overall investment success.

There isn’t any expected duration of employment, but members of excluded groups must be hired with a formal job contract with long-term job security.

Yes, the patient loans can support salary costs, but you must demonstrate a business model that will ensure continued employment from the sale of products and/or services during the loan repayment period.

NESsT leverages donations and patient capital from supporters into investments in social enterprises that generate dignified jobs for people most in need. The NESsT Violet Fund was launched in partnership with Dreilinden gGmbH, a Germany-based non-profit dedicated to advancing societal acceptance of gender and sexual diversity. The mission of the fund is to facilitate better access to the labor markets and improve career progression in the workplace for under-represented communities, including the LGBTQIA+ community, women, ethnic minority communities, at-risk youth, and people with disabilities.