Celebrating the Dela Investment Readiness cohort Advancing systems change through strategic support

Sometimes long-term change needs a little extra push. 

Last year, IKEA Social Entrepreneurship and Ashoka joined forces with Social Innovation Circle to launch a new collaboration, the Dela Investment Readiness Programme, to support social entrepreneurs in their journey towards investment readiness.    

The programme supported five enterprises in preparing to raise capital and helping them articulate, structure, and finance their vision for a better world. 

Today, we launch the second cohort where six Dela Programme alumni take the next step in their journey by joining the investment readiness programme:  

• Social Gastronomy Movement & REGENOPOLIS, with Ashoka Fellow Nicola Gryczka 
• Grassroots Tea, founded by Ashoka Fellow John John 
• Todo Accesible, founded by Ashoka Fellow Luis Quintana 
• Motion Light Lab (at Gallaudet University), founded by Ashoka Fellow Melissa Malzkuhn 
• Saath Janvikas Multipurpose Cooperative, founded by Ashoka Fellow Rajendra Joshi 
• Generation Girl with participating social entrepreneur Syaravina Meilita 
  
  

Today, as we welcome this new group of social enterprises to the programme, we also celebrate the progress, leadership, and learning that emerged from the first cohort. 

Why investment readiness matters, especially for systems change 

Social enterprises working on systems change face a dual challenge. On one hand, they must address immediate needs like serving communities, protecting ecosystems, or shifting entrenched behaviours. On the other hand, they must build the long-term structures, partnerships, and financing models required to transform the underlying systems. 

That takes more than just a strong mission. It means: 

• Telling a clear story about how their work will create lasting impact and how the money will help get there 
• Finding creative ways to bring in funding, whether it’s through sales, donations, or other support 
• Explaining their work in a way that makes sense to funders and partners, even if this kind of change is new to them 
• Having a flexible plan for raising the right kind of support at the right time 
  
  

So, being ready for investment isn’t just about getting funds. It’s about making sure the support fits the journey, helping real change happen instead of holding it back. 

That’s exactly what the Dela investment programme set out to do: support social enterprises to connect their big ideas with practical ways to grow, and provide them with the tools to share their story with others. 

Learning, tailored support, and moving forward together 

The programme brought together three main components: 

1. Thematic webinars on systems change, hybrid models, and strategic funding
2. One-on-one coaching, shaped around where each venture is, and where they want to go 
3. Ask Me Anything sessions, which turned into even more coaching to give extra support 
   
   

Enterprises valued the learning, felt clearer about their next steps, and grew  in confidence along the way: 

“My participation in the programme enabled me to better design our system change strategy, and communicate it to my team and stakeholders. It helped me design a roadmap for the future," said Lefteris Arapakis, Ashoka Fellow and participant of the first edition of the Dela Investment Readiness Accelerator programme. 

Åsa Skogström Feldt, Managing Director at IKEA Social Entrepreneurship, adds, "At IKEA Social Entrepreneurship, we believe that social entrepreneurs play a vital role in addressing some of the world's most pressing social and environmental challenges. The progress we've seen from this first cohort demonstrates the value of tailored support in enabling social enterprises to scale their impact and contribute to lasting systems change. The experience has reinforced the importance of meeting entrepreneurs where they are, and providing the right support at the right time." 

Stories of progress and impact 

During the first edition of the programme, five social enterprises founded by Ashoka Fellows took part, each at a different stage and each with a different challenge to work on:    

Financing the future of ocean regeneration 

Sea Ranger Service joined the programme with the ambition to scale its ocean conservation work through innovative financing. Through coaching, they designed a Ship Financing & Working Capital Fund that helps them secure new vessels, invest in equipment, and take on government contracts with confidence. 

In April 2025, they launched the fund with a clear narrative and structure shaped by what they learned in the programme. This is a big step forward in their growth and shows what’s possible when funding aligns with a mission. 

A smarter, phased path to raising capital 

Hola Vivi started out planning a big fundraising round for a digital product that was still just an idea. Through the programme, they decided to take things step by step, raising funds in stages so they could test, learn, and build confidence at each point. 

They recently completed a successful pilot and updated their pitch to showcase a clear, impact-driven growth plan. Now, their investment readiness matches where their product is, setting them up for fundraising that’s both realistic and sustainable. 

From uncertainty to a new business line 

Fundación Gastronomía Social started the programme not quite sure where to focus. But reflecting about his participation in the programme, co-founder Rafael Rincón shared that “it was very powerful.”  With guidance from webinars and coaching, they piloted a sponsorship model and landed their first corporate partner. 

At the same time, they created a new business line called Community as a Service, and are now putting the finishing touches on their business plan for their next fundraising round in March 2026. Their story is a great example of what can happen when you keep going and keep learning.  

Unlocking partnerships for systemic plastic reduction 

Enaleia used the programme to fine-tune its approach to working with organisations seeking alternatives to virgin plastics. They built a strong partnership proposal, clarified their story, and updated their financial plans, which was especially important as they set up a new for-profit arm. 

With these tools in place, they’re ready to start new partnerships and accelerate their impact around the world. 

A reminder that leadership matters 

For Modelo Sinapsis, it turned out that what they needed most wasn’t investment support, but one-on-one coaching for their CEO. The programme adapted to meet them where they were. 

Taking our learnings futher 

We learned a lot from this group, and these lessons helped us shape cohort two and will make future programmes even better: 

• Clear growth needs should guide which enterprises are selected 
• Sustained engagement from senior leader of each enterprise is essential 
• Enterprises benefit from understanding the difference between coaching and consulting 
• Strategic clarity often emerges during the programme, not before 
• Different enterprises require different modalities, from execution-focused support to exploratory leadership coaching 
• Webinars can reach a wider community, while personalised coaching remains best suited for selected enterprises

"At Ashoka, we know that supporting systems change means looking beyond traditional models of growth and investment,” says Lucila Sarquis Partnership Manager Dela Programme at Ashoka. “Social entrepreneurs need the space to test, adapt, and build the partnerships and resources that can help move their ideas forward. The Dela Investment Readiness Programme shows the value of combining practical tools with tailored support, meeting each social entrepreneur where they are and helping them turn their vision into a more investment-ready path forward."