IFB @London Climate Week: From Last Mile to Climate Scale - Investing Where Markets Actually Form in India

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Across India, millions of rural households are already participating in the climate transition — as consumers, entrepreneurs, and agents of change. Yet most climate capital still fails to reach them effectively, not because of lack of demand, but because distribution, trust, and financing models are misaligned with how these markets actually function.

At the same time, a new generation of practitioners is building models that connect climate solutions, consumer demand, and data-driven distribution networks — creating entirely new entry points for investment.

Hosted at the London School of Economics during London Climate Week, this session brings together leaders from EARTHON Foundation, LSE Generate and Rootbridge to explore how these approaches are being designed, financed, and scaled in practice.

• EARTHON Foundation brings a systems-level perspective on accelerating climate and sustainability solutions, focusing on blended finance and aligning innovation with real-world adoption and impact.
• LSE Generate brings an entrepreneurship and venture-building lens, supporting innovators in turning ideas into scalable solutions.
• Rootbridge adds an investor lens, examining how these models translate into scalable, investable opportunities across emerging markets.

Together, the discussion will focus on where markets are actually forming — and what it takes for capital to follow.  This is a conversation about what is already working — and what still prevents it from scaling.

Core Themes & Questions

• Why does climate capital fail to reach last-mile markets — and what fixes that?
• How do distribution networks evolve into investable platforms rather than delivery channels?
• Where are the most compelling investment opportunities emerging across rural India today?
• What role can catalytic and blended capital play in unlocking scale and reducing risk?

Speakers

• Audrey Selian, Director, Artha Impact (Rianta Capital) (impact investing, catalytic capital, and building financing pathways for high-impact enterprises in emerging markets
• Vinay Jaju, Founding Director, EarthON Foundation (systems-level climate innovation and scaling with blended finance)
• Julie Sané-Pezet - Impact Strategist, Programme lead for The Green Thread Accelerator 
• Dr Ajay P. Singh, Managing Partner, RootBridge Capital (investment strategy and emerging market scalability)

Who Should Attend (Investor Angle)

Impact investors, family offices, foundations, policymakers, and practitioners seeking to understand how climate solutions, last-mile distribution, and data-driven models are converging to create investable opportunities in rural India and similar emerging markets.

Format & Engagement

The session will feature short opening perspectives followed by a moderated discussion and open Q&A, creating space for direct exchange between practitioners, investors, and ecosystem builders.

Takeaways (Investor-Oriented Value)

• A clearer understanding of where climate markets are actually forming in India
• Insight into models that convert rural demand into scalable, investable opportunities
• Practical perspectives on how to structure capital to reach and scale last-mile markets