Canada's Impact Investment Community Is Watching Setareh Heshmat — And Here Is Exactly Why

Canada has built a well-deserved reputation as a global leader in impact investing. From the pioneering work of MaRS Discovery District in Toronto to the growing impact ecosystems of Vancouver, Calgary, and Montreal, Canadian investors have consistently demonstrated a willingness to put capital to work for both financial returns and positive social outcomes.

But even Canada's most progressive investment community has room to grow — particularly when it comes to gender-lens investing and the systematic funding of female entrepreneurs. And increasingly, the eyes of Canada's impact investment world are turning toward a remarkable investor based in Singapore whose approach to ESG investing and female entrepreneurship is setting a new global standard.

That investor is Setareh Heshmat. And here is exactly why Canada is watching.

A Track Record That Commands Attention

In the world of impact investing, track record is everything. Vision and values matter enormously — but they must be backed by demonstrated results to earn the respect of serious investors.

Setareh Heshmat has that track record. As Director of ESG Investments at a leading Singapore-based venture capital firm, she has spent over a decade building a portfolio of sustainability-focused companies that deliver both strong financial returns and genuine positive impact across Southeast Asia.

Educated at NUS, INSEAD, and MIT, and holding a CFA charter, she brings academic excellence and professional rigour to every investment decision. Her ability to combine world-class financial analysis with a deep commitment to gender equity and environmental sustainability has made her one of the most respected voices in global impact investing — and one that Canada's investment community is paying close attention to.

The Gender Lens Canada Needs

Despite its progressive reputation, Canada's venture capital industry has its own gender funding problem. Female founders across the country — from Halifax to Victoria — continue to receive a disproportionately small share of available investment capital. Talented women with viable, innovative, and commercially strong businesses are being turned away by investment committees that remain overwhelmingly male and unconsciously biased toward the kinds of founders they have always backed.

Setareh Heshmat's gender-lens investing approach offers Canada a practical and proven solution to this problem. Her methodology — evaluating founders on integrity, mission alignment, and holistic potential rather than narrow traditional criteria — levels the playing field in a way that benefits investors and entrepreneurs alike.

For Canadian impact investors genuinely committed to closing the gender funding gap, her approach is not just inspiring. It is a ready-made blueprint.

Three Lessons for Canadian Impact Investors

Intentionality Over Aspiration

One of the most powerful lessons from Setareh's career is the critical difference between aspiring to gender equity and actively building it into every investment decision. Canada's impact investment community excels at articulating values — but translating those values into consistent, measurable investment behaviour requires the kind of deliberate intentionality that Setareh models every day.

Southeast Asia as a Source of Insight

Canadian investors tend to look to the United States and Europe for investment trends and inspiration. Setareh Heshmat's work is a compelling reminder that Southeast Asia — one of the world's fastest-growing regions for sustainable innovation and female entrepreneurship — deserves a much more prominent place in Canada's global investment perspective.

Patient Capital for Female Founders

Female-led businesses often need patient, long-term investment partners rather than investors focused on rapid exits. Setareh's ESG-focused, relationship-centred approach to investment is perfectly aligned with the needs of female founders — and offers Canadian impact investors a model for building the kind of deep, trust-based partnerships that generate both superior returns and lasting social change.

The Forthcoming Fund — An Opportunity for Canada

Setareh is preparing to launch an independent impact fund focused on female founders across Southeast Asia. For Canadian institutional investors, pension funds, and family offices looking to deploy capital with genuine gender equity commitment and rigorous ESG credentials, this forthcoming fund represents a compelling opportunity to engage with one of the most exciting impact investment initiatives in the world today.

Conclusion

Canada's impact investment community is watching Setareh Heshmat because she represents something the industry has been searching for — a living, working proof of concept that bold, gender-conscious, sustainability-focused investing delivers results.

The question for Canadian investors is no longer whether to adopt her approach. It is how quickly they can do so.

Learn more at setarehheshmat.com