Mike Debelak

Mike Debelak is a purpose-driven leader and impact investor with over 25 years experience working in Europe, Australia, Africa and Asia focusing on impact investing, inclusive business, sustainable development, corporate strategy, and management consulting. Mike established 8+ Ventures in 2023 to invest in highly scalable, high impact businesses that have the potential to transform the way we live on this planet. 8+ Ventures invests at an early stage - contributing capital, advice and networks to help businesses scale. In addition to bringing capital, Mike works closely with 8+ Ventures portfolio, bringing a wealth of knowledge and networks that can amplify their impact ambitions. Previously, Mike was the Found and Executive Director of Inclusive Business Partners - a purpose-led organisation focussed on transforming markets to meet global development needs. Through this work, Mike has worked with a number of programmes and businesses to develop innovative, scalable and inclusive business models around the world. Mike acted as Investment Matchmaking Manager for Sida’s €7.4 million challenge fund Innovations Against Poverty, advised GIZ on their global impact investing strategy, and was Programme Director for Sweden's Inclusive Business Co-creation Accelerator. Mike’s work on inclusive business has also included running co-creation camps in India, facilitating solutions development for Nairobi’s climate challenges, working towards an inclusive textiles and clothing industry in Bangladesh and Myanmar, the development of sanitation technologies for Kenya, and research focused on distribution channels in Ghana, which was published into the book “The Bumpy Road to the BoP”. Prior to this, Mike worked as a sustainability consultant, working with climate change, responsible supply chains, sustainable product development and road safety. In Australia, Mike worked for Westpac, Australia’s largest bank, and Accenture, one of the world’s largest management consulting firms. Mike has worked with a diverse range of clients, including the UN Development Programme, Sida, the Asian Development Bank, GIZ, Volvo Group, Unilever, Vinnova, Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth, and the Confederation of Danish Industry. Mike has a Masters of International Business and Trade from the University of Gothenburg, speaks English and Swedish, is a father of three, and has travelled to over 70 countries around the world.