Social Stock Exchange (SSE) aims to channel investment capital towards businesses and projects that work on social or environmental impact. It offers investors opportunities to align their investments with their values while also seeking financial returns.

This resource outlines the comprehensive process of registering and listing a non-profit organisation on the SSE, enabling non-profits to access capital within the impact ecosystem. This resource is brought to you by Sattva Knowledge Institute (SKI) in association with Unnati, who talk about their experience of being the first organisation to be listed on SSE.

The webinar addressed the following questions: 

1. What makes SSE a potential game-changer for driving social impact?  
2. What is the step-by-step process for registering and listing on SSE? 
3. What building blocks should NGOs have in place to successfully register and list on SSE? 
4. What legal and regulatory aspects should NGOs be aware of before considering SSE registration and listing? 
5. What are the common challenges NGOs may face during the listing process, and how can they be overcome?

This resource is recommended for organisations interested in understanding about SSE or looking to get enlisted.

Resource Summary:

The session commenced with an overview by Ramesh Swamy, Director of Unnati Foundation, discussing the organisation’s decision to register and list on SSE. He emphasised SSE’s potential as a promising funding source, but stressed the importance of capacity building for nonprofits, funders, and intermediaries to realise this vision. Following this, Suryanarayan from Unnati Foundation shared the process for SSE registration and listing, along with insights on essential building blocks for NGO success.

Rima Agarwalla, Vice President at Unitus Capital, highlighted the significance of understanding regulations, creating a comprehensive fundraising document, engaging potential investors, and collaborating closely with exchanges. Richa Choudhary, a Partner in the Capital Markets practice at Trilegal, addressed the legal and regulatory aspects that NGOs should consider before SSE registration and listing.

The session concluded with Raymond B D’Souza, Chief General Manager at NABARD and NABARD’s Nominee on the SEBI SSE Committee and the NSE SSE, discussing common challenges NGOs might encounter during the listing process and providing recommendations on how SSE could evolve over the upcoming years to address these challenges.