DANIEL NOWACK

Finance & Social Innovation

Supporting the inclusive transition to a green and digital economy that benefits everyone.

CLIENTS

Topics & Issues

01.

Social Innovation

To support an inclusive transition, we need new, community-driven models for societal progress.

02.

Innovative Finance

We need an updated financial and economic system that properly rewards social and environmental impact.

03.

Impact Management

Foundations, and increasingly companies need to measure and manage their positive and negative impact footprint.

04.

Transformation

An inclusive transition requires personal and systemic transformation towards net positive thinking and acting.

Engaging in social innovation can be confusing. Let’s put structure to the chaos.

Strategy Consulting

Project Implementation

Collective Action

RECENT PUBLICATION: WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM

Beyond Compliance: Embedding Impact through Innovative Finance

Innovative finance is reshaping the corporate approach to social impact, as detailed in the Schwab Foundation’s latest report, Beyond Compliance: Embedding Impact through Innovative Finance.

The report highlights how this emerging practice already mobilizes $185 billion by linking financial rewards to measurable social outcomes. It offers businesses a pathway to address societal challenges while maintaining a competitive edge. For example, social progress credits in South Korea have directed $50 million to social innovators, demonstrating the tangible benefits of this approach. A range of other case studies showcase how companies are already exploring this approach to address critical social issues in their value chains.

READ THE REPORT

Social innovation is becoming a strategic business capability, addressing both sustainability issues and business objectives.

About DANIEL

I help companies and social startups maximize their positive impact.

I am the Head of Social Innovation for the Schwab Foundation and the World Economic Forum. I oversee the foundation’s efforts to engage the private and public sector in social innovation.

This includes the Global Alliance for Social Entrepreneurship, with 120+ members representing 100,000 social entrepreneurs; the Corporate Leadership Council on Social Innovation, with 40+ leading companies; and the Policy Leadership Council, convening 30+ international organizations and public sector representatives.

Previously, I served as Managing Director at Yunus Social Business (YSB), an impact investing fund established by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus. I have held roles as a startup CFO and a mentor for Google Launchpad and Founders Institute. I had the opportunity to lecture at several universities, including TU Munich and the University of Geneva. I hold an MBA from the Frankfurt School of Finance and am a Certified Expert in ESG and Impact Investing.

NEWS: REUTERS

Biodiversity

Social enterprises are critical actors in protecting biodiversity. We need to back them

Our planet faces a devastating loss of nature. Over a million species are on the brink of extinction, and wildlife has dropped by 73% in 50 years. Failure to stop this crisis will have serious consequences. The health of people and the planet are intimately related, and to solve urgent biodiversity issues, we need nature solutions that are in lockstep with social solutions.

Read the full article

NEWS: IMPACT INVESTOR

Davos Recap

Davos: Global firms have key role fostering social innovation

Daniel Nowack, head of social innovation for the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship and the WEF, highlighted research launched to coincide with the event showing that engagement with and investment in social enterprises by governments and business made economic sense as well as supporting an equitable transition

Read the full article

NEWS: SUPPLY CHAIN DIGITAL

Procurement

Equity in Supply Chains: Unlocking a Fairer Future

Equity is essential in green and digital supply chains, but how exactly is this achieved? This question drives the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) 2025 report Unlocking the Social Economy: Towards Equity in the Green and Digital Transitions. “The green and digital transitions are not just about technology—they are about people and their agency to drive change.”

Read the full article
Testimonial

What Clients Are Saying

“I had the opportunity to work with Daniel in my role at the World Economic Forum. Daniel very ably designed our strategy. His diligence, thoughtfulness, investigative mind, and humility have been instrumental to our ability to progress. Thanks to Daniel, we were able to convert an unprecedented challenge into a shared roadmap for 90+ alliance members.“
CAROLIEN DE BRUINWorld Business Council on Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
“I’ve become to admire Daniel’s commitment, creativity, deep empathy, and seasoned leadership skills. He somehow always seems to be ahead of current sector trends and has a talent to continuously raise the bar by empowering people to find their true talent. He is a critical thinker in social innovation and breaks down complex challenges into addressable issues.”
BASTIAN MÜLLERSiemens Foundation
„Daniel is a true treasure – as a professional and as a human. His experience is broad and deep, his insights inspiring and creative. He does not shy away from difficult situations and manages people and interpersonal issues with kindness, ease, humor and empathy. His dedication to creating a better world is palpable, grounded and real. He understands that social business is not a nice to have in a world on the brink, and acts with urgency and purpose.“
PHILIP HORVATHLeadership Consultancy „Luman“
„Daniel is one of the most skilled financial strategists. He combines the strategic and operational knowhow of a COO with the detailed foresight of a CFO. He is a data driven storyteller and transforms numbers into a vision and a business model. His value-based worldview has left a massive footprint in international social entrepreneurship. I am very proud that I have had the opportunity to work with him.“
FLORIAN HOFMANNPrivate Equity Firm „Liberta Partners“