Goodwin advised Danone Manifesto Ventures on its conversion to a benefit corporation and its independent B Corporation™ Certification, the first of its kind for a corporate venture fund. This prestigious designation follows a rigorous certification process by B Lab®, a third-party non-profit, and recognizes companies that are committed to conduct business with the highest standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability to balance profit and purpose.
To become B Corporation Certified, Danone Manifesto Ventures met strict performance requirements outlined in the B Impact Assessment, a globally-recognized standard that looks at the impact a company has on the environment, employees, customers and broader community, as well as the company’s accountability, governance, and transparency practices.
Danone Manifesto Ventures, a corporate venture fund of Danone, partners with a tribe of disruptive entrepreneurs and innovative food and beverages companies that share its vision of a healthy and sustainable future. Through this unit, Danone makes investments and provides financial and operational support to its portfolio companies through access to its experienced teams around the world, while preserving the autonomy required to grow their entrepreneurial project.
The Goodwin team was led by partner Oreste Cipolla, and included associate Dennis O’Reilly.