UpLink Annual Impact Report 2026

Building on the momentum and impact already achieved, UpLink will continue to scale its work by designing and nurturing three interconnected ecosystems: systemic, industry-level and place-based. At the systemic level, initiatives spanning water, longevity, circularity, nature and biodiversity, and ocean technologies aim to bring together early-stage ventures and partners in tackling global challenges and create measurable system-wide impact. One example is the collaboration between UpLink, the World Economic Forum and Oliver Wyman, which conducted a systematic analysis of nature-positive business activities that generate economic returns, and identified 50 high-impact, investible opportunities across 10 key sectors where targeted financing can scale solutions that cut resource use, waste and pollution. For corporations, these practical solutions represent not only a pathway to environmental stewardship but also a source of competitive advantage and revenue generation.19 Similarly, in 2026, UpLink aims to bring together a representative group of aquapreneurs during the UN Water Conference, with the aim of raising awareness of water innovation, strengthening and expanding the water Innovation Ecosystem, mobilizing increased private investment, highlighting enabling policies and emerging trends and accelerating the implementation of scalable water solutions. The place-based ecosystem will expand through the Yes/Cities initiative, which continues to demonstrate the power of city-level public-private networks in driving local innovation. Building on the success of Yes/San Francisco, Yes/Cities is actively preparing for expansion to Bengaluru and Boston, focusing on strengthening local anchor institutions, cultivating coalition-building and developing a replicable blueprint for future city rollouts. Over time, additional collaboration models will enable more cities to join the network, sustaining innovation momentum and ensuring continuity beyond initial support. Finally, UpLink will intensify efforts to support ventures in scaling to new markets and cities, responding to strong demand from ventures that report expanding into locations such as Tokyo, San Francisco, New York, Mumbai and Bengaluru, among others. By connecting ventures to local partners, regulatory guidance and a community of investors, UpLink will help ensure these solutions achieve meaningful impact at scale while strengthening the global Innovation Ecosystem. UpLink will also continue strengthening its Investor Community as a connective layer within the ecosystem, cultivating sustained dialogue, cross- regional exchange and high-trust engagement spaces that enable more intentional deployment of purposeful capital and support long-term venture growth. The challenges are accelerating, interconnected and global. The solutions already exist, and the capital to scale them is available. What is needed now is meaningful connection across innovation, markets and systems. By aligning early-stage solutions with demand, partnerships and long-term value, UpLink will continue transforming momentum into measurable impact and helping build resilient, sustainable and prosperous economies for the future.Looking ahead Uplink Annual Impact Report March 2026 32