UpLink Annual Impact Report 2026

Endnotes 1. UpLink community comprising ventures, investors, funding partners and ecosystem partners; World Economic Forum, Uplink. (n.d.). Our work . https://initiatives.weforum.org/uplink-innovation-ecosystem/our-work . 2. For-profit, early-stage start-ups addressing key global challenges; World Economic Forum, Uplink. (n.d.). Organizations . https://initiatives.weforum.org/uplink-innovation-ecosystem/ organizations#membershipCategory=Top%20Innovator . 3. A network of investors, impact venture capitals (VCs), corporate venture capitals (CVCs), family offices and corporate impact funds providing early capital for promising impact-driven start-ups, shaping how early- stage innovation is surfaced, supported and scaled; World Economic Forum, Uplink. (n.d.). UpLink Investor Community . https://initiatives.weforum.org/uplink-innovation-ecosystem/uplink-investor-community . 4. Organizations powering thematic ecosystems and unlocking growth opportunities for the solutions accelerating the transition to a resilient, sustainable and prosperous global economy; World Economic Forum, Uplink. (n.d.). Organizations . https://initiatives.weforum.org/uplink-innovation-ecosystem/ organizations#membershipCategory=Top%20Innovator . 5. Corporates, investors, academics, think tanks and industry experts who are part of the UpLink community and provide the tools and resources for scaling early-stage innovation. 6. Mao, W., Olson, K., Urli Hodges, E. & Udayakumar, K. (2025). Progress, Impacts and Lessons from Market Shaping in the Past Decade: A Systematic Review. Frontiers in Public Health , vol. 13. https://www.frontiersin. org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1614471/full . 7. Jiang, H., Liu, Y. & Dong, J. (2025). Learning from Winning Firms: Government Innovation Procurement and Peer Innovation Efficiency. Research Policy , vol. 54. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/ S1043951X25002019#:~:text=Through%20a%20textual%20analysis%20that,industrial%20development%20 through%20innovation%20procurement . 8. Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN). (2024). State of the market 2024: Trends, Performance, and Allocations . https://s3.amazonaws.com/giin-web-assets/giin/assets/publication/giin-stateofthemarket2024- report-2024.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com . 9. INNOVEN Capital. (2024). Early-Stage Investment Insights Report 2024 . https://innovencapital.com/public/uploads/files/20240429/2e091978a0c241c234f92d3431e7de9b.pdf?utm_ source=chatgpt.com . 10. Research and Markets. (2025). Agritech Market Global Outlook & Forecast 2025-2030 . https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/05/13/3080018/28124/en/Agritech-Market-Global- Outlook-Forecast-Report-2025-2030-Rise-of-Vertical-Farming-and-Controlled-Environment-Agriculture-and- Increased-Investments-in-Agri-Biotechnology-and-Sustain.html . 11. World Economic Forum. (2025). Water-BOOST: Enabling Innovation for Future-Ready Cities . https://reports. weforum.org/docs/WEF_Water_BOOST_Enabling_Innovation_for_Future_Ready_Cities_2025.pdf . 12. The Water Futures Community is a multistakeholder platform for the next generation of solutions and finance that address emerging systemic water challenges. It fosters public-private collaboration and advances the global water agenda through multistakeholder dialogue, thought leadership, and partnerships. World Economic Forum. (n.d.). Water Futures Community . https://initiatives.weforum.org/water-futures/home . 13. World Economic Forum. (2025). Water Futures: Mobilizing Multi-Stakeholder Action for Resilience . https:// reports.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Water_Futures_Mobilizing_Multi_Stakeholder_Action_for_Resilience_2025.pdf . 14. TRL 9 means the technology is developed and proven in real-world conditions. At this stage, ventures focus on scaling their business – expanding to new markets, increasing production or service delivery, forming partnerships and attracting investment – to maximize their impact. 15. World Economic Forum. (2024). Longevity Economy Principles: The Foundation for a Financially Resilient Future . https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Longevity_Economy_Principles_2024.pdf . 16. Priya, N. et al. (2025). The Important Role of Extension Services in Strengthening the Capacity of Farmers’ Resilience to Climate Change in India. Journal of Experimental Agriculture International , vol. 47, no. 3. https:// Uplink Annual Impact Report March 2026 36