Cover Anastasios Papadopoulos is building a unique legacy through impact investing (Photo: Affa Chan / Tatler Hong Kong)

IMS Digital Ventures promotes fairness and equitable trade by digitising the most laggard sectors such as mining, whisky distilleries and agriculture

Anastasios Papadopoulos, the founder of IMS Digital Ventures, is on a mission to transform the industries in most need of supply chain innovation, by using blockchain to promote equitable trade. Having launched his venture capital firm, IMS Digital Ventures, in 2016, Papadopoulos is now expanding his investment portfolio with a particular focus on social impact initiatives. 

From a disruptive diamond company and a rare whisky global marketplace to a sophisticated AgriTech authentication platform, read on to find out about the legacy Papadopoulos wants to build through impact investing. 

Tatler Asia
xxx (Photo: Affa Chan/Tatler Hong Kong)
Above Papadopoulos hopes to build a portfolio of companies that reflects his values authentically (Photo: Affa Chan / Tatler Hong Kong)

How do you see technology’s role in creating positive change for the environment and for communities?
I believe that technology doesn’t just disrupt industries—it also creates permanent, positive change by making business practices fairer and more equitable. It’s not just about building cool tech for the sake of it, it’s about looking at how trade is done at an industry level and asking “how can technology serve a greater purpose here?”. This is how I hope to build a portfolio of companies that authentically reflects my values. 

What inspired you to leverage the technology you’re building, such as blockchain solutions, for social impact?
Studying law for so many years has engrained fairness as one of my core values. I have consciously sought, through our activities at IMS Digital Ventures, to extend that into what we do and the entrepreneurs we partner with. 

We care about their values. Being a visionary entrepreneur is important, yes, but being a visionary entrepreneur who is brave enough to challenge the status quo is even better. It seemed natural to apply both our founding principles and our technological strengths in our investments—blockchain and marketplaces are some of our team’s strongest skillsets. 

Is it controversial to say that blockchain is a promising solution for impacting change?
Yes. But also no. It can be a great enabler of positive change. Blockchain can shed light in sectors that are traditionally dark and, through this added layer of transparency, permanently change industry practices for the better. 

It can promote fairness, accountability, and redistribution. It gives a voice to everyone along the supply chain—including those on the ground that companies rely on to affect change—and it also puts consumers at the heart and centre of social impact. That’s important because ultimately, it is consumer demand that determines the pace at which industries adopt better practices.

Does that mean that consumers’ shifting mentalities help make your mission easier?
Definitely. That’s also why blockchain is a means to an end for us. We use it to go beyond tech, to create experiences that consumers will love while making sure they feel involved in community or environmental initiatives. Consumers vote with their wallets. Asking them to believe is not enough. They want proof. Accountability. Real action. 

There is a new breed of entrepreneurs—former consumers with an unshakeable belief that they can make a difference—who are pushing similar brave agendas all over the world. Our role is to empower them to create change. 

Does this mean that fair trade, ESG and other principles are more than just buzzwords?
I don’t think I’m naive in believing that most people want to leave the world in a better state than they found it. Deep down, we know right from wrong. We all have a choice to make: we can either look the other way or we can do something about it. 

Principles of fairness are still in their infancy, implementation-wise. Principles require action. Blockchain is an enabler for action. We’ve seen it turn the diamond industry upside down—in the best possible way. 

We hear that your latest project has been making headlines in the diamond industry, thanks to transformative technology. Tell us how your technology is being used to redefine standards of social impact in Africa.
We partnered with HB Antwerp to build their track-and-trace technology, to bring to life their bold vision of bringing transparency, economic and social justice to Botswana’s diamond trade. Their mission is to empower local communities to benefit from the diamond industry and have a greater stake in its future. It’s an eye-opening model which proves that returning profits and creating local impact can go hand in hand. The Botswana government has taken a significant stake in HB Antwerp in recognition of its innovative tech and company values. I feel privileged that they chose us as their partners in their journey. 

It’s not just entrepreneurs in the diamond industry that we are empowering through tech. 

Our venture company, OrgHive, helmed by former head of Hutchison China MediTech Limited (Chi-Med), Ole Walter, has just celebrated the launch of OrgChain, its sophisticated blockchain solution that brings a whole new standard to authentication of products in the food industry and beyond. 

Another example is our other venture, Whisky Genius. We built a blockchain-driven marketplace that makes it easier and more secure for investors to discover and trade investment-level bottles and casks. Each physical representation also comes with its digital twin in the form of an NFT. Other than trading the NFT—and the whisky it represents—users can also “burn” the NFT and have the bottle delivered to them. Of course, the beauty of the NFT component is that it also gives brands an opportunity to offer their customers other perks, such as exclusive experiences. 

What’s next on your journey to creating lasting, positive change on our planet?
We’re turning our attention to other sectors where we see entrepreneurs forging new, better ways of doing things. Mining in Africa, for example, is an area rich in opportunity for creating community impact. Above all, we’re focusing our efforts in partnering with daring entrepreneurs that have a bigger “why” to their company vision. 

Ultimately, tech is an incredible force for good. We believe that our ventures will leave consumers, communities, and maybe even our planet, in a better state than we found it in.