International Sustainable Finance Centre

What International Sustainable Finance Centre does

International Sustainable Finance Centre (ISFC) is an independent, apolitical think tank founded in 2020 and headquartered in Prague, Czech Republic. The organization specializes in research, advisory, and capacity building focused on accelerating systems change toward more sustainable deployment of human, environmental, and financial capital, with a particular focus on the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region and V4 countries (Poland, Czechia, Hungary, Slovakia). ISFC combines a think tank function with a professional services business model, delivering four primary revenue streams: bespoke advisory services to financial institutions and corporations, EU-funded technical assistance projects (notably DG REFORM DNSH Guidelines work and the EU LIFE Project for certification of clean energy SMEs), annual events and sponsorships led by the CEE Sustainable Finance Summit (600+ attendees, 85+ speakers, 25+ countries), and research publications distributed through its Knowledge Hub.

ISFC's product portfolio includes a research library of 50+ outputs covering sustainable banking, ESG integration, decarbonization, sustainable fintech, biodiversity in finance, and EU regulatory frameworks (SFDR, EU Taxonomy, Just Transition); advisory and technical assistance engagements; training and capacity building workshops; the flagship CEE Sustainable Finance Summit; and The Transition Tapes podcast launched in October 2025 on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, hosted by Hugh Wheelan. The organization operates with a team of 11 international experts under CEO & Founder Linda Zeilina and Chief Operating Officer Julian Toth, supported by senior economists and subject matter experts in sustainable finance and investing. There is no disclosed revenue, no parent company, and no external institutional investors; funding appears to derive from EU grants, project fees, advisory retainers, and event-related revenue.

Name

International Sustainable Finance Centre

Legal name

International Sustainable Finance Centre

Website

https://isfc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

International Sustainable Finance Centre is an independent, Prague-based think tank founded in 2020 that provides research, advisory, EU-funded technical assistance, and the CEE Sustainable Finance Summit to financial institutions, policymakers, and corporations across Central and Eastern Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Finance Advisory

NAICS

Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYFSANAHAJ

Corporate Impact / Climate & Sustainability CVC

Financial & Insurance/Private Equity & Venture Capital/Corporate Venture Capital (CVC)

Keywords

• Sustainable finance advisory
• ESG research publishing
• Climate policy consulting
• Capacity building workshops
• Financial sector events

Headquarters

HQ city

Prague

HQ country

Czechia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Advisory Services: Providing bespoke advice and solutions to financial institutions, investors, and policymakers on sustainability integration into strategy and practice.
2. Technical Assistance Projects: DG REFORM technical assistance projects and EU-funded projects such as EU LIFE Project for certification of clean energy SMEs.
3. Events and Sponsorships: Hosting the annual CEE Sustainable Finance Summit and other events with international experts and speakers.
4. Research Publications: Producing research reports and publications on sustainable banking, ESG integration, decarbonisation, and sustainable fintech in CEE region.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ISFC is an independent think tank that sells applied-research and advisory services on sustainable finance. Its core offerings include published research and policy analysis, bespoke advisory and EU-funded technical assistance (e.g., DG REFORM, EU LIFE) for financial institutions and public-sector clients, training and capacity-building workshops, and the annual CEE Sustainable Finance Summit and The Transition Tapes podcast as convening and thought-leadership channels.

Product overview

ISFC is an independent think tank that offers a portfolio of interconnected services: research and thought leadership through published reports and analysis; advisory and technical assistance services for financial institutions and policymakers; training and capacity building programs; and convening events including the annual CEE SustainableFinance Summit. The organization also produces The Transition Tapes podcast as a media platform for sustainable finance dialogue. These offerings work together as a feedback loop where research informs advisory work, and advisory engagements provide practical insights that keep research relevant and actionable.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Transition Tapes: A podcast exploring sustainable finance topics through interviews with industry experts, combining professional discussion with personal insights on books, music, and career advice.

Products and services

• The Transition Tapes Podcast A podcast series featuring interviews with experts in sustainable finance, combining professional field discussions with personal insights on books, music, movies, and career advice. Episodes are available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
• Research Publications Diagnostic reports, working papers, briefings, and policy analysis covering sustainable banking, ESG integration, decarbonization, sustainable fintech, and climate investing in the V4 region. Made available through the ISFC Knowledge Hub for download by financial professionals and policymakers.
• Advisory Services Bespoke advisory services and technical assistance helping financial institutions, investors, and policymakers integrate sustainability into strategy and practice. Projects include DEI strategy development, DNSH guidelines application, and clean energy SME certification.
• CEE Sustainable Finance Summit Annual flagship conference bringing together finance, policy, and business leaders to navigate geopolitical shifts, innovation, AI transformation, and the sustainability agenda. Features 85+ speakers, 600+ attendees, and 45 sessions across 25+ countries.
• Training and Capacity Building Workshops and capacity building programs designed to share knowledge and build expertise in sustainable finance among practitioners and institutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50+ research outputs published since founding
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• CEE SummitflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026CEE Summit is a major sustainable finance conference organized with ISFC involvement. The 2026 edition (5th Edition) will be held in Prague, Czechia on 14-16 September 2026, expecting 600+ attendees, 85+ speakers, 45 sessions, and 25+ countries represented. It serves as a flagship event for the sustainable finance community in Central and Eastern Europe.
• CzechSIF (Czech Sustainable Investment Forum)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCzechSIF is a partner organization working on sustainable finance initiatives in the Czech Republic. The organizations collaborate on building sustainable finance capacity and awareness in the CEE region.
• Climate Week PraguecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClimate Week Prague is a partner initiative focused on climate action and sustainable finance dialogue in Prague. ISFC's Nikol Cvrčková serves as Head of Climate Week Prague, indicating a close operational relationship.
• RefinitivminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the ESG Working Group that produced the 'Amplifying the S in ESG: Investor Myth Buster' white paper, along with White & Case, Eco-Age, The Mekong Club, Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), and Robert F Kennedy Human Rights.
• European UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDG REFORM technical assistance projects and EU LIFE Project funding for certification of clean energy SMEs. The EU provides funding and framework for several ISFC initiatives including Just Transition work and sustainable finance technical assistance.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• EcoAct: EcoAct is an international climate consultancy providing advisory on carbon strategy, ESG, and sustainable finance. It is comparable to ISFC as a specialist advisory firm on sustainable finance and climate topics but operates as a commercial consultancy serving multinational clients, with broader service coverage across carbon accounting and net-zero strategy.

Direct peers

• ShareAction: ShareAction is a non-profit promoting responsible investment and stewardship through research, advocacy, and policy work with European financial institutions. It is directly comparable to ISFC as a non-profit research and advocacy organization focused on sustainable finance practices among European asset managers, banks, and institutional investors.
• Climate Bonds Initiative: Climate Bonds Initiative is a global non-profit organization working to mobilize debt capital for climate action through sustainable bond standards, labels, and policy advocacy. It is directly comparable to ISFC as both operate as research-driven non-profits focused on sustainable finance standards, policy, and market development across regions.
• Carbon Tracker Initiative: Carbon Tracker Initiative is an independent non-profit financial think tank producing analysis on climate risk, stranded assets, and the energy transition. It is directly comparable to ISFC as an independent research organization producing financial-sector analysis to drive climate-aligned capital allocation, though with a global rather than CEE regional focus.
• E3G: E3G is an independent climate change think tank operating across Europe and globally, producing policy analysis and convening decision-makers on climate and sustainable finance. It is directly comparable to ISFC as an independent, apolitical think tank combining deep research with advisory and convening on climate/sustainable finance topics.
• Green Finance Institute: The Green Finance Institute is a UK-based membership organization accelerating the transition to a green and sustainable economy through research, policy advice, and convening. It is directly comparable to ISFC as a sustainable finance-focused think tank producing research, advisory, and convening services for financial institutions and policymakers.
• 2° Investing Initiative (2DII): 2DII is an international non-profit think tank conducting research on climate finance, portfolio alignment, and regulatory frameworks. It directly parallels ISFC's research-driven, policy-advisory model and its focus on aligning financial flows with climate goals across European and global markets.

Broad incumbents

• Sustainable Fitch: Sustainable Fitch (a Fitch Solutions business) provides ESG ratings, data, and analytical products for sustainable finance markets globally. It is broadly comparable to ISFC's advisory work on ESG integration and Taxonomy, but operates as a much larger commercial ratings and data provider rather than an independent think tank.
• Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI): PRI is the world's leading responsible investment network supported by the UN, working with thousands of institutional investors to incorporate ESG factors. It is broadly comparable to ISFC as a sustainable finance advocacy and standards body, but operates at a much larger scale and global scope across all investment categories.
• South Pole Group: South Pole is a large commercial climate advisory and solutions provider working with corporates, financial institutions, and governments on decarbonization and ESG strategy. It is broadly comparable to ISFC's climate/sustainable finance advisory offering but operates as a major commercial consultancy with global scale and a broader service portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeopen.spotify.com/show/5m1uN7RzKnpPOK89XalPdG
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-sustainable-finance-centre
• Xx.com/isfcentre
• Facebookfacebook.com/ISFCentre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Sustainable Finance Centre