HACE

HACE, established in Manchester in 2020, operates as a fintech and data-as-a-service company with a focused mission on eradicating child labor from global supply chains. The company was founded by Eleanor Harry, who serves as the CEO and is a recognized expert on child labor, leveraging her insights to drive investor action and awareness. HACE provides data-driven solutions primarily to the financial services industry, including investors, asset managers, and wealth managers, to help them identify and mitigate child labor risks within their investment portfolios.

The core of HACE's offering is the Child Labour Index, an AI-powered ESG rating system that scores companies and portfolios on their exposure to child labor risks. This index analyzes firms based on public perception, corporate governance policies, and the prevalence of child labor within their specific sub-industry. Beyond the index, HACE offers a Stewardship Toolkit to facilitate investor engagement with portfolio companies on this critical issue and provides Company Scorecards that give businesses a snapshot of their child labor performance. Revenue is generated by providing access to these data products and advisory services. The company's business model transitioned from a service-based approach to a more scalable, product-led model to better address the complexities of modern slavery and child labor through technology.

In February 2024, HACE announced it had secured £450,000 in a pre-seed funding round, surpassing its initial target. The round was led by Manchester Angels and saw participation from GC Angels, Ada Ventures, and Found Capital. This capital is being utilized to finalize the development of the Child Labour Index, enhance the Stewardship Toolkit, and expand its advisory board. By providing quantitative metrics, HACE empowers financial institutions and corporations to make data-driven decisions that align with ethical standards, reduce reputational and legal risks, and contribute to long-term portfolio resilience.

Keywords: ESG data, supply chain risk, responsible investment, financial technology, child labor monitoring, sustainable finance, human rights data, corporate social responsibility, investor tools, ethical investment, AI-powered rating, supply chain transparency, social impact data, asset management solutions, modern slavery data, portfolio risk analysis, due diligence tools, corporate governance, impact investing, Manchester tech