The future of impact measurement: AI-powered innovation to listen at scale

Social impact is facing a credibility crisis. Data is fragmented, self-reported, or unverifiable, which fuels impact washing and leaving decision-makers without the evidence they need to drive real progress. voices of impact (voi) is dedicated to changing that. By combining lived experiences with advanced AI, this EU-funded initiative transforms thousands of stakeholder voices into credible, evidence-based insights that decision-makers can trust.

Across the world, organisations and initiatives are under growing pressure to prove their impact. Investors need credible data, companies need real insights, communities demand transparency, and policymakers need evidence that programmes truly work.

Yet the most essential insights, the lived experiences of the people directly affected, often remain unheard.

Traditional impact reports are full of numbers but often miss the meaning behind them. Metrics capture scale, not depth. Surveys record inputs and outputs, not outcomes and experiences. Without authentic feedback from those whose lives are affected, the data driving decisions can be incomplete or misleading.

voices of impact bridges that gap by turning stakeholder voices into verified evidence that decision-makers can act on with confidence. It is about making social impact measurable, but also meaningful.

Real progress begins when human experiences are transformed into knowledge that drives better decisions. voices of impact brings together advanced AI, academic research, market innovation, and a global network to turn those experiences into verified, actionable evidence that leaders can trust.

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‍Innovations turning voices into verified evidence

Developed through a European co-funded project led by leonardo, in collaboration with the Technical University of Munich, Impact Hub Trento, and the Impact Hub Network, this initiative combines state-of-the-art science with the agility of a technology startup. Together, this consortium is creating new digital tools that move impact measurement beyond data collection toward deep understanding and real-world application.

• AI-powered qualitative analysis: Using natural language processing, open-ended feedback and stories from stakeholders are analysed at scale to reveal patterns, emotions, and outcomes that numbers alone cannot capture.
• Automated impact verification: Protect against impact washing and build trust with fully traceable, transparent and GDPR compliant data.

These innovations help organisations capture meaningful insights from lived experience, transforming feedback into reliable evidence for action.

A future where every voice counts

At its core, this project seeks to create a new standard for impact measurement that values listening as much as reporting. By elevating stakeholder input, it turns fragmented experiences into a shared evidence base.

By elevating stakeholder voices, it turns fragmented experiences into a shared evidence base for action. Whether you are an investor allocating capital, an enterprise reporting on results, or a policymaker designing new programmes, the project offers a path to understanding what truly works and why.

What’s next: Join the movement

We’re testing and developing new AI-powered features with partners across Europe. These pilots will explore how organisations can use stakeholder voices to make impact reporting more credible, efficient, and inclusive.

This next phase marks the beginning of a new standard in impact measurement, where listening at scale becomes the foundation for trust and transformation.

Sign up for Impact Hub’s newsletter for early access to updates, resources, and pilot invitations. Be among the first to see how AI-powered listening can reshape the way we understand and prove social impact.

About voices of impact

voices of impact (voi) uses advanced AI to turn thousands of stakeholder voices into verified evidence you can see in patterns, feel in stories and trust in data. This is the future of impact measurement, where every voice counts.

Funded by the European Union, voi is made possible through collaboration with leonardo, the Technical University of Munich, Impact Hub Trento and the global Impact Hub Network.