Meet Laura – Figurative’s new Investment Director

Laura Renaud-Studer recently joined Figurative as Investment Director. She has spent nearly two decades across traditional and impact investing, including time at a global social impact fund supporting organisations working on social justice and human rights. She now leads Figurative’s investment team, backing socially driven cultural organisations with repayable finance designed for the sector.

Q: What is your role at Figurative?

A: I lead the investment team and help decide how and where we deploy capital. In practice, that means shaping our investment approach, looking at new opportunities, and working closely with organisations to structure finance that actually fits their reality. What I care most about is making sure our funding helps organisations feel stronger and more in control over time. 

Q: What makes Figurative’s approach different from traditional lending?

A: We start with purpose. The numbers matter, but so does what the organisation is here to do and the role it plays in its community. Our job is to bring finance in a way that supports both, and feels workable, not extractive.

Q: What do you look for in an organisation?

A: Strong leadership, a clear purpose, and a good sense of what the money is for. I love it when investment is used to unlock something tangible, like building capacity where demand is already strong or developing new earned income streams that can subsidise charitable activities.

Q: What’s the most common misconception about loan finance?

A: That it’s only for big institutions, or that it’s automatically too risky for smaller organisations. Our loans start at £150k and when structured well, it can be a really powerful tool, flexible, realistic, and supportive, especially for organisations that want to invest in their future without losing control. 

Q: What do you enjoy most about your work at Figurative?

A: Watching organisations grow in confidence. Not just financially, but in how they make decisions, how they plan, and how they talk about what they need. It’s a great moment when a leadership team starts to feel they have options.

Q: Can you share some of your own personal cultural highlights with us?

A: Dance is my sweet spot. I’m always amazed by how much emotion can be expressed through movement, sometimes more directly than words.  I recently saw Peaky Blinders by Rambert (one of our portfolio organisations), and it really stayed with me –  bold, immersive, and incredibly powerful. When dance is combined with music and strong visual choices, it can be completely gripping.

You can reach out to Laura via our investment email investments@figurative.org.uk