Among policy makers from diverse political perspectives all over the world, social impact bonds (SIBs) are being met with increasing enthusiasm for their potential to transform the provision of social services. Being seconded to the University of San Andrés (UdeSA), Neil McHugh (GCU) held a seminar on this emerging topic, reflecting on possible side effects of SIBs. His presentation, that drew on a collaboration with FAB-MOVErs Stephen Sinclair and Michael Roy, gave an overview of unintended consequences, the evaluation challenges SIBs pose, as well as the inevitable commodification of service users. Not only academics and students, but people from management areas of the public sector, nonprofit organisations or government representatives used the opportunity to inform themselves due to initial talks about introducing SIBs in Buenos Aires.