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Mission Impossible? How Large Asset Managers Can Avoid ‘Mission Drift’
In recent years, an increasing number of large asset managers have entered the impact investing arena. But many of them still focus mainly on financial returns, failing to develop a truly “impact first” approach. Florian Kemmerich of Bamboo Capital explores three ways large asset managers can deliver legitimate impact, while reducing the risk of possible mission drift.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Investing
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India’s Impact Capital Vacuum – And What to Do About It
Impact investments in India grew by double digits between 2010 and 2016, and are expected to reach US $8 billion by 2025. But the on-the-ground reality is not so rosy. Investors are flocking to financial services and larger-scale companies, while early-stage enterprises and impact sectors such as agriculture, health care and clean energy face a funding gap. While there is no secret sauce for changing this dynamic, Gagandeep Bakshi and Sameer Gaud at Intellecap offer five guiding principles to help social enterprises with successful fundraising.
- Categories
- Investing, Social Enterprise
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Collaboration for Impact: The 2018 Edition of SEEP’s Annual Conference
The SEEP Network's flagship event is less than a month away. The theme of this year's conference, "Collaboration for Impact," will highlight the importance of multi-sector changemaking and empower attendees with the insights needed to take their impact to the next level. The event will feature informative breakout sessions and prominent contributing orgs like Grameen Foundation, USAID and BRAC. Read more in this preview from SEEP program associate Mashal Amjad, including information on how you could win a free ticket from NextBillion.
- Categories
- Social Enterprise
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Seeking a Happy Ending: Will Nigeria’s New and Improved Financial Inclusion Strategy Work Better Than the Last One?
Nigeria's Central Bank has finally admitted something it had been hinting at for months: The 2020 goals described in its National Financial Inclusion Strategy are not feasible. Building off the wins and learning from the shortcomings of that strategy, the country is now setting new goals and targeting new gains in financial access. Olayinka David-West and Ibukun Taiwo of the Lagos Business School share their five recommendations for the next phase in Nigeria’s efforts to reach the unbanked.
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- Finance, Telecommunications
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Fighting ‘Tech Complacency’ in Social Enterprise: Why it’s Time to Embrace Blockchain
All around us, Fortune 500 firms and VCs are embracing disruptive innovation – so why aren't more social entrepreneurs following suit? Gautam Ivatury, founder and CEO of LendLedger, says the time has come for the social sector to take some risks and get out of its comfort zone – instead of simply waiting for technologies to filter down to its target beneficiaries. With blockchain, he says, social entrepreneurs "can redraw how industries work, not just create the latest in an endless series of mission-driven service providers."
- Categories
- Finance, Social Enterprise, Technology
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Unboxing Solar: An Israeli-run Startup Works to Expand Energy Access in the Palestinian Territories
Sometimes the path to social entrepreneurship can be unexpected. Take Israeli entrepreneur Yo'Av Moshe: After an armed confrontation with Israeli soldiers, he decided to use his skills to create social change in his country. He later found the inspiration for his business after leaving Tel Aviv to build a home on wheels with its own solar power system. Moshe now runs the startup SolarBox, which provides off-grid solutions in the Palestinian territories and other areas in and around Israel. He discusses the company’s unique origin story, its struggles and its tangible impact.
- Categories
- Energy, Social Enterprise
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Power Play: Can Energy Access Entrepreneurs Survive the Relentless March of Grid Electricity in India?
Despite the dubious claims from the Modi administration that India has electrified every village in the country, the march to extend grid infrastructure continues unabated. So where does that leave energy access enterprises? Ananth Aravamudan, Renewable Energy lead at Villgro, explores how these firms can find creative new ways to stay relevant.
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- Energy, Social Enterprise
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Breaking Out of the Social Impact Conference Rut: Five Ways to Design a Truly Impactful Event
Have you ever been to a conference and felt a strange sense of déjà vu – an uncanny feeling that you've seen the sessions, read the buzzwords and heard all the stories before? Even for passionate, insightful members of the social impact community, it's easy to fall into the “same old” when planning a conference. Madhu Viswanathan at the Subsistence Marketplaces Initiative at the University of Illinois shares tips for fellow changemakers who seek to avoid this rut when organizing their own gatherings.
- Categories
- Social Enterprise, Uncategorized
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