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Curing Silicon Valley’s Myopia: Ross Baird, on How to Change the Narrative Around Investment and Innovation
Silicon Valley is home to some of the most brilliant innovators and deep-pocketed investors in the world. So why are they focusing so much of their time and resources on solving petty problems, while ignoring countless more pressing concerns? Village Capital's executive director Ross Baird discusses the problem and some potential solutions in this podcast.
- Categories
- Investing, Social Enterprise, Technology
- Tags
- impact investing
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Beyond ‘Africa Rising’ – The Emergence of the Not-Quite-Middle Class
The past five years or so have seen exuberant studies and predictions that Africa’s rapid growth was creating a new middle class that would transform governance and politics – the optimistic story of “Africa Rising.” But what we really see is not a rising middle class but rather a new group that lives on the cusp of poverty, getting by on $2 to $5 a day, and lacking the kinds of assets, job security, purchasing power and stability we associate with middle-class livelihoods.
- Categories
- Social Enterprise
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A Bridge Too Far? Bridge International Academies Responds to Ugandan Government’s Allegations and Closure Plans
The Ugandan government recently announced plans to close Bridge International Academies, the celebrated for-profit school company operating in Africa. Uganda's education minister claims that the schools “showed poor hygiene and sanitation which put the life and safety of the school children in danger.” Bridge vehemently denies these charges, and we talked to the company about where things stand.
- Categories
- Education, Social Enterprise
- Tags
- regulations
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Is Ultra Poverty Graduation Working?
The graduation approach centers on creating effective pathways for the ultra-poor living at the bottom of the poverty pyramid. In countries like Bangladesh, India, Ethiopia, Peru, Ghana and Pakistan, studies have documented the approach's impact in causing (yes, causing) broad and lasting economic impacts and improvements in psychosocial well-being.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Education
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A Demographic Time Bomb: The Urgent Need to Prepare Undocumented Hispanic Immigrants for Retirement
The United States is home to some 11.3 million undocumented immigrants, mostly Latin American. These immigrants are aging, and whether they stay in the U.S. or return to their home countries, many are woefully underprepared for the financial burdens of retirement. The consequences of ignoring their retirement savings needs are significant – but so are the opportunities to reach them with financial products.
- Categories
- Investing
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Impact Investing Comes of Age: ImpactAlpha Rounds up Nine Stories Shaping the Marketplace
Impact investments represent some of the greatest wealth generating opportunities of our time, from the trillions needed to build a clean global energy grid, to the opportunities in delivering essential services to the emerging middle class. Here are nine recent developments that highlight the sector's growing significance, part of ImpactAlpha's ongoing collaboration with NextBillion.
- Categories
- Investing, Social Enterprise
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Weekly Roundup: The Death of a Salesman, a Megaphone for Mom, and a Target on BlackRock
Divestment activists in the gay community turn their sights on BlackRock, a tragic suicide reveals trouble in India's health care industry, and a new study shows the value of constructive nagging in this week's Roundup.
- Categories
- Health Care, Investing, Social Enterprise
- Tags
- impact investing
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Last Week for $200 SOCAP Discounts
If you’re an impact investor or social entrepreneur in need of a dose of inspiration, you won't want to miss SOCAP16, Sept. 13-16 at Fort Mason in San Francisco. This ninth annual event, the world’s largest conference dedicated to increasing the flow of capital toward social good, is expected to attract more than 2,500 change-makers from around the world.
- Categories
- Social Enterprise
- Tags
- impact investing
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