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Weekly Roundup: Trickle-Up Innovation, and More
When innovation happens at the base of the pyramid and then moves to more wealthy markets - is that moving up? Going in reverse? Or is there a better way to look at it. On the same note, sometimes what is at the periphery of the global economy assumes central importance - like microfinance in Afghanistan. Plus, new events and opportunities.
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Root Capital, E+Co Tap Major New Funding
It must be the (giving) season. Just this week, NextBillion allies and SME investment pioneers Root Capital and E+Co announced $14M each of new investments and grants. Congrats to our friends and colleauges at both Root and E+Co - who have done pioneering work in the agricultural finance and energy finance sectors, respectively.
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Journey for Change: India Snapshot
The UK-based social business Journeys for Change recently brought a group of senior leaders from some of the world?s top private, public and civil society organisations (including Credit Suisse, Swedbank, BonnVentures & the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation) to meet some of India?s most inspiring social entrepreneurs in Calcutta and Hyderabad.
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Copenhagen Climate Summit: Shaping Adaptation Finance
I want to pick up where Rishabh left off in his post yesterday on adaptation to climate change. Assuming that the tens and then hundreds of billions of dollars in "climate financing" for the least developed countries materializes, of which half might be earmarked for adaptation, a robust discussion is needed on how best to use those dollars.
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VisionSpring Shows How Glasses Make an Impact
You have to see it to believe it - no pun intended. VisionSpring, the award-winning social enterprise, has released a new video highlighting its impact on base-of-the-pyramid communities around the world. It’s fantastic to see (pun intended) VisionSpring grow with my own eyes. In just the past two years, they have spun out from Scojo New York...
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On the Way to Copenhagen: The Business of Climate Change Adaptation
As COP15 enters its final week it’s timely to ask what role business can play, especially in addressing the effects of climate change in the lives of the poor.
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Emerging Business Models for Serving SMEs in Banking
SMEs in developing countries have become in the last years a strategic priority for financial institutions, as their margins in other markets fall due to the intensified competition coming from non-financial organizations. This has resulted in many large banks changing their business models and organizational structure to cater to them.
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Copenhagen Climate Summit: The Missing Billions
This week and next, I and then Rishabh Kaul will be at the U.N. climate summit in Copenhagen to cover any relevant news and events. Except when discussed as victims of climate change, the people at the base of the economic pyramid are largely invisible in the negotiations. This is a huge problem for both the poor and for the negotiations.
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