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Anecdotes and Analysis: The Microfinance ?Bubble?
An article in The Economist brought to my attention an interesting debate about the possibility of an emerging ’bubble’ in microfinance. While news of a bubble is in itself extremely interesting, the argument also highlights a fundamental weakness we currently face in analyzing the BoP space: The lack of quantitative data to back our arguments.
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BoP Business Development and the Extractives Industry
BoP business development by definition should engage the community in the process from the outset. However, extractives projects can be scoped, planned, funded and largely executed before the community is involved in any meaningful way. That begs the question of whether BoP business development and the extractives industry are compatible.
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What’s MTV got to do with it? Mainstream Media and International Development
News stories have been popping up lately about supermodels, actors, musicians and their pet causes. What do you think? Does having Angelina Jolie or Turlington’s face plastered across a billboard or magazine cause people to disengage and not take the very stark reality of the lives of those at the BOP seriously?
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Social Capital Markets 09: The New Money Spectrum
In the final plenary session of SoCap’s packed Day 2, I listened as the panel discussed "From IRIS to GIIRS to New Money". After a full day of hearing the topic of metrics raised in forum after forum, from break-outs to hallway conversations to tweets and blog reviews of earlier sessions, I was especially intrigued to hear this session.
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Apply Now! Lemelson-MIT Awards
The Lemelson-MIT Awards honor both established and rising inventors for their ingenuity, creativity and contribution to invention and innovation. The awards recognize the profound impact that inventors can have on economic and social well-being.
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Social Capital Markets 2009: Lessons Learned
A summary from a panel featuring socially-focused venture capitalists and investment firms and the lessons they have learned over 10 years investing in social ventures, from small businesses to solar energy and micro-finance.
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Franchising in Frontier Markets
Last week, I attended a workshop on "Franchising in Frontier Markets" hosted by IFC and the John Templeton Foundation. More than 50 investors, consultants, and practitioners using franchise-based methods to serve BoP markets participated in what turned out to be a very interactive day - very few presentations, and lots of talking...
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Social Capital Markets 09: SME Finance in Developing Countries
Day 1 of SoCap09, and I was already conflicted. Sonal Shah’s keynote address had ended and there I stood as 800 folks milled about, trying to decide: which of these awesome panels should I choose - and, by association, which will I have to miss? After quick deliberation, I took off for SME Finance in Developing Countries...and I’m glad I did.
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