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10 Things You Need To Know About Social And Environmental Investing
Responsible investing has undergone a radical shift, investors are demanding more of their financial advisors, and regulators are struggling to keep up, say experts.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment, Impact Assessment
- Tags
- impact investing
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SunFunder Completes New Round Of Funding
SunFunder, the US crowdfunding company dedicated to funding off-grid solar projects in developing countries, announced Wednesday that it had completed its Series A equity round of funding, raising $2.5 million. The announcement came following investments from Schneider Electric, Better Ventures, and a private family foundation based in Palo Alto. This latest announcement follows on from an original Series A investment made by Khosla Impact and a group of existing angel investors.
- Tags
- crowdfunding, solar, venture capital
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Bangladesh installs 3 million residential solar systems
Bangladesh’s Infrastructure Development Company Ltd (Idcol) last week marked the installation of 3 million residential solar systems in the country.According to Bangladeshi newspaper The Daily Star, the 3 million systems installed under the Idcol program in off-grid areas have a combined capacity of 135 MW.
- Categories
- Energy
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- solar
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NexThought Monday – Social Enterprise Startup Lessons from Burkina Faso: Doing business at the bottom of the World Bank’s ‘Doing Business Index’
Social enterprises are tackling the most challenging problems facing the BoP, but, in truth, we have not fully developed specific strategies or approaches for BoP-oriented start-ups in those crucial early months, writes Andrew Lala, co-founder of startup Clair de Lune. He offers several lessons from his social enterprise’s first three months on the ground in the heart of West Africa.
- Categories
- Energy
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This backpack designed for poor kids does so much more than carry books
South Africans Thato Kgatlhanye and Rea Ngwane are co-founders of the business Rethaka. Their brand of Repurposed Schoolbags are made from recycled and reinforced plastic shopping bags. Recipients are all poor. But it’s so much more than a bag. Because the kids often live in shacks and remote areas with no electricity, Repurposed Schoolbags are built with some other smart features. On the outside of the flap is a pocket for a solar panel, which charges on the long walk to and from school.
- Categories
- Energy
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- solar
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Schneider Electric off-grid, on-profit solutions to create social change in African rural communities
Schneider Electric South Africa has set itself a target to create access to energy for 20 000 Africans by the end of this year. An ambitious goal, but the energy efficiency giant believes this is achievable due to its solid sustainable development strategy, products and solutions.
- Categories
- Energy
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Building energy businesses: Knowledge sharing workshop with business incubators and entrepreneurs from Asia and Africa
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) held a week-long knowledge sharing workshop for energy business incubators and entrepreneurs from Asia and Africain Bangalore, India from 22 to 27 September 2014. The UK Department for International Development (DFID), through its Knowledge Partnership Programme, also supported the initiative to transfer India’s knowledge to other regions in Asia and Africa.
- Categories
- Energy
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WakaWaka Power gets a big brother with the new solar-powered ‘first aid kit’
This solar gadget innovator is back with a new model, the WakaWaka Base, which includes either a 5,000 or 10,000 mAh battery pack, and the device is designed to be charged with the company's 7.5 or 10 watt portable solar panel. Along with the solar panel and battery pack module, WakaWaka is also offering two small LED lamps, one of which is powered by plugging it into the Base, and one which has an internal battery that can be recharged via the panel and battery pack.
- Categories
- Energy
- Tags
- solar