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$2 Million-Backed Ouranos Lab Launches to Develop Innovative Enterprise Solutions Out of Africa
Ouranos Lab is a venture studio focused on building the products and solutions that will power the future of enterprise technology in Africa.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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African Development Bank’s AFAWA Hits $1 Billion Investment Milestone in Lending to Women Entrepreneurs in Africa
This is yet another milestone for the bank following a historic summit last week to tackle the escalating challenges of food security in Africa.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Entrepreneurship
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Taking Inspiration from Innovation: Key Insights from Eight Entrepreneurs Making an Impact in Emerging Markets
Whether they're working to increase smallholder farmers’ profits, promote water or sanitation solutions, or address other key needs in emerging markets, social entrepreneurs tend to face common challenges. That's why they must learn from each other if they hope to flourish. Brigit Helms at Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship shares insights from eight entrepreneurs in Miller Center’s Clean Water and Climate-Smart Agriculture program, who discuss their innovations, the challenges they’ve overcome and the lessons they’ve learned.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Entrepreneurship, WASH
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Press Release: DFC CEO Travels to Kyiv in Show of Unwavering Support and Makes Several Announcements to Catalyze $1 Billion in Private Sector Engagement
This week, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) Chief Executive Officer Scott Nathan traveled to Ukraine to deepen engagement with the local business community and meet with government ministers.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship, Investing
- Region
- Europe & Eurasia
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Husk Power Reaches Minigrid Profitability
Net-zero energy services company Husk Power Systems has become the first minigrid company to achieve profitability.
- Categories
- Energy, Entrepreneurship
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Six Business Plan Pitfalls to Avoid When Approaching Funders: Lessons from Healthcare Enterprises in Emerging Markets
Having a good business plan is a key part of building credibility with funders. But despite its importance to an enterprise’s success, many entrepreneurs in emerging markets struggle to develop a strong business plan that instills confidence among potential funders. Paul Clyde and Ioan Cleaton-Jones at the William Davidson Institute discuss six common business plan mistakes that can undermine an entrepreneur's prospects with funders, based on their work supporting the development of business plans for hundreds of healthcare enterprises in various emerging markets.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship, Health Care, Investing
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How Foreign Aid Can Innovate Itself Out of Existence: Exploring the Potential of Market-Creating Innovation for Sustainable Development
The foreign aid sector has long been criticized for its inability to generate consistent economic growth and poverty alleviation in developing countries. According to Efosa Ojomo at the Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation, a new approach to aid is needed: one that recognizes the power of business innovation to create new markets that advance local prosperity. He discusses a new pan-African initiative based on that approach, which aims to mobilize aid, business and African institutions to build new markets that generate self-sustaining economic growth.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship, Health Care, Investing
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Lessons in Resilience: What an Impact Investor Learned from an Entrepreneur Who Refused to Give Up
Entrepreneurship is a long game, and winning often comes down to grit. One case in point: Arindam Dasgupta, the co-founder and CEO of Tamul Plates, who has built a thriving business in India despite the historic challenges of recent years. Sachi Shenoy at Calidris and Steve Schwartz at the World Economic Forum were early investors in Tamul Plates through Upaya Social Ventures, the impact investing firm they co-founded. They discuss what Dasgupta has taught them about the qualities and practices investors should look for when seeking resilient entrepreneurs.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship, Investing
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