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Scale Is Overrated: Why the ‘Unicorn Industrial Complex’ is Holding Back Social Enterprise and Emerging Markets Business
Social enterprises and small and growing businesses (SGBs) are the focus of a lot of discussion and excitement in the development sector, as seen in recent SGB coverage on NextBillion and other publications. But Jack Foreman at Foresee Advisors argues that this discussion ignores the needs – and essential natures – of the vast majority of these businesses, particularly in emerging markets. He explains why the focus on scale – and investors' search for the next potential "unicorn" startup – overlook the crucial importance of SMEs that are content to remain small or medium-sized.
- Categories
- Investing, Social Enterprise
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Press Release: DAI Acquires International Asset Management Firm, MicroVest
Acquisition in high-growth ESG/impact investing arena enhances DAI's ability to spur investment in emerging and frontier economies
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Global
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4DX Ventures and Flutterwave Co-invest in Payments Processor CinetPay in Africa
CinetPay, a digital finance platform that enables merchants in Francophone Africa to seamlessly accept and make payments, has announced a $2.4 million seed fundraising round from 4DX Ventures and Flutterwave.
- Categories
- Investing, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Press Release: New Impact-linked Fund To Boost Inclusive And Equitable Education for Vulnerable Children And Youth in MENA and West Africa
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) Kickstart the innovative “Impact-Linked Fund for Education” which Targets high-impact enterprises improving learning outcomes.
- Region
- Global
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Google.org Announces $1.3 Million in Grants To Equip Persons With Disabilities, Women and Refugees With Digital Skills in the Middle East and North Africa
Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm, announced grants totaling USD 1.3 million for three non-profit organizations in the Middle East and North Africa to help equip entrepreneurs and job seekers with digital skills over the next two years.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Global
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Institutional Investors Launch ‘ESG Book’ To Standardize Sustainable Data
A group of major financial institutions launched an 'ESG book,' with the goal to make sustainability data more widely available and comparable.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Global
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Analysis: Private Asset Impact Funds Show Resilience in the Face Of The COVID-19 Pandemic, Forecast Double-digit Growth In 2021
With a record sample size of 175 impact funds, the 2021 edition of Tameo’s flagship research report brings refreshing transparency and a holistic understanding of key trends and benchmarks inherent to impact investing strategies through funds.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Investing
- Region
- Global
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Housing Finance Company Altum Credo Raises $12 Million in Funding in India
The housing finance company, Altum Credo, announced it has raised $12 million, in fresh equity funding led by growth fund Amicus Capital.
- Region
- Asia Pacific
- Tags
- housing, impact investing
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