-
Why African fintech startups are so attractive to investors
The recently-released African Tech Startups Funding Report released by Disrupt Africa found fintech was the most popular destination for funding in the tech sector after solar in 2015.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
Living Cities Launches New $31 Million Blended Catalyst Fund for Social Impact Investment in US Cities
Living Cities today launched the Blended Catalyst Fund, a $31 million impact investing debt fund that will test innovative approaches to solving urban problems. The Blended Catalyst Fund combines philanthropic and commercial debt under the premise that both types of capital are needed to support initiatives that achieve better results for low-income people in US cities. The Fund currently includes ten philanthropic and commercial investors that are committed to increasing the flow of available capital to meet growing demand for social services across the country.
- Categories
- Investing
-
Blueprint for Ignition: How the Catalyst Fund Got Started
The Catalyst Fund's intervention is specific: It provides small, flexible grants of up to US $100,000 alongside mentoring and advisory services from investors and a robust learning agenda, dedicated to supporting innovative but pre-investable inclusive fintech startups. Here's how the Accion Venture Lab team worked with the Gates Foundation, JPMorgan Chase & Co, Quona Capital, Grey Ghost Ventures and the Omidyar Network, among others, to create it.
- Categories
- Investing, Technology
-
Viewpoint: Morningstar and the democratization of ESG information
In March, investment research company Morningstar rolled out the first sustainability ranking for mutual funds, where companies are ranked on their environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance and compared to their industry peers.
- Categories
- Investing
- Tags
- impact investing
-
Toniic Institute Announces New CEO
The Toniic Institute, a nonprofit global organization of impact investors, announced today the selection of Adam S. Bendell as its next chief executive officer, commencing July 1, 2016. Bendell brings entrepreneurial, financial, operational, marketing and business development expertise to Toniic, along with experience managing global teams.
- Categories
- Investing
-
Weekly Roundup: Social Enterprise Meets Reality TV – Is That a Good Thing?
Today, 12 India-based social entrepreneurs will make TV history as the world’s first reality show about social enterprise and impact investing is broadcast on NDTV. The program is being billed as an attempt to mainstream the sector via a popular medium - a worthy goal, but is reality TV really the right way to achieve it? We discuss this question, and other developments in the social business space, in this roundup.
- Categories
- Investing, Social Enterprise
- Tags
- impact investing
-
BUSINESS DAY TV: Impact investors are excited
An interview with Max Pichulik, a partner at Impact Amplifier.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- impact investing
-
OPIC Achieves $1 Billion in Global Microfiance Support
The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the U.S. Government’s development finance institution, today announced that the agency has surpassed $1 billion in financing support to global microfinance institutions, lenders and frameworks since 2010. OPIC provides financing to microfinance institutions through investments in microfinance vehicles, targeted credit facilities to individual microfinance institutions (MFIs), risk-sharing agreements, and guaranties supporting innovative industry efforts. OPIC’s financing has supported more than 100 microfinance institutions in more than 30 countries.
- Categories
- Investing
- Tags
- lending, microfinance
Subscribe to Our Weekly Newsletter, "NextBillion Notes"
Published each Wednesday, our e-newsletter features NextBillion's latest original articles, along with a selection of news, jobs, bizdev opportunities and events from our recent coverage — and regular conference ticket giveaways.
We respect your privacy. Your information is safe and will never be shared.
Don't miss out. Subscribe today.