-
After Two Years, ANDE Making an Impact for Small and Growing Businesses
ANDE’s 2010 Impact Report shows the increasing recognition of the importance of SGBs. In the first half of 2010, 22 investment funds launched with a primary focus on SGBs, while private equity funds doubled targets for SGB investments from 2009 to 2010, according to the report. The middle may no longer be "missing," but it is still hard to find.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Investing
-
Guest Post: Competing in the Inaugural International Impact Investing Challenge
Ours was among 12 student teams from top business schools in the US/UK competing in the inaugural International Impact Investing Challenge. We were tasked with designing an investment vehicle capable of absorbing $10 million to $50 million with positive social or environmental impact while also delivering competitive returns for investors.
- Categories
- Health Care, Investing
-
Talking Metrics: Is Standardization a Dream?
Last week I sat down with Calvert Foundation, Grassroots Business Fund and E+Co to discuss the use of metrics by socially oriented businesses. The conversation focused on how they use metrics within their organizations and what role they see metrics playing in the future. The discussion demonstrated the need to change how stakeholders view metrics.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Investing
-
NexThought Monday: Building Bridges Among Constituencies to End Poverty
In the aftermath of the global financial crisis, old rivalries have re-emerged. On one side are those who champion market-based solutions; on the other we find entities advocating institutional reform and social policies for economic growth. Regardless of who wins, the poor will lose, unless the solutions are as multifaceted as the problems.
- Categories
- Investing
-
Is 2011 Ghana’s 1978? New National Pension Fund Scheme Could Repeat History
In 1978, U.S. regulations changed to allow pension funds to invest in private equity (PE) firms, including venture capital groups, creating a tsunami of capital to new and growing firms. This year, key changes from Ghana’s 2008 pension law come into effect that might lead to a similar explosion in private equity and venture capital.
- Categories
- Investing
-
Unleash Social Impact: Ashoka’s Globalizer and Skoll World Forum
Felix Oldenburg is challenging the mainstream dialogue on social enterprise. I had an insightful conversation with Felix, Ashoka’s Europe and Germany director, and a speaker at the Skoll World Forum. He, along with Konstanze Frischen and Maria Zapata, organized Ashoka’s first-annual Globalizer program that accelerated Ashoka Fellow enterprises.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Investing, Social Enterprise
-
ANDE?s 2010 Impact Report Charts A Growth Course
Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) released its second annual impact report today, which highlighted the growth of the small and growing business (SGB) sector with the launch of new 31 funds looking to SGBs in emerging markets, in addition to the impact of their 110 members on the sector.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Investing
- Tags
- impact investing
-
Why Inclusive Growth is Critical for Economic Success in Brazil’s BoP
Racial and gender inequity, sex tourism, cultural tourism, and economic opportunity form a complex intersection in Brazil, though it is one that is shifting. Upgrading labor market access through transportation, education and social policies - and this has already begun. But can Brazil’s tourism industry be shifted to perpetuate greater equality?
- Categories
- Investing