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Facing Up to Failure: An Open Letter to Entrepreneurs During COVID-19
Leading a startup is hard. Leading a purpose-driven startup is harder. And as Mike Quinn, co-founder of Zoona writes, leading a purpose-driven startup while a deadly global pandemic has shut down the entire economy is almost impossible. In this heartfelt letter, he offers some straight talk – and a surprising silver lining – to help entrepreneurs through this unprecedented time.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Social Enterprise
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How to Support Entrepreneurs in the Time of Coronavirus
The COVID-19 pandemic is causing falling demand, mandatory store closings, labor shortages and other challenges for businesses around the world – and micro and small businesses are especially vulnerable. How can development organizations help these critical drivers of local economies? Juan Carlos Thomas and Andrea Bettosini at Technoserve provide answers to this question, based on past experience helping businesses weather socio-political upheaval in developing countries.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Social Enterprise, Transportation
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Press Release: Ilara Health Raises $3.75 Million Series A Led by TLcom to Provide Life-Saving Diagnostics Across Sub-Saharan Africa
Ilara Health, an innovative healthtech start-up increasing essential and affordable access to life-saving diagnostics in Africa, has raised $3.75 million in Series A funding led by TLcom Capital with participation from DOB Equity, Global Ventures and Chandaria Capital.
- Categories
- Health Care, Social Enterprise
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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India’s Impact Enterprises Need More Debt Financing to Grow: Here’s How Businesses, Lenders and Regulators Can Make That Happen
Many Indian social entrepreneurs struggle to obtain debt financing, as banks typically steer clear of these young companies, and alternative lenders charge unsustainably high interest rates. Meanwhile, India’s impact investors have shown far more interest in buying stakes in impact enterprises than lending money to them. Sudarshan Sampathkumar and Anuja Kadam at The Bridgespan Group explore solutions to this challenge, based on the findings from a new report.
- Categories
- Investing, Social Enterprise
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What’s the Matter with WASH?: Why Struggling Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Businesses Need More than Just Investment
Despite limitless demand, most water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) businesses – particularly those serving the poorest customers – are struggling to find a market and attract investors. Annie Hall at Water & Sanitation for the Urban Poor shares insights from a new report that explores where WASH businesses are going wrong – and how investors and development sector players can help.
- Categories
- Investing, Social Enterprise, WASH
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Analysis: How COVID-19 Is Shifting Focus to Social Enterprise in Africa
African social entrepreneurs are refocusing strategies and services to reach vulnerable populations most affected by the crisis.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Social Enterprise
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- food security
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SunCulture Wants to Turn Africa Into the World’s Next Bread Basket, One Solar Water Pump at a Time
The world’s food supply must double by the year 2050 to meet the demands of a growing population, according to a report from the United Nations. And as pressure mounts to find new crop land to support the growth, the world’s eyes are increasingly turning to the African continent as the next potential global bread basket.
- Categories
- Energy, Social Enterprise
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Rwandan Female Entrepreneur on Course to Raise $490,000 in Funding
With 70,000 serviced daily via its safe water mini-grids, WARwanda is setting high ambitions to service over 30 million people in the next 10 years and create over 13,000 jobs, greatly multiplying its current reach.
- Categories
- Environment, Social Enterprise
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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