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The Missing Middle; and the Growth of Social Enterprises
But behind all the feel-good energy and promises that impact investing will be a $50 billion industry by 2020, there are gaps in the story line and challenges that we must confront as a community. Rather than seeing ROI financiers, social impact advocates and foundations as adversaries, there is an opportunity to see them as allies.
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- impact investing
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Lessons Learned, Using Livelihoods to Combat Extreme Urban Poverty
Partners in Prosperity is the non-profit affiliate of Mimo Finance, a microfinance institution. The pilot project in Dehradun, India focused on livelihoods; training such as candle-making, small shops, and snack stands. PnP’s training and "starter kits" gave participants the jumpstart they needed without relying on government programs.
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“Hot” and “Bright” Business Models: Bringing Energy to the BoP
’We have technology - we just need a business model’ is the rallying cry for a whole lot of promising BoP projects. Many of these look good, but still face major difficulties in getting their products in the hands of people, and getting the people (or someone else) to pay for it. The "Energize the BoP!" business model generator provides support.
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Weekly Round-up 11-6-11: Welcoming Two New Voices to NextBillion
I’d like to formally welcome two new writers to the NextBillion community. I use the term formally only because Andrew Eder and Logan Yonavjak have already contributed several in-depth posts to the site on subjects ranging from promoting agricultural business innovation in Zimbabwe to the urgency of environmentally sustainable investing.
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Housing Series: Shelter After Disaster – Temporary Aid Or Pathway to a Better Future?
Over the past years the global humanitarian community has been working to develop solutions that offer disaster and conflict-affected families a more durable shelter than the tents traditionally provided. "Transitional shelter, " guides families on a pathway to durable shelter solutions, a process to choose from multiple options for their future.
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Unpacking, Processing and Applying Revelations from PopTech 2011
Since PopTech’s conclusion I have been experiencing what I have come to term PopTech Paralysis, or, the shut down of cognitive thought, from an imbalance between new ideas and mental processing power. In the last week my addled brain processed my first attendance of the "idea factory" and started to apply it to my experience at the BoP.
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Housing Series: From the Field, Reflections From Two Dow Corning Leaders on Building a BoP Market
Dow Corning’s Citizen Service Corps sends employees around the world to see, hear and think about what new markets need, and come back ready to translate those insights into innovations and new products. The posts below are excerpts from two employees who worked on Housing for All in India as their volunteer experience.
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Aligning Money with Values
At this month’s Columbia Social Enterprise Conference panel on Impact Investors Spreading Social Innovation, Charly and Lisa Kleissner of KL Felicitas Foundation shared their journey in merging personal values with wealth management. The Kleissners immediately radiated the boldness and entrepreneurial charisma of Silicon Valley.
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