NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Join us at our unique journey to delve into the principles of social entrepreneurship. Listen to key experts from the sector and get first-hand insights from social entrepreneurs. The digital expert-led session are covering topics of Impact Entrepreneurship and the Tripple Bottom Line, Impact Data Generation, and Impact Story Telling:

30.04.2024 at 12:00 CET | Impact Entrepreneurship and the Tripple Bottom Line: Learn the difference between purely profit-oriented and impact-oriented enterprises; and what it means for the journey as an entrepreneur (vision, mission, target group for fundraising). Understand the positive and challenging aspects and how to navigate the triple bottom line of social & ecological impact and financial sustainability.

Time: 6:00 AM EST

The first Open Source in Energy Access Symposium will serve as a hub where transparency, innovation, interoperability and collaboration will be at the forefront. Open Source technology and tools have been integral to the Energy Access landscape for some time – however, it’s only recently that practitioners and organisations have begun showcasing its benefits, particularly in enhancing interoperability, cost efficiency, and maintaining high quality. Using Open Source has the potential to help reach universal energy access faster, and getting together in person to discuss challenges and collaborating on solutions will mark an important moment toward this objective.

The Symposium will be free to attend, but physical spots will be limited and will be going fast. Virtual spots are unlimited.

Join us at our unique journey to delve into the principles of social entrepreneurship. Listen to key experts from the sector and get first-hand insights from social entrepreneurs. The digital expert-led session are covering topics of Impact Entrepreneurship and the Tripple Bottom Line, Impact Data Generation, and Impact Story Telling:

07.05.2024 at 12:00 CET | Impact Data Generation: Learn the importance of data, and how to develop an impact hypothesis and to set your impact KPI´s. Explore how to develop data collection strategies, get to know tools and technologies for data collection, and learn about its data privacy and ethical considerations. Understand the visualization of data, and how to create a data-driven culture that includes data into your business decisions.

Time: 6:00 AM EST

This webinar will delve into the dynamic landscape of Private Equity (PE) and Venture Capital (VC) with a focus on risk appetite and the evolving expectations of investors. In this session, Lazar Vujaklija, Partner and Director of Systema Capital Partners, will share invaluable insights into equity financing strategies that involve embracing risk in unconventional geographies.

In the Western Balkans (WB) region, companies are mainly financed by traditional banking instruments that are conservative and focus on collateral. In more developed countries, alternative investment funds are used, which are well-capitalized institutions deploying capital from various investors into private companies through equity or equity-like tools.

Western Balkans Private Equity Fund, in collaboration with USAID CATALYZE, has spent the last two years working on the creation of such a fund and will, in the course of this webinar, outline the trajectory, hurdles, and successes we’ve encountered along the way. This experience could shed light on what steps can be taken in the future to see the creation of a vibrant ecosystem of alternative sources of finance within the Western Balkans and other frontier markets.

Speakers will share practical insights on how to navigate the private equity landscape and attract anchor investors for private equity funds in the WB context. They will provide examples of international financial institutions (IFIs) acting as anchor investors and discuss the role of Development Agencies in the WB and Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Moreover, they will explore ways in which donors can support the establishment of anchor investors.

Learn how USAID CATALYZE is playing a crucial role in opening doors for the Investment Fund Industry in the region, establishing the first AIF asset management company, and making PE and VC more readily trusted as investment mechanisms.

Time: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM EDT