-
The Entrepreneurial Case for Tech Investing in Emerging Markets
Africa’s tech ecosystem is huge, yet it barely scratches the surface when compared with those of China, India, Brazil and other emerging markets. In 2006, India and China accounted for only 2 percent of global-deal value. More than a decade later, the two biggest emerging markets now account for nearly 25 percent, with India and China firmly on the list of the top 20 startup ecosystems in the world.
- Categories
- Finance, Investing, Technology
-
Millennials Love ESG, Just Not As Much As Their Parents, Grandparents
In the AllianzGI ESG Clarity survey, investors aged 65 and older were more interested in environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) investing than younger generations.
- Categories
- Investing
- Tags
- ESG, impact investing
-
SLI launches positive screening Global Equity Impact fund
Standard Life Investments has launched a Global Equity Impact fund, investing in companies which are making a positive contribution to society and/or the environment.
- Categories
- Investing
- Tags
- ESG, impact investing, SDGs
-
Why is Asia lukewarm to sustainable investing?
Investors in Asia, a region made up of numerous emerging markets that have made economic growth a priority, typically take a shorter-term view on investments. Coupled with a lack of government initiatives to drive sustainable investing, Asian investors and their fund managers have lagged far behind their western counterparts in embracing “ESG investing” – the inclusion of companies’ environmental, social and governance performance as criteria in fund allocation decisions.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Asia Pacific
- Tags
- ESG, impact investing
-
Even Africa’s poorest countries are too expensive to be the world’s next manufacturing hub
In a bid to find out if African countries can “break into global manufacturing in a substantial way”, the researchers found factories in Africa were almost always more expensive to start and run. Looking at overall costs, small African firms were 39% more expensive than comparative firms elsewhere while medium and large firms were around 50% more expensive.
- Categories
- Investing, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
Press release: Bamboo Capital Partners exits its investment from Vitas Group, a leading microfinance institution in post conflict MENA and Eastern Europe regions
Vitas has grown significantly over the course of Bamboo’s investment. Since 2011, Vitas and its affiliates’ Gross Loan Portfolio increased from $82 million to $247 million and the number of clients has tripled. Currently, Vitas and its affiliates serve more than 112,000 clients while employing nearly 1600 local professional staff.
- Categories
- Investing
-
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Releases Open-Source Software to Support Efforts that Expand Access to Financial Services in Developing Countries
Current data from the World Bank shows that nearly two billion people in developing economies lack bank accounts and miss out on the benefits and security that basic financial services provide. Digital financial services, such as mobile money on cell phones, have rapidly expanded over the last two decades because they are convenient for users and cost-effective for companies aiming to serve new markets.
