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Getting Past Doubt: Finding Better Ways for Multinationals and SMEs to Intersect
Developing countries have become increasingly important to multinational companies, with foreign direct investment often outpacing development aid. Meanwhile, the 400 million micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises in these countries are facing a wide variety of obstacles to growth. The new Catalyzing SGB Acceleration initiative, launched by TechnoServe and the Argidius Foundation, aims to find common ground between those two worlds. Juan Carlos Thomas and Annie Shoemaker at TechnoServe discuss the new project.
- Categories
- Investing
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The Challenges of Going Local: A Medical Device Innovator Faces the Reality of Manufacturing in Rural Africa
Like many enterprises working in emerging markets, Noor Medical wanted to manufacture its product locally. As COO Andrew Bonneau explains, a local approach promised many advantages, from lower costs to a better understanding of its customers. But the company soon learned that manufacturing in developing countries like Uganda is often easier said than done. Bonneau discusses the obstacles the company has faced, and how they've overcome them.
- Categories
- Health Care, Social Enterprise, Technology
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Press Release: Upaya Social Ventures Funds Its Latest Investments from A Recoverable Grant Pool
Upaya raised $2 million to expand its job-creating investments, including an innovative $1 million Pool of Recoverable Grants that was used to fund its latest two investments in agribusiness enterprises.
- Source
- Press Release
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
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Unlocking the Power of Informal Retailers: Mobile Solutions for Commercial and Social Impact in Emerging Markets
More than 61% of the world’s workers earn their living in the informal sector – and 93% of those are in emerging markets. This can lead to unique challenges for both informal retailers and their customers - and for the companies whose products these retailers sell. Analysts at Every1Mobile explore these challenges, and share how their organization and its partners are utilizing mobile-based platforms to help modernize informal trade and unlock economic welfare for low- and middle-income populations.
- Categories
- Technology
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The Promise of e-Commerce in Africa Might Not Be Where We Think
E-commerce is often discussed in the context of consumers and customer satisfaction but for many investors and analysts most of their focus is spent looking under the hood—trying to understand how the retailer, which they really see as a logistics company, manages its supply chain.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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West Africa Finds an Unlikely Home in Silicon Valley
To bridge the gap between Nigeria’s technology and professional, on-the-job training in Silicon Valley, SVNED sponsored introductory and educational events in both shores. This helped immerse students, entrepreneurs, and dignitaries in the cultures, knowledge and business best practices of the Silicon Valley. Williams hopes to replicate such an ecosystem across the African continent.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Funding Beyond the Straight and Narrow: Overcoming Obstacles to Fund a New Breed of Entrepreneurs
A new breed of social innovators is exploring innovative business models and unconventional approaches in India. But since their models are not traditional or proven, most funders are unwilling to bet on them. Anshu Bhartia, CEO of UnLtd India, has a few suggestions for how these entrepreneurs can compete in a funding market that is "traditional, restrictive and governed by rules that serve the conformists." As the leader of an incubator working with Indian entrepreneurs confronting pressing social issues, Bhartia shares her vision of the road ahead.
- Categories
- Investing, Social Enterprise
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Chronic, Not Acute: The Refugee Crisis Needs Long-Term Solutions – And Social Enterprise Can Help
It’s time to stop addressing the global refugee crisis with short-term emergency measures, and to start seeking long-term solutions, says Thane Kreiner at Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship. One of those solutions is entrepreneurship, and Kreiner shares five lessons from the Center's Social Entrepreneurship at the Margins (SEM) accelerator program for businesses serving or led by refugees and other displaced people. The Center is selecting its second SEM accelerator cohort, and applications are open worldwide until August 23, 2019.
- Categories
- Investing, Social Enterprise
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