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Pandemic Spurs Social Entrepreneurship in Startup Communities
As an entrepreneur-turned-investor, and having survived prior downturns, I have my share of bumps and bruises that serve as reminders and motivators. But I also like to remember that some of the most successful tech companies were funded during the last big downturn, such as Dropbox, Airbnb and Credit Karma. With that in mind, our venture capital firm is staying the course during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to aggressively look for great entrepreneurs to fund.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance
- Tags
- impact investing, startups
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Impact Investing Grows, but There’s Still a Long Road to Financial Inclusion
More funds and firms are targeting financially underserved communities, but the impact investing movement and government funding need to be more accessible and intentional to address systemic inequalities and racial disparities in investing.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Investing
- Region
- North America
- Tags
- impact investing
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African Venture Funding Is Expected to Slow but Impact Investors Are Boosting Health and Agri-Tech Startups
Between 2014 and 2019, 44% of venture capital deals recorded in African tech ecosystems included participation from at least one impact investor, data from Africa Private Equity and Venture Capital Association show.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Health Care, Impact Assessment, Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Viewpoint: Coronavirus Has Shown That Social-Impact Investing Is Here to Stay
The COVID-19 shock will likely be seen as a turning point for investment in B Corps, companies that have opted to be legally bound to consider the impact of their business on employees, customers, suppliers, community and the environment.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Environment, Impact Assessment, Investing
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Innovating on the Pay for Success Model: How ‘Social Derivatives’ Can Unlock Everyday Giving to Incentivize Greater Impact
Pay-for-success models have generated considerable excitement in the social finance sector. But according to Akhil Pawar and Geet Kalra at Yunus Social Business, the approach presents several challenges, mainly around the question of who will pay, and how to ensure an economical structure. They share a potential solution that leverages retail giving, substituting large donors with small ones by using "social derivatives."
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Investing, Social Enterprise
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Supporting Women-led Businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa During COVID-19: Strategies to Survive and Thrive
Women-led businesses in Africa face many obstacles, from limited access to finance and networks, to social and legal constraints – and COVID-19 has only added to that burden. In response, Nathalie Gogue Ebo and Angela Kerubo at Open Capital argue that governments, financiers and other players need to apply a gender lens approach when designing COVID-19 support for these enterprises.
- Categories
- Coronavirus
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Press Release: DFC Announces New “IQ” Development Impact Measurement Tool
“IQ is a state-of-the-art tool that allows DFC to measure our progress in fulfilling our development mandate,” said DFC Chief Executive Officer Adam Boehler. "I am extremely proud of the DFC team for its hard work in developing IQ. I also want to thank the many stakeholders that provided input along the way. I look forward to working with our stakeholders to continue refining and improving IQ.”
- Categories
- Impact Assessment
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Press Release: Convergence Awards Allotrope Partners Feasibility Grant Through Indo-Pacific Design Funding Window
With funding from the Australian Government, Convergence is pleased to announce it has awarded a feasibility study grant to Allotrope Partners (Allotrope) through the Indo-Pacific Design Funding Window, supporting the development of an innovative blended finance vehicle targeting Sustainable Development Goal 7–Affordable and Clean Energy in the Philippines.
- Categories
- Energy, Impact Assessment
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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