-
From the Valley of Death to a $14 Million Series A: Sokowatch, Quona and the Role of Philanthropic Capital
The e-commerce company Sokowatch recently raised a $14 million Series A round, enabling it to expand its digital financial services to more merchants in Africa. But just two years ago, the company was in danger of going under. Malika Anand and Maelis Carraro at BFA’s Catalyst Fund discuss how the fund's philanthropically-funded acceleration approach has helped Sokowatch – and other promising fintech startups – survive the “valley of death” and position themselves for commercial investment.
-
Coronavirus Resources for the Social Impact Sector [UPDATED 12/6]
The coronavirus pandemic is forcing businesses everywhere to make difficult decisions – and the stakes are particularly high for companies in low- and middle-income countries. To help deliver actionable information to these enterprises and other social impact organizations, NextBillion has launched this regularly updated resource page, with COVID-19-related news, analysis, events, funding opportunities and more.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Social Enterprise
- Tags
- COVID-19, impact investing
-
Finally Some Good News On Coronavirus From Sustainable Investors In New York City
Domini Impact Investments, Interfaith Center for Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), and Office of the New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer are leading a group of 195 institutional investors and investor networks with over $4.7 trillion of assets under management to urge the business community to consider five steps to limit the damage that coronavirus is causing to the global economy.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Investing
- Tags
- impact investing
-
Press Release: Blue Planet Raises US$25 million from Nomura
This strategic engagement by Nomura's Loans and Principal Investments Area in Asia ex-Japan will help Blue Planet continue its efforts to develop integrated, inclusive and sustainable waste management solutions around the region.
- Categories
- Environment, Investing
- Region
- Asia Pacific
-
Coronavirus, Economic Meltdown And The World Of Impact: Insights From Allie Burns Of Village Capital
Allie Burns is CEO of Village Capital, which has run early-stage startup accelerators and boot camps for social enterprises since its founding in 2009.
- Categories
- Coronavirus
-
Matt Damon’s Impact Investing Fund Backs CreditAccess Grameen
Mumbai-listed CreditAccess provides group lending products as well as retail finance products. It also offers access to non-financial services such as customer awareness and education programmes and sanitation efforts.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- South Asia
-
Press Release: MCE Social Capital Receives $3.7 Million Grant
Capital infusion will fund more loans to small and growing businesses in rural Africa and other emerging markets, and serve as a match to attract new guarantors.
- Categories
- Investing
-
Closing in on the SDG Home Stretch: A Q&A with Florian Kemmerich and Lucica Ditiu at SDG500
Six new funds comprise the new SDG500 initiative – a first-of-its-kind, $500 million investment platform aimed at accelerating progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Florian Kemmerich at Bamboo Capital Partners and Lucica Ditiu of the Stop TB Partnership spoke with NextBillion to share a behind-the-scenes look at how the initiative aims to reach its goals by 2030.
Subscribe to Our Weekly Newsletter, "NextBillion Notes"
Published each Wednesday, our e-newsletter features NextBillion's latest original articles, along with a selection of news, jobs, bizdev opportunities and events from our recent coverage — and regular conference ticket giveaways.
We respect your privacy. Your information is safe and will never be shared.
Don't miss out. Subscribe today.