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The Definition of Insanity: Why Repeating the Same Approach to Enterprise Support is Failing Africa’s SMEs
It’s often said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. So in a region where 84 percent of SMEs struggle to access capital, why do investors keep recycling the same failed approaches when financing African enterprises? Mercy Mangeni and Joshua Murima at Intellecap discuss what investors and entrepreneurs have done wrong – and explore some innovative ways their organization is working to make it right.
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LeapFrog invests in Pyramid Group
Founded in 2001, the company offers a comprehensive range of quality medical products from top-tier brands including Medtronic Plc and Johnson & Johnson, opening-up access to specialised products like pacemakers and hip replacements for consumers in Africa who historically have had to travel abroad to access specialist products and treatments.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- impact investing
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Press release: FINCA Impact Finance, MEF and BlueOrchard Announce USD 20 Million Loan Facility
The three-year revolving loan facility will enhance FIF's ability to manage liquidity throughout its network of 20 banks and microfinance institutions (MFIs) and leverage the resources of MEF, an innovative provider of impact capital, and BOMF, the world's first and largest commercial microfinance investment fund.
- Categories
- Investing
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Omidyar Network to invest $250 million in Indian ventures
Omidyar, which has been in India for about 10 years, has already invested roughly $250 million in the country, backing about 73 organizations and start-ups, with 70% of those being equity investments and the rest being grants.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- impact investing, startups
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IDB Invest and OPIC launch first gender lens investment fund for Latin America and the Caribbean
“With Fund Mujer, we are not only investing in women-owned and led enterprises. We are also investing in enterprises that provide quality employment and access to products and services that address critical barriers so that we may enhance women’s economic participation and success. With Fund Mujer we are moving beyond merely counting women; we are also valuing women,” added OPIC Managing Director for Global Women’s Issues Kathryn Kaufman.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Latin America
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Sri Lanka, UNDP launch social impact funds to support small businesses
Sri Lankan small firms and micro enterprises whose goals include ending poverty and environmental protection will be able to get money and management support from two social impact funds with total capital of US$25 million launched Wednesday.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- South Asia
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Champions of Impact Investing
When the definition is broadened to include public funds seeking to invest in companies with the best environmental, social, and governance, or ESG, practices, the level of assets swells to nearly $9 trillion, according to the latest figures from The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment.
- Categories
- Investing
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Looking for Funds in All the Wrong Places: The Single Biggest Thing Social Entrepreneurs Misunderstand About Investors
Social entrepreneurs often feel like they have to compromise or downplay their missions in order to appeal to profit-hungry investors. But that's not the case, says investment consultant Jenny Kassan, as investors don't always fit the stereotype of a "middle-aged white man in a suit" seeking a fast, lucrative exit. She explores a vast, under-recognized source of investment capital that entrepreneurs can tap – one that actually prefers businesses with a social focus.
- Categories
- Investing, Social Enterprise
- Tags
- impact investing
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