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Hit or Miss: A Weak Critique of Impact Investing — and a Strong One
We should welcome a robust debate over impact investing that’s not just confined to foundation board rooms; a larger audience needs to hear the different arguments.
But as new criticisms start to flow, I’ve noticed that while some raise very good questions, others feel wildly off base.- Categories
- Investing
- Tags
- impact investing
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World’s First Social Sustainability Bond Listed on a Stock Exchange
The US$8 million bond provides loans to social enterprises and microfinance institutions, which, in turn, aim to help more than 385,000 women in Cambodia, the Philippines and Vietnam.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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Through Social Investing, Asia’s ‘On a Journey to Help it Help Itself’
AVPN's recent annual conference, known as “Asia’s top social investment event,” attracted representatives from 32 countries, including 18 Asian ones, reflecting the reality that activity is taking off across the region, says John-Paul Hamilton of Dasra. And it seemed fitting that the conference centered on collaboration, which is more essential than ever to ensure a progressive and suitable continuum of funding.
- Categories
- Investing, Social Enterprise
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Three Ways Entrepreneurs Can Tackle Climate Change (Hint: It’s Not Just About Scale)
There are ways entrepreneurs can make sizeable impacts on climate change without Facebook-like growth curves. Jean-Louis Racine says investors should follow the lead of the venture capital sector and support startups that won't grow or be profitable. Traditional impact metrics such as goods sold, customers served, revenues generated or jobs created no longer apply. The best way to catalyze a climate technology market is to help ensure that innovative high-risk, low-growth ventures don't fall through the cracks.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment, Technology
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Non-profits start with energy but lack systems, so struggle for funding: Roopa Kudva of Omidyar Network
Omidyar's most recent investment in India is in Goodera, a for-profit company that helps corporates channel money for CSR activities. India managing director Roopa Kudva , who joined the venture in 2015, explains why financial inclusion is top of its list of priorities.
- Categories
- Investing
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Investing with ‘green’ ratings? It’s a gray area
There are no set criteria for who is bad and who is good and so-called ESG ratings vary widely, meaning investors may be less protected than they think, for example, from a scandal over labor practices or board pay.
"We don't have a common vernacular," said Asha Mehta, director of responsible investing at Acadian Asset Management in Boston.- Categories
- Investing
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TLcom Capital hits $40m first close for sub-Saharan Africa tech fund
The $100m-targeting TIDE Africa fund will look to provide African entrepreneurs with capital to develop tech-driven solutions to the continent’s biggest problems.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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CleanCapital Closes $4 Million Series A To Make Institutional Investors See Green
“By streamlining the acquisition of high quality, clean energy projects, CleanCapital is able to pass through the benefits to its investors,” said Patelli in a release.
- Categories
- Environment, Investing
- Tags
- impact investing
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