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How Socially-Led Innovation Can Bring Positive Change in Unchartered Times
In my work with Microsoft 4Afrika I have had a front row seat to the innovation and creativity many African startups have employed to address pressing economic and social gaps and needs. Whether it’s using agri-tech to improve farmer crop yields, using technology to deliver finance solutions to the previously unbanked or pairing solar power and IoT to solve power reliability issues, African innovation is alive and thriving, and the Covid-19 pandemic has only fanned these flames of ingenuity.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Investing
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Leading a Social Impact Organization During COVID-19: Eight Ways to Navigate the Current Crisis
Leading a social impact-focused organization during a crisis like COVID-19 isn't easy. Alex Counts, the founder of Grameen Foundation and author of two recent books on mission-driven leadership, shares some of the top lessons he has learned from his decades in the sector, to help leaders guide their non-profits and social enterprises through this time of national and global crisis.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Entrepreneurship
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Viewpoint: Why Venture Capital Doesn’t Build the Things We Really Need
Venture capital has been the engine of US innovation for years. But investors are finding fewer ideas that fit their preferred pattern.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Entrepreneurship, Investing, Technology
- Region
- North America
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Viewpoint: Yes, There Are Growth Investment Opportunities During Market Volatility
While equities, credit and interest rates race toward a recession, long-term investors have a compelling entry point into the businesses reshaping the global economy.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Africa’s Youth Employment During a COVID-19 Recession: We Must Innovate to Achieve a Job-Rich Recovery
As COVID-19 ravages the global economy, how can we protect existing jobs and quickly produce new ones – especially in markets like Africa, where youth unemployment was already high? According to Stephen Hunt and Neil Fleming at the Challenges Group, tackling this issue will require the development sector to innovate – and recognize that some of its favored approaches aren't working.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Entrepreneurship
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Press Release: MIT Solve Announces Over $1.5 Million in Funding for 2020 Solver Teams
Solve is seeking solutions to critical Global Challenges, including Health Security & Pandemics; innovators should apply by June 18, 2020.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Health Care, Technology
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What’s Working – And What’s Not – in Africa: A New Report Aims to Inform Better Development Practice on the Continent
The challenges facing Africa are substantial – but so too are the unique assets the continent possesses. As the development sector works to address those challenges and leverage those assets, it's useful to highlight both the approaches that are working – and those that aren't. That's the goal of Next Generation's recent report on the social investment and development industry trends impacting Africa. Reana Rossouw explores its findings.
- Categories
- Technology
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Filling the Funding Gap: Two Innovative Ways to Improve Financing Opportunities for Social Impact Entrepreneurs
Social entrepreneurs often struggle to scale their enterprises because of difficulties accessing tailor-made capital. According to Carola Schwank at Siemens Stiftung's empowering people.Network, this is often due to a clear mismatch in pairing up social entrepreneurs and impact investors. She explores two key solutions to this crucial challenge, featured in Siemens Stiftung's “Innovative Financing for Social Entrepreneurs” report.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship, Investing
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