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Ease Off on the Accelerators: Why GALI’s Latest Study on Accelerator Programs May Be Overstating Their Impact
Early-stage social venture accelerators are growing at a rapid pace in emerging markets, and they receive widespread acclaim – driven in part by positive results from research conducted by the Global Accelerator Learning Initiative (GALI). But South Africa-based investor Nicky Khaki cautions that, while accelerators can certainly have value, their benefits to participating companies may not be as clear cut as GALI's data suggests. He explores why the studies may be exaggerating accelerators' impact – and how they could do better.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship, Impact Assessment
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Alternate lending platforms are fixing India’s financial inclusion problem, becoming enablers for SME funding
Today, India's MSMEs and their business owners are finding new-age digital startups and alternate lending platforms to be the most effective institution to disperse credit.
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- India, microlending, MSMEs, small business, SMEs, startups
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How one engineer made it his business to help refugees become entrepreneurs
Usman Iftikhar turned his struggle to land a full-time engineering job into a startup accelerator that helps refugees and migrants realise their entrepreneurial ambitions – and received a Royal seal of approval for his efforts.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship
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Press release: The African Tech Hubs pioneering innovation: How digital transformation can drive growth and job creation across emerging economies
Innovation and entrepreneurship play an ever-increasing role in growing Africa’s emerging technology ecosystem.
- Source
- Press release
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Breaking down France’s new $76M Africa startup fund
The $76 million (or €65 million) will divvy up into three parts, according to AFD Digital Task Team Leader Christine Ha.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship, Investing, Technology
- Region
- Europe & Eurasia
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Making the Case for Early-Stage Impact Investing
In many emerging markets, social entrepreneurs are financing their ventures with personal funds and high-interest loans - mainly because it's so tough to grow out of the startup phase without being able to show financial returns. The nonprofit Beyond Capital Fund provides pro bono advisory services to help investee enterprises establish and implement operating procedures and regular impact reporting systems, writes CEO Eva Yazhari. She explains how these formalized structures lend credibility and stability to sustain the businesses and attract potential investors - functions that are often lacking in the impact investing ecosystem.
- Categories
- Investing
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Omidyar Network will invest $200 million in India over next 4 years
Philanthropic investment firm Omidyar Network will be investing over $200 million in India in the next four years to fund start-ups in areas such as civic tech, education and digital identity.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- South Asia
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Press release: Startup Accelerator Programs Work, New Report Finds
The Global Accelerator Learning Initiative’s third report reveals that accelerated ventures perform better.
- Categories
- Entrepreneurship
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