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The Problem with ‘Forced Entrepreneurship’: How Universities — and Venture Capitalists — are Failing Climate Tech Innovators
Universities are increasingly positioning themselves as hubs of business innovation, and as Emre Eren Korkmaz at the University of Oxford explains, their support has become an important driver of climate tech innovation. But he argues that universities’ "one size fits all" approach to supporting these innovators is fundamentally flawed, prioritizing the pathway to entrepreneurship — and the demands of venture capitalists — rather than empowering true innovation. He explores the problem and highlights some alternative approaches.
- Categories
- Education, Environment, Investing, Social Enterprise, Technology
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Debate Rages Over Push for New Green Revolution in Africa’s Agriculture
After decades of mono-cropping and overgrazing, around 65% of Africa’s farmland, opens new tab is now considered unproductive or degraded, leaving more than 270 million people facing chronic hunger.
- Categories
- Agriculture
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Berlin Edtech Pioneer EIDU Open Sources Code to Boost Global Learning
EIDU partners with governments in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to sustainably and affordably digitise public education systems.
- Categories
- Education, Social Enterprise
- Region
- Global
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Why Americans Struggle to Share Power — And How Western Social Entrepreneurs Should Change Their Approach to Empowerment in the Global South
Who has the power in impact-focused enterprise? Many believe that this question lies at the heart of social enterprises' work, and that localizing power should be a core goal of the sector. But as Andrea Nelson Trice explains, this approach remains discouragingly rare among Western businesses and investors in emerging markets. She explores why it's so difficult for Westerners — and particularly Americans — to empower others, and shares solutions based on interviews and case studies with 90 American and Global South leaders working in the development space.
- Categories
- Social Enterprise
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British International Investment Supports Nmb Bank Zimbabwe to Boost Agricultural Exports and Support Sustainable Farming
Addressing the financing gap is key in supporting the growth of the agricultural sector which employs approximately 65 per cent of Zimbabwe’s population.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Press Release: Ten African Startups Selected to Receive Funding to Develop Blue and Green Economy Solutions
Recognizing the wealth of ideas and the potential of Africa’s young innovators, BFA Global, FSD Africa, and the IUCN launched the Africa Blue Wave and Regen Wave initiatives to unlock solutions for Africa’s blue and green economies.
- Categories
- Environment, Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Reversing Climate Change is Possible — But First, We Need to Democratise Climate Finance
Much of the current conversation around climate change focuses on the obstacles that make the problem so difficult to solve. But according to Kevin Kyer at Pyrpose, there are signs of hope, as a growing, global sense of urgency around the issue is driving consumers to embrace sustainable products and behaviors. He explores how emerging technologies and businesses are helping to reduce Co2 emissions — and how platforms like Pyrpose can help mobilize climate-conscious investors to direct climate finance to the most vulnerable parts of the world.
- Categories
- Environment, Investing
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Empowering the Underserved: A New Report Highlights the Impact of Off-Grid Energy Solutions — And Some Emerging Challenges
Up to 674 million people living in the world's most vulnerable communities are projected to remain unelectrified by 2030. According to Kat Harrison at 60 Decibels, the off-grid sector could reach these customers, if these energy businesses and organizations are given the right support to successfully scale. She shares insights from a new 60 Decibels report, based on interviews with 79,000 energy customers in over 30 different countries over the last three years, which highlight some adjustments the sector could make to reach hundreds of millions of excluded customers.
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