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How Africa Internet Group Became Africa’s First Venture Capital-Backed Business to Be Valued at $1 Billion
Africa Internet Group (AIG), parent company to e-commerce brands like Jumia and Jovago, has become Africa’s first venture capital-backed business to be valued at $1 billion dollars after an $83 million investment from insurance company AXA for an 8% stake.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- venture capital
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Report: Social/Impact Venture Firms Invested $95 Million in India in 2015
Social/ Impact Venture Firms invested about US$95mn over 53 deals in India during the twelve months ended December 2015, according to data from Venture Intelligence, India’s longest serving research service focused on private company financials, transactions and valuations.. Deal activity increased 8.2% compared to 2014 (which had witnessed 49 such investments valued at US$106mn).
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Investing
- Region
- South Asia
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Weekly Roundup: OPIC’s Big Jump with LeapFrog; the Dearth of Do-gooder Drones
With a $200 million planned investment by the U.S. government’s development finance arm, impact equity firm LeapFrog Investments has now attracted $1 billion in funds to invest in companies reaching low-income people with financial and healthcare services. This week, the board of directors for the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) approved the investment, as well as eight others. LeapFrog’s announcement hailed the OPIC investment as “the largest commitment in history to any impact fund manager.” That’s not something I could independently confirm, but it is OPIC’s largest single commitment to a private equity manager.
- Categories
- Investing, Technology
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IGNIA Successfully Raises US$90 Million as a First Closing of Its Fund II
IGNIA, a leading venture capital fund in Mexico, has closed the Mexican vehicle of its Fund II, raised through Mexican publicly traded certificates known as CKDs. Mexican pension funds invested in the fund, marking a first for venture capital in Mexico and demonstrating institutional investors' confidence in IGNIA's track record, as well as the accelerated economic growth found at the base of the socio-economic pyramid in Mexico.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Latin America
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India and Bangladesh Play Unlikely Starring Role at Money 20/20
Financial inclusion featured high on the agenda of the opening sessions at Money 20/20 in Las Vegas. Initiatives from Asia were highlighted as showing best practice in solving identity issues.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- South Asia
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In India VCs Scramble to Cash in on FinTech Boom, Capitalize on Disruptive Technologies
Venture capital (VC) investments in fintech, or start-ups in the financial technology area, have seen a threefold increase over the last year as investors seek to cash in on potentially disruptive technologies shaping a cashless economy.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- venture capital
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Ampion East Africa Venture Bus Tour Kicks Off
Africa is full of dreams and dreamers; dreamers who have great visions; visions that are the backbones of opportunities. The dreamers need a continent that can offer better technological solutions, better education, better service delivery, better healthcare and better and efficient platforms for doing business.
- Categories
- Health Care, Impact Assessment, Investing
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Report: Equity Crowdfunding Platforms ‘Crowding Out’ Banks, VCs & Angel Investors in the U.K.
Equity crowdfunding platforms are “crowding out” banks, venture capitalists and business angels in the UK, suggests a new paper published by researchers from the University of St Andrews and the University of Stirling. St. Andrews explains that UK startups are “embracing the £146 million Crowdcube economy.” Crowdcube may be the largest investment platform but other sites like Seedrs and SyndicateRoom are playing a significant role in this financial transition. The paper builds upon existing research in the space including, Mollick’s, Cambridge University and more.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- Europe & Eurasia