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An Impact Investor Urges Caution on the ‘Energy Access Hype Cycle’
Ceniarth, an impact investor, has been actively engaged in the energy access sector since 2014. But now it's reducing its exposure to the venture-backed, solar home system segment of this market while shifting its strategy toward enterprises – for-profit, nonprofit and hybrid – that are finding the most capital-efficient ways to reach rural customers. Here, three principals in the firm candidly explain why they are reassessing their approach.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment, Investing
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Venture Capital’s Funding Gender Gap Is Actually Getting Worse
It's a well-documented fact that female founders receive less venture capital funding than their male counterparts. What is perhaps more surprising is that things haven't improved—and have actually worsened—over the past year.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- North America
- Tags
- venture capital
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Impact investor Ankur Capital to launch $50 million fund next year
Mumbai-based impact investor focused on innovative businesses in agriculture, healthcare, education, skill development and rural access – is positioning for the next leg of growth.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Investing
- Region
- South Asia
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Dymon Asia announces first close of $50M fund for fintech, focused on Southeast Asia
Hedge fund Dymon Asia is getting into the venture capital game after it announced its maiden fund. Dymon Asia Ventures is focused on fintech deals and it is targeting a $50 million raise. Today, its founding partners disclosed a first close of $20 million from a range of LPs that include Thai bank Siam Commercial (SCB), which invested an undisclosed sum via its Digital Ventures arm.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Investing
- Region
- Asia Pacific
- Tags
- fintech, venture capital
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UBS Raises $110 Million Fund to Invest in Woman-Led Firms
UBS Group AG’s American wealth management unit has helped raise $110 million for a U.S. venture capital fund that will invest in companies in the health, education and environmental areas that are led by or co-managed by women.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Investing
- Region
- North America
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Jay Z Launching Venture Capital Fund to Invest in Startups, Including Impact Investments
Jay Z is launching a new venture capital fund, as Rolling Stone points out. It’s called Arrive, and it is a collaboration between Jay’s Roc Nation, Primary Venture Partners, and GlassBridge Asset Management. According to a press release, Arrive will invest in startup companies, “providing them with brand services, business development, advisory and capital to drive growth in their organizations.”
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Investing
- Region
- North America
- Tags
- venture capital
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Nearpod Notches $21M in Series B Round to Expand Digital, Virtual Learning Experiences
Nearpod, which offers a suite of tools for teachers to create and share multimedia-rich lessons, presentations and digital activities with students, has raised $21 million in a Series B round led by Insight Venture Partners.
- Categories
- Education
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Woman-Led Tala Raises $30 Million Series B For Micro-Loans Via Smartphone
Tala, a startup that makes micro-loans to entrepreneurs in the developing world via smartphone app, has raised a $30 million Series B round as it expands into new geographical markets.
- Categories
- Investing, Technology
- Tags
- fintech, venture capital
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