Weekly Review November 6-12

Ennovent’s Sustainable Enterprise Fund announced yesterday that it invested in Barefoot Power. Barefoot provides renewable energy and lighting to off-grid or under electrified communities in India. Co-investors include Insitor, Oikocredit, and The Grace Foundation. There is still a large need for greater investment activity in India to electrify the country and eliminate energy poverty.

Benink, an investment manager at InReturn Capital, discusses the firm’s investment criteria and portfolio, and the interest VC firms are showing in Africa. Africa is attractive to both impact investors and traditional venture capitalists because of its demonstrated and expected growth. The population is young, political environments are stabilizing, and there is a growing middle class and an abundance of natural resources.

“Venture Capital Office Hours with Sean Smith” by Patrick Munyi on iHub Blog

Now that Invested Development is growing and expanding globally, our team member Sean Smith is getting settled in Nairobi, Kenya. He’s now holding open office hours at iHub Nairobi every other Friday. Entrepreneurs, innovators, or those interested in venture capital are welcome to come by and chat.

November 14^th marks the beginning of Global Entrepreneurship Week. A project supported by the Kauffman Foundation. Local activities in participating countries include competitions, conferences, and networking events. This is an exciting opportunity to drive venture capital into emerging markets and to encourage entrepreneurship.

“Libyans Need Economic Freedom” by Jay Hallen on The American

Libya is at a crossroads. Similar to Egypt, there are high numbers of unemployed youth. The article recommends that the National Transitional Council use oil revenues to create venture capital funds for college graduates. A startup community would not only develop the country’s economy, but do so in an all inclusive way.