Today, about 1.1 billion people worldwide live in energy poverty. Access to clean, reliable energy can offer much more than electricity to populations in developing countries. The growing renewable energy sector is creating thousands of jobs, and innovative energy services are enabling access to other critical goods and services. Below are recent articles highlighting developments in the renewable energy sector and how innovations are solving major problems in the developing world.
Connectivity for Development
The internet has enabled mass information sharing and in recent years, education has been taken to the next level thanks to e-learning programs and applications. Unfortunately, in many developing countries, lack of reliable internet access prevents citizens from benefitting from online education. Innovative entrepreneurs, like the founders of our portfolio company, BRCK, are working to solve this problem and deliver global internet access. Below are articles highlighting how achieving global connectivity will contribute to … read more
Solar for Development
Solar energy has experienced major scale globally in recent years. Today, as prices continue to drop and technologies improve, developing countries are beginning to capitalize on its offerings. Startups are popping up all over Sub-saharan Africa and rural India, offering BoP consumers access to clean, sustainable electricity at affordable prices. Below are articles highlighting the opportunities that solar offers to developing countries, and how startups, like our portfolio companies Simpa Networks and SolarNow are experiencing … read more
Big Data and the Internet of Things
The “data revolution” that the world is experiencing along with the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT), will change the way the world addresses challenges, how businesses run, and how consumers interact with products. We are on the verge of a revolution that will affect all industries and societies alike. Below are recent articles highlighting developments in data and IoT. IoT Offers Bright Future, Says Harvard Professor by Jon Marcus on PTC According to … read more
The Role of Energy Storage in the Growth of Renewable Energy
Renewable energy technologies have changed the landscape of the energy industry in a major way. However, because technologies like wind turbines and solar panels rely on nature to produce energy, they cannot work continuously. Today, innovators like the founders of our portfolio company, GELI, are developing ways to store energy to solve this problem. Below are recent articles highlighting the growth of energy storage and explaining the crucial role that energy storage will play … read more
Agtech Solutions to Food Security
Agriculture experts agree that innovations on the farm will be critical to ensuring that enough food is produced to feed the growing population. Entrepreneurs have stepped up to the challenge and agtech startups are popping up around the world offering innovating farming solutions that enable better efficiency and result in increased crop yields. Below are articles highlighting how agtech solutions can help to ensure global food security. Agtech Key to Feeding the World by 2050… read more
ICT Developments in Africa
Lack of reliable internet connectivity, local data storage and hosting services negatively impact the productivity of SMEs in Africa. Entrepreneurs have identified the need for affordable, reliable ICT products and services and companies like Angani and BRCK are stepping up to develop and market innovative solutions. Below are recent articles looking at recent developments in ICT across Africa. Kenya’s Angani Formally Launches Cloud Services by Tom Jackson on Disrupt Africa Our portfolio company, Angani, … read more
Innovations in Agriculture
At Invested Development, we believe innovative technologies in farming will play a key role in ensuring that food production meets the calorie needs of the growing global population. To date, we have invested in five ventures whose innovative technologies have applications in agriculture solutions: OnFarm, Cropin, iProcure, Rowbot, and Promethean Power Systems. Below are articles highlighting how innovation in farming technology is improving agriculture. Investing in Agriculture: Innovation is Changing … read more
Energy for Development
At Invested Development, we invest in companies with products and services aimed at solving global energy poverty as access to energy impacts almost all other aspects development. Below are recent articles highlighting the role that energy plays in the development of emerging markets. Microgrids Life Villages Out of Dark Age by Megha Bahree on Nikkei Asian Review Our portfolio company, Simpa Networks, based in India, is playing a crucial role in bridging the “power … read more
Creating and Measuring Impact
As impact investors, we are interested in better measuring the impact of initiatives in underserved markets. Below are articles highlighting how people are creating social impact globally and how to measure and scale impact efficiently. Strong Communities Build Global Impact by Nekesa Were on iHub Global Voices and iHub have been bringing people together to form communities dedicated to social impact. Today, 1200 contributors from 167 countries write for Global Voices, coming together to write … read more
Mobile Technology Updates
Following last week’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, we’re exploring updates in the mobile technology space and the potential impact on emerging markets. Availability of mobile money: What does the global industry landscape look like in 2014? by Jennifer Frydrych on GSMA At last week’s Mobile World Congress, GSMA’s Mobile Money for the Unbanked (MMU) released its 2014 State of the Industry Report on Mobile Financial Services. Frydrych, researcher and author of the report, discusses … read more
Off-grid Solutions to Energy Poverty
Energy poverty is a major global problem, hindering the development of bottom-billion countries. Solar has been identified as a sustainable solution to provide reliable electricity to the globe. In order for the solar industry to scale and offer affordable solutions to the billions in need of power, infrastructure changes and major investments must be made. Below are recent articles, reports, and interviews discussing the potential for solar and the changes that must be made to … read more
Developments in Mobile Technology and Connectivity
At Invested Development, one major investment focus is information and communications technology (ICT) that promote global connectivity. This week’s articles highlight progress towards connectivity for all. Grow Connectivity for the Developing World by Daniel Burrus on Huffington Post Internet access is arguably a basic human right, much like access to clean water. And it should be: connectivity provides people with information at a relatively low cost, unlocking opportunities to accelerate economic development. Unfortunately, there are … read more
Food & Agriculture
Finding a way to sustainably feed the world will require government initiatives, funding, and most importantly, technology solutions for farmers. The articles below highlight recent developments in initiatives to solve the global food problem. In poor countries, companies step in to fill gaps left by agriculture nonprofits by Sarah Shemkus on The Guardian Across developing countries, 2.5 billion farmers live on less than $4 a day according a recent report released by Acumen and Bain … read more
Entrepreneurship in Africa
At Invested Development, we recognize that innovation has the power to make a difference in the lives of people living in poverty. The challenges in the developing world have created a unique opportunity for entrepreneurship and innovation. In Africa, entrepreneurs are proving that they can overcome roadblocks to success and create products that help local communities, and make a profit. Below are articles exploring entrepreneurship in Africa. Think Africa is no threat to Silicon Valley? … read more
Developments in Solar Energy
As solar falls in price, innovators see opportunities to create off-grid energy solutions for the millions without access to power. Entrepreneurs have identified ways to leverage these technologies to build businesses addressing energy access in emerging markets. This week’s articles take a look into recent developments in the market. Why solar costs will fall another 40% in just two years by Giles Parkinson on Renew Economy The World Energy Future Conference took place in Abu … read more
Trends and Challenges in Financial Inclusion
Financial inclusion is a key component in reducing poverty in emerging markets. To successfully provide financial services to all, it important to reflect on the performance of financial products and services, their impact to date, and to identify trends that will affect the future of the sector. Eight trends that will impact financial inclusion in 2015 by John Ownes on AFI The use of digital financial services has been, and will continue to be, one … read more
Action toward Sustainable Global Development in 2015
2015 is here, which means the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are about to meet their deadline. Can global leaders deliver on their promises? Will they commit to more ambitious goals for ensuring a sustainable future for all? This week’s articles look at the newly proposed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS), reflect on the successes and failures of the MDGs, and take a look at what citizens around the globe have to say. Sustainable development goals: … read more
Agriculture and Food Security Developments
As the world population increases along with global incomes and standards of living, there will be over 9 million mouths to feed globally by 2050. This is a number we see, talk and read about often. To ensure food security for our future, changes must be made in the agriculture industry. Below are recent articles that innovation, progress in the sector and offer advice for continued development.
To feed the world, food and agriculture industry … read more
This year in social enterprise
As the year draws to a close, we like to reflect on the state of the space in which we operate. Social enterprise was, and continues to be, a nascent industry, but has come a long way in the last five years. This week, we’re looking at the updates and progress the industry has made and the methods we’re putting in place to grow.
2014 in Impact Investing: The Big Bang and its Aftermath by … read more
Why We Invest in Ag Tech
Farming may be one of the oldest industries, but there is no lack of opportunity for investment. Below are articles highlighting the need for innovations in agriculture, opportunities for investment, and the recent success of technology in the space.
Ag-tech could change how the world eats on Grand Haven Tribune
Venture capitalists are putting money into “ag tech” companies focused on anything from big data to drone technology, in an effort to feed the growing … read more
Financial Inclusion: Room for Improvement
Are we moving as far and fast as we think? FI2020’s E-Zine says no by Susy Cheston on CFI Blog
The second edition of the Financial Inclusion 2020 Round-up 2014 e-magazine looks at progress toward financial inclusion in the year following the FI2020 Global Forum. Last year, a roadmap to Financial Inclusion was presented at the forum, consisting of five focus areas: Technology, Financial Capability, Addressing Customer Needs, Client Protection, and Credit Reporting. Since then, … read more
Impact Investing: Growth and Measuring Impact
There has been promising growth in the impact investing space recently, and investors and academics alike are looking for better and easier ways to measure impact. The articles and reports below highlight recent activity.
US Sustainable, Responsible and Impact Investing Assets Grow 76 Percent in Two Years Press Release on The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment
According to US SIF – The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment’s latest survey, sustainable, responsible, and … read more
Mobile for Development
Mobile money and mobile banking have created a revolution in financial services for the unbanked population, but the potential for mobile technology doesn’t end there. Below are recent articles highlighting how mobile technology can be leveraged to create innovative solutions aimed towards the development of emerging markets.
Mobile for Smart Solutions: How Mobile can Improve Energy Access in Sub-Saharan Africa by Helene Smertnik on GSMA
A new report released by GSMA explores the opportunity for … read more
Clean Energy Access
Last week, we addressed global energy access, looking at innovative solutions to solve energy poverty in emerging markets. However, the energy discussion cannot end there. Another major issue the world is facing is rapid climate change and the greenhouse gas emissions contributing to it. Neither energy poverty nor climate change can be addressed alone. The articles below highlight how the international community is coming to the realization that clean energy solutions have the potential to … read more