This week we read a lot of articles on the global efforts to eliminate energy poverty. At Invested Development, we’re interested in electrifying the poorest countries to promote development using clean and sustainable energy. In addition to development, energy access can also prevent humanitarian crisis like the one we’re currently seeing in the Horn of Africa. Businesses, agencies, and governments need to work together to research and develop clean technology to eliminate energy poverty in … read more
Weekly Review August 1-5
As the mobile money industry grows and evolves, we are seeing new business models emerge. More and more mobile phone users around the world are finding access to financial services through branchless banking. Here at ID, we’re working to stay on pace with the ever changing risks and opportunities.
“Worldwide Mobile Payment Volume Up 76% to Reach $86 Billion in 2011” via Mobile Payment Magazine
The proof that the mobile payment industry is
… read more Weekly Review July 25-29
This week we reviewed how mobile commerce can help rural African farmers rise out of poverty.
“How SlimTrader’s Service Works for Notore;” “Providing the Missing Link in Northern Nigeria’s Agricultural Supply Chain;” “SlimTrader Launches Outreach Effort in Nigeria” via SlimTrader Blog
Our portfolio company, Slimtrader, has partnered with Notore, “an agro-allied and chemical company ….supporting local food production.” Together, they’re piloting SlimTrader’s mobile commerce platform, MoBiashara. MoBiashara allows farmers
… read more Weekly Review July 18 – 22
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| via unep.org |
With the release of “Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment 2011” from the UN Environment Program, many publications are lauding the $211 billion worth of global investment in renewable energy in 2010. The impact investing industry contributed to that number. This week, we looked at articles discussing the rising amounts of capital invested in clean tech and renewable energy, especially in developing countries.
Weekly Review July 11-15
At ID, we often discuss the benefits of mobile phones for those at the Base-of-the-Pyramid. Access to mobile phones is proven to increase financial inclusion and accessibility to basic goods and service. This Weekly Review examines the benefits of mobile phones specifically for migrant workers.
Forty million Indonesians do not have access to formal financial services. This lack of financial inclusion stunts growth and
… read more Weekly Review July 4-8
Tomorrow, South Sudan becomes the newest country with their declaration of independence. At ID, the newfound independence sparked a conversation. We discussed social enterprise in post-conflict areas, and found that social enterprise will be and has been effective in South Sudan and throughout other conflicted areas in the world.
“Arab public sectors, the new battlefield” by Dag Detter via Al Bawaba
Recently, we’ve watched public uprisings unfold in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya over
… read more Weekly Review June 27 – July 1
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This Weekly Review includes stories on a key industry trend: mobile penetration in Africa lending itself to financial inclusion and economic and social development.
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| via Afrographique |
“Mobile phones in Africa” by Ivan Colic via Afrographique
We recently came across the blog Afrographique by Ivan Colic. Colic collects data from reliable sources like the World Bank or the IMF, and presents the information in aesthetically pleasing and easy-to-understand format. Check out … read more
Weekly Review June 20-24
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This week at ID, we read about progress and developments in mobile technology around the world.
“SlimTrader Lets Africans Shop via Text” by Ciara Byrne of Venture Beat via The New York Times
Our portfolio company SlimTrader was featured in The New York Times. Byrne used SlimTrader as an example of a company working in developing countries to facilitate customer transactions via SMS text messages. Founder and CEO Femi Akinde experienced firsthand
… read more Weekly Review June 13-17
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Every week at ID we read articles about what we do and what we like. This week we read a lot about innovation in energy.
“Dr. John A. Rogers awarded $500,000 Lemelson-MIT Prize for health and energy innovations” Press Release via Lemelson Foundation
Rogers received the Prize for his work in technology contributing to human health and, related to our investment focus, the commercialization and increased scalability of photovoltaic solar power. Rogers
… read more Weekly Review June 6-10
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Lately at ID, we’ve been talking a lot about impact investing and what it really means. Since SOCAP/Europe, the industry as a whole has been buzzing about the future development of impact investing and social entrepreneurship.
“Launch of social investment exchange set to raise activity” by Cosmas Butunyi
The Kenya Social Investment Exchange is a newly launched platform for “brokering deals between entrepreneurs and foreign investors,” which is promising for Kenyan
… read more Weekly Review May 30-June 3
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Every week at ID we read as many articles as we can on our favorite industry topics. In searching for an alternative energy BETA Resident, we’re studying the types of innovative clean technology solutions out there. In addition to a great product or technology, innovative business models and applications of the technology inspire us and are the topic of this week’s Weekly Review.
Photo Credit: Port of San Diego under Creative Commons
“The
… read more Weekly Review May 23-27
In honor of the upcoming SOCAP/Europe conference, this Weekly Review focuses on social entrepreneurs and the challenges they face in the industry, most prominently the task of finding a balance between financial and social returns.
SOCAP Social Entrepreneur Spotlight Series from Social Capital Markets
SOCAP/Europe (at the intersection of money and meaning) is in on in Amsterdam next week: May 30, May 31, and June 1. Our own Femi Akinde of SlimTrader and Sam White
… read more Weekly Review May 16-20
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This Weekly Review focuses on the economic and social opportunities in renewable energy and clean technology, especially within emerging markets to better the lives of the world’s poorest citizens.
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| SELCO solar panels in India at Simpa Site Visit |
“Mobile Phones to Use Noise from Your Conversations to Charge Low Batteries” by Jaymi Heimbuch on TreeHugger
We know that there’s a certain connection between mobile technology and alternative energy, which is why they
… read more Weekly Review May 9-13
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“What Investors Want” by Abby Callard of Beyond Profit
Beyond Profit interviewed seed-stage impact investor, Ben Powell of Agora Partnerships. Powell says that the most important thing to look for in a social enterprise is the impact entrepreneur. The entrepreneur, Powell says, is more important than the business model itself. It’s much easier to change a business model than it is to change an entrepreneur. Also, the simplest plans can make the biggest
… read more Weekly Review May 2 – 6
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This week’s Weekly Review contains articles on mobile technology in emerging markets. Articles include mobile money success stories, challenges, and ways to develop the industry by offering more services, addressing key issues, and expanding access to Internet.
Before the articles, we’d like to acknowledge the Sankalp Forum in Mumbai, India that ended today. Working to enable the flow of capital between impact investors and social entrepreneurs, Sankalp Forum focuses on five high impact
… read more Weekly Review April 25-29
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Every week at ID we read a lot about what we do and what we like. This week we read a lot about energy for the under-served at the base of the pyramid.
“Urban Energy Labs: Researching BoP-Focused Energy Solutions for Rural, Urban Customers” by Selvan Thandapani
There is an interesting trend in emerging markets: families are moving from rural areas to urban areas, but bringing their rural energy habits with them.
… read more Weekly Review April 18 – 22
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Every week at ID, we read about what we do and what we like. Continuing with the theme from our last post, we read a lot about the industry buzz in social enterprise and impact investment.
“Dare To Be A Social Enterprise!” Tree Hugger Guest Post by Erica Grigg, Founder & CMO at Carbon Outreach.
… read more Weekly Review April 11 – 15
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Every week at ID, we read a lot about what we do and what we like. This week we read a lot about impact investing – the growth and challenges in the industry and the path to matching investors and social entrepreneurs.
MBA students at Presidio Graduate
… read more Weekly Review April 4 – 8
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Every week at ID, we read about what we do and what we like. This week we read a lot about bringing alternative energy solutions to those who need them the most.
“The Models That Work” by Abby Callard
Entrepreneurs are working to bring products and services to the Base of the Pyramid (BoP). Social entrepreneurs aim to make real social change there and to eradicate poverty. Beyond Profit looks at
… read more Weekly Review March 28 – April 1
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| Via NextBillion |
Every week at ID, we read about what we do and what we like. This week we read a lot about mobile technology.
“Globe Telecom’s GCASH REMIT in support of the Philippine Government’s Poverty Alleviation Programs” by Chris Bold @CGAP
In the Philippines, Global Telecom runs the GCASH mobile money service and is starting a program to support the government’s poverty alleviation programs. The platform, GCASH REMIT,
… read more Weekly Review March 21-25
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Every week at ID we scan the web for articles and posts about what we do and what we like. This week we read a lot about impact investing.
Impact Evaluation by Morgan Simon @beyondprofit
Morgan Simon emphasizes the importance of measuring investment impact carefully and critically. Organizations like GIIRS are “creating a verifiable standard” and contributing to the professionalization of impact investing. Simon reminds us that not all investments in emerging markets are
… read more Weekly Review March 14-18
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Every week at ID, we read a lot about what we do and what we like. This week we read a lot about mobile technology at the base of the pyramid.
CGAP focuses on branchless banking, and this post focuses on the three levers of adoption: product, pricing, and agent. We’re particularly interested in the product lever, since we’re
… read more Weekly Review March 7-11
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Every week at ID we scan the web for articles that relate to what we do and what we like. This week we read a lot about innovation in energy with a social impact.
… read more We liked this article because of its focus on the smart and efficient use of technology as the way to move forward. Now we want
Weekly Review February 28 – March 4
>Every week at ID we scan the web for articles that relate to what we do and what we like. This week we read a lot about social entrepreneurship.
This week a very interesting debate is brewing on the idea of “doing well in a bad economy.” This article in The New York Times highlighted
… read more Weekly Review February 21 – 25
>Every week at ID we scan the web for articles that relate to what we do and what we like. This week we read a lot about the use of and mobile technology for the development of emerging markets.
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Image via NextBillion.net
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“New Resource: CGAP Launches Branchless Banking Database” Next Billion’s Interview with Mark Pickens, CGAP
Mark Pickens is a Microfinance Specialist at The Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP). The
… read more