Inclusive Economy
Photo credit: Invest2Innovate
Asia | April 21, 2021
In Pakistan, investing with a gender lens gives i2i Ventures an early-stage edge
ImpactAlpha, April 21 – If overlooked markets and underserved entrepreneurs represent untapped opportunities, Pakistan presents i2i Ventures with a rich bounty of possibilities. The …
Ford Foundation's Darren Walker and the GIIN's Amit Bouri | Photo credit: The GIIN / Twitter
Inclusive Economy | April 20, 2021
Inclusion is driving growth in the ‘Next Normal Now’
ImpactAlpha, Apr. 20 – The old normal: exclusion, externalities and growth at all costs. The next normal: inclusivity, responsibility and shared prosperity. “Inclusion grows …
Photo credit: AdvancedAg, an Indigenous-owned water and agtech company in Alberta
Canada | April 20, 2021
Indigenous Growth Fund raises $150 million to back Native lenders in Canada
ImpactAlpha, April 20 – A new fund in Canada is aiming to impact marginalized Indigenous communities by channelling capital to Indigenous-owned financial institutions. The …
Community Finance | April 20, 2021
Reviving a Black cultural corridor in West Oakland – as a community-led cooperative
In another era, Esther’s Orbit Room helped make West Oakland the “Harlem of the West,” hosting the likes of B.B. King, James Brown …
Africa | April 19, 2021
FINCA Ventures makes three investments in financial and economic inclusion
ImpactAlpha, April 19 – The impact investing arm of microfinance organization FINCA International added three companies to its portfolio of early-stage tech companies targeting …
Clean Energy | April 19, 2021
Overheard at the Island Finance Forum: Caribbean’s inclusive recovery
ImpactAlpha, April 19 — Volcanic eruptions in the Caribbean that have caused residents of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to flee their homes …
Photo credit: Numida
Africa | April 15, 2021
Uganda’s Numida secures $2.3 million to fill gaps in microfinance lending
ImpactAlpha, April 15 – Kampala-based Numida launched five years ago to provide microfinance institutions better data to underwrite loans to small and informal businesses. …
PC: Harvard School of Design.
affordable-housing | April 13, 2021
IFC backs FHipo to help Mexican families secure financing for affordable housing
ImpactAlpha, April 14 — Green projects and e-mortgages could help tackle Mexico’s severe affordable housing shortage, create jobs and accelerate economic recovery, according …
Community Finance | April 13, 2021
Founders First’s Kitty Fund makes micro-investments in “mompreneurs”
ImpactAlpha, Apr. 13 – The pandemic has been challenging for many small business owners, but mothers have faced particular burdens as childcare routines have …
PC: Transport Topics.
Catalytic Capital | April 12, 2021
Social Finance raises $36 million for ‘career impact bonds’ and backs American Diesel Training
ImpactAlpha, April 12 — Career impact bonds are bringing income-share agreements, which dozens of universities are using to provide help to low-income students …
PC: HBR.
Financial Inclusion | April 12, 2021
Village Capital backs tech startups in Jordan and Chile
ImpactAlpha, April 12 — Washington, D.C.-based Village Capital has made its first pair of investments through the early-stage Financial Innovation Fund it manages …
PC: Reinventure Capital.
Dealflow | April 8, 2021
MassMutual backs Reinventure Capital fund for diverse founders
ImpactAlpha, April 8 — A Reinventure Capital impact venture fund, led by Edward Dugger III, received a “catalytic commitment” of $5 million from …
Stages of growth and flowering of a daisy, blue sky background, life concept
Entrepreneurship | April 7, 2021
Crowdfunding’s awesome month
ImpactAlpha, April 7 – “Regulation crowdfunding” investments raised $60 million last month, led by offerings like Arlan Hamilton’s Backstage Capital and online digital …
Dealflow | April 7, 2021
Kiva closes $32.5 million fund to promote financial inclusion for refugees
ImpactAlpha, April 7 — San Francisco-based Kiva launched in 2005 soared to prominence as a microfinance crowdfunding platform. In its second act, “I …
PC: Hand in Hand.
Dealflow | April 7, 2021
Bain Capital Double Impact backs personal-care brand Hand in Hand
ImpactAlpha, April 7 — Boston-based private equity firm Bain Capital Double Impact has made an investment in Hand in Hand via its second, …