Inclusive Economy
Joe Scantlebury, CEO of Living Cities
The Reconstruction | October 21, 2021
Living Cities’ Joe Scantlebury sees cities as the template for an inclusive America
ImpactAlpha, Oct. 21 – U.S. President Joe Biden wants to ‘build back better.’ Joe Scantlebury is out to make sure the rebuild includes all …
Illustration by The Nation.
Dealflow | October 21, 2021
SMBX raises $11.5 million to democratize small business lending
ImpactAlpha, October 21 — San Francisco-based SMBX raised $11.5 million to democratize financing for small businesses. Launched in 2016, SMBX lets retail investors …
Illustration by Pacific 8.
Dealflow | October 21, 2021
Republic raises $150 million to ride the growth of equity crowdfunding
ImpactAlpha, October 21 — Roughly 250,000 retail investors are funding startups and small businesses online each month. That trend has spurred fundraising for …
Photo credit: Ejara
Innovative Finance | October 21, 2021
Cameroon’s Ejara raises $2 million for impact-focused crypto
ImpactAlpha, October 21 – Crypto is having a moment in Africa. Dozens of African fintechs promising to democratize access to cryptocurrencies across the …
Screenshot from Blue Bayou | Image courtesy of Entertainment One Ltd.
Creative Economy | October 19, 2021
New narratives for inclusion and investment at SOCAP21
ImpactAlpha, Oct. 19 – The arrival of Gen Z is upending culture and commerce. “They have very strong values around inclusivity,” said Marcy Ventures’ …
Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash
The Reconstruction | October 19, 2021
Echoing Green and Goldman Sachs team to back Black women social innovators
ImpactAlpha, October 19 — New York-based Echoing Green will receive $1 million to create fellowships (applications are open) for Black women social entrepreneurs …
Dealflow | October 19, 2021
Sudan’s first foreign venture capital investment in 30 years: $5 million for Alsoug.com
ImpactAlpha, October 19 — Macroeconomic, political and currency risks can make investors wary of infrastructure and private equity in Africa (for context, see …
Ba Ria, Vietnam | Photo credit: Dong Nhat Huy
Impact Voices | October 18, 2021
Taking action against violence and sexual harassment at work through gender-lens investing.
In the past eighteen months, the global community has clearly seen that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate effect on women. The …
Kenyan farmer | Photo credit: Jen Watson
Catalytic Capital | October 13, 2021
Researchers ready a dozen-plus deep dives into the complexities of catalytic capital
ImpactAlpha, Oct. 13 – Aceli Africa provides a first-loss cushion of up to 8% to lenders as a way to spur them to back …
Photo credit: The Motley Fool.
Dealflow | October 13, 2021
Center Creek impact fund raises $30 million to invest in affordable single-family homes
ImpactAlpha, October 13 — Single-family properties represent more than half of all rental housing in the country. Nearly two-thirds of Black and Hispanic …
Photo credit: Workable's Resources.
Capitalism Reimagined | October 12, 2021
Omidyar Network commits $10 million in grants for reimagining capitalism
ImpactAlpha, October 12 — Markets can be, and are being, reshaped by movements, policies and investments. Omidyar Network, which has spun off a …
Photo credit: Talkspace.
Dealflow | October 7, 2021
Hearst’s Level Up Ventures to invest in Black and Latinx tech founders
ImpactAlpha, October 7 — Media conglomerate Hearst launched Level Up Ventures to make cash investments in pre-seed and seed rounds for Black- and …
Accra, Ghana
Catalytic Capital | October 6, 2021
National advisory boards target local pension funds for small-business financing in emerging markets
ImpactAlpha, October 6 – Impact investing in emerging markets has long been dominated by international development finance institutions. The national advisory boards, or …
Photo: Raad Adayleh, AP
Refugee Lens Investing | October 6, 2021
Refugee bond attracts $14 million to support displaced people in Jordan and Lebanon
ImpactAlpha, Oct. 6 – The Syrian conflict has forced 6.6 million people to flee the country; 80% have settled in neighboring countries. The …
LOOP's founders | Photo credit: LOOP.
Dealflow | October 5, 2021
LOOP secures $21 million to make car insurance more equitable
ImpactAlpha, October 5 — The average cost of car insurance for a good driver with good credit in the U.S. is $1,592 per …
Photo credit: SICAM
Frontier and Growth Markets | October 5, 2021
Development Partners International closes billion-dollar Africa-focused fund
ImpactAlpha, October 5 – Development Partners International invests in growth-stage companies serving Africa’s growing consumer and middle classes. The $2.8 billion investment firm’s …
Vedantu's founders. Photo credit: Vedantu.
Dealflow | October 4, 2021
Vedantu rakes in another $100 million in India’s sizzling edtech market
ImpactAlpha, October 4 — Bengaluru-based Vedantu, whose mission is to make after-school tutoring widely available and affordable through online lessons, will use the …
Agents of Impact | October 1, 2021
Oraan’s Halima Iqbal and Farwah Tapal: Digitizing women’s savings circles in Pakistan
ImpactAlpha, October 1 – Halima Iqbal didn’t plan to start her own fintech company when she returned to Pakistan in 2018, after years …
Photo credit: Elemental Excelerator
The Reconstruction | September 30, 2021
Elemental Excelerator’s climate-tech unicorns develop locally, deploy solutions globally
ImpactAlpha, Sept. 30 – Dawn Lippert wanted to help flip Hawaii green and wean it from dependence on fossil fuels. But the cleantech solutions …
Photo credit: Deputy.
Dealflow | September 30, 2021
Syndio scores $50 million to help companies address gender and racial pay disparities
ImpactAlpha, September 30 — Building a more inclusive workforce requires more equitable practices in the workplace. Seattle-based Syndio’s software analytics platform is used …
News and Information | September 28, 2021
Media boomlet in climate and impact investing follows the money
ImpactAlpha, Sept. 28 – Media outlets cite the flow of capital to ESG and climate funds as evidence of the arrival of impact investing. …
Photo credit: ReelFruit
Dealflow | September 28, 2021
Alitheia backs Nigerian agri-processing venture ReelFruit
ImpactAlpha, September 28 – ReelFruit sources produce from local farmers for dried fruit snacks. The Lagos-based company’s $3 million Series A round will …
Photo credit: Change.org
Dealflow | September 23, 2021
Big-name investors donate their stakes as Change.org converts to nonprofit ownership
ImpactAlpha, September 23 — With its dot-org website and social-activist mission, Change.org was often mistaken for a nonprofit organization. Now it is owned …
Creative Economy | September 22, 2021
Investment opportunities in expanding access and ownership in the creator economy
The creator economy is a burgeoning new segment for all investors – art-lovers or not – who want to drive impact through quality …
Dealflow | September 22, 2021
Blockchain music streaming service Audius raised $5 million from Nas, Katy Perry and other creators
ImpactAlpha, September 22 – Mainstream streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music are notorious for stiffing the musicians who drive the platforms’ popularity. …
Image credit: Dopay
Dealflow | September 22, 2021
Dopay raises $18 million to bank Egypt’s businesses and their workers
ImpactAlpha, September 22 – London and Cairo-based Dopay strategy for financial inclusion: offer financial services to businesses – and then signs up their …
Dealflow | September 21, 2021
Three workforce tech ventures score funding to connect India’s blue collar workers with jobs
ImpactAlpha, September 21 – Workforce tech ventures aimed at blue-collar workers are leveraging mobile technology to address a supply-demand imbalance in India’s labor …
Photo credit: Poverty Action Lab.
Dealflow | September 20, 2021
Lendable backs Finclusion Group to drive financial inclusion for underserved Africans
ImpactAlpha, September 21 — Singapore’s Finclusion Group offers credit and financial services through a variety of consumer brands in Africa. It has deployed …
Dealflow | September 20, 2021
Australia’s Verve Super raises early venture financing to manage its women-centered retirement fund
ImpactAlpha, September 20 – Verve Super launched in 2018 to offer Australian women a responsibly invested “superannuation,” or retirement, fund matched to women’s …
Photo credit: Boost
Frontier and Growth Markets | September 15, 2021
New channel of capital for small businesses worldwide: enterprise tech startups
ImpactAlpha, September 15 – There’s no shortage of capital for global small business lending. What have blocked small businesses from access to working capital, …
Photo by Tim Hüfner on Unsplash
The Reconstruction | September 15, 2021
‘Criminal justice footprints’ present risks and opportunities for investors
ImpactAlpha, Sept. 15 – With its first set of corporate ratings, FreeCap Financial has identified 10 indicators investors can use to screen companies for …
Photo credit: UNCF.
Dealflow | September 14, 2021
Black Venture Capital Consortium and Ford Foundation closes $7.5 million for student-led fund
ImpactAlpha, September 14 — The Student Venture Fund is part of BVCC’s two-year venture capital training for students from historically Black colleges and …
Photo by Obi Onyeador on Unsplash
Capitalism Reimagined | September 14, 2021
Disinformation poses systemic risks – so universal owners are pressing media companies to renounce it
ImpactAlpha, Sept. 14 – Talk about negative externalities. False information intended to mislead viewers on climate, COVID-19, racial justice and other issues may drive …
Photo credit: The Conversation.
Catalytic Capital | September 14, 2021
Opportunity Finance Network’s Finance Justice Fund secures $23 million
ImpactAlpha, September 14 — Opportunity Finance Network, a Washington, D.C.-based network of community development financial institutions, or CDFIs, is looking to raise $1 …
Photo credit: Pezesha
Dealflow | September 14, 2021
Two African fintechs raise early rounds to connect informal businesses to capital
ImpactAlpha, September 14 – Small businesses in emerging markets are often shut out of traditional financial services because they’re deemed too risky to …
Photo credit: Solarise Africa.
Climate Finance | September 13, 2021
Solarise Africa secures $5.9 million in debt financing from Trine
ImpactAlpha, September 14 — Nairobi-based Solarise provides financing for clean energy partners in Africa to design, build and maintain commercial and industrial solar …
Photo credit: Zero Waste Recycling.
Climate Finance | September 13, 2021
Impact Engine joins Mosaic on Zero Waste Recycling employee-ownership deal
ImpactAlpha, September 13 — Chicago-based Impact Engine is investing in employee-owned firms as a means to bridging wealth gaps (for context, see “These …
Photo by Josh Applegate on Unsplash
Faith-Based Investing | September 13, 2021
Catholic investors mobilize to steward church assets toward impact
ImpactAlpha, Sept. 13 – With a new membership program and online investment platform, the Catholic Impact Investing Collaborative aims to accelerate the flow of …
Photo credit: Elvie
Dealflow | September 9, 2021
Elvie scores $97 million to make health products for women
ImpactAlpha, September 9 — The London-based company offers women tech-based products for pumping breast milk and pelvic floor health. “Our goal is to …
Addi's founders. Photo credit: Addi.
Dealflow | September 9, 2021
Addi rakes in $140 million to scale ‘buy now, pay later’ in Latin America
ImpactAlpha, September 9 — Latin America led the world in e-commerce sales growth last year, attracting investors to platforms like Nuvemshop that are …
Dealflow | September 8, 2021
Employee Ownership Catalyst Fund raises nearly $5 million to back worker-ownership conversions
ImpactAlpha, September 8 — The open-ended fund, co-managed by Mission Driven Finance and Project Equity, received commitments from Living Cities and other impact …
Photo credit: Agricycle.
Conservation | September 7, 2021
Agricycle raises $2.4 million to repurpose food waste from smallholder farmers in Africa
ImpactAlpha, September 7 — Obstacles to the global market mean many smallholder farmers without adequate storage throw away large portions of their crops. …
Dealflow | September 7, 2021
Microverse secures investment to expand income share agreements for global talent
ImpactAlpha, September 7 — The Latin-led edtech, which is looking to connect at least one million young software developers from emerging markets to …
Dealflow | September 2, 2021
Achieve Partners acquires Metmox to create apprenticeships for cybersecurity
ImpactAlpha, September 2 – There will be an estimated 1.8 million unfulfilled cybersecurity jobs in the U.S. next year. That makes the industry …
Dealflow | September 1, 2021
Logistics company RubanBridge secures early funding to bring products and jobs to rural India
ImpactAlpha, September 1 –The explosion of emerging markets e-commerce platforms and services largely benefits urban consumers. Bangalore-based RubanBridge is building an e-commerce platform …