Inclusive Economy
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 …
Photo credit: ENGIE Africa.
Africa | September 1, 2021
Energy Access Relief Fund attracts $68 million from public and private investors
ImpactAlpha, September 1 — Off-grid solar and other energy access companies, with razor-thin margins in tough markets, face a liquidity crisis. COVID-19 has …
Melbourne, Australia
Dealflow | September 1, 2021
Australia’s Giant Leap raises $15 million for second impact fund
ImpactAlpha, September 1 — The venture firm, launched in 2016, spun out of Melbourne-based Impact Investment Group in March. Its $15 million first …
Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz.
Community Finance | August 31, 2021
Silicon Valley Bank backs National Equity Fund to create affordable rental housing in California
ImpactAlpha, August 31 — California has eight of the 10 most expensive cities for rental housing in the U.S. A $110 million commitment …
Photo credit: IFAD.
Dealflow | August 30, 2021
Khatabook and Bazaar raise financing to digitize small businesses in India and Pakistan
ImpactAlpha, August 30 — Investors continue to swarm enterprise technology providers helping small businesses go online. Last week, Nuvemshop raised $500 million to …
Jacqueline van den Ende. Photo credit: Carbon Equity.
Climate Finance | August 30, 2021
Carbon Equity secures €1.2 million to lower minimums for private climate investing
ImpactAlpha, August 30 — “The vast majority of innovation and transformation concerning climate change will happen in private markets,” says Carbon Equity’s Jacqueline …
Sakena Yacoobi, Afghan Institute of Learning
Agents of Impact | August 27, 2021
Sakena Yacoobi, Afghan Institute of Learning
ImpactAlpha, Aug. 27 – The Taliban is in power in the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Not going away are the education centers, health clinics …
Photo credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images.
Features | August 26, 2021
Can investors help Haiti build back better this time?
ImpactAlpha, August 26 — Haiti’s politicians are promising a different response. Global leaders are looking for different approaches. And millions of Haitians are …
Capitalism Reimagined | August 26, 2021
UK’s Nick Hurd on the “window of opportunity” for a green and inclusive transition
ImpactAlpha, Aug. 26 – Nick Hurd, the former MP and government minister, is heading the Impact Taskforce, created under the U.K.’s presidency of the …
Photo credit: Alerzo
Africa | August 25, 2021
Nigeria’s Alerzo raises $10.5 million to digitize informal businesses
ImpactAlpha, August 25 – The digitization trend that’s taken off in the pandemic has focused on helping put small businesses online. Alerzo is …
Five Cardinals Farm in Plainview, Va.
Community Finance | August 25, 2021
Steward revamps its ‘crowdfarming’ model with short term loans for sustainable farms
ImpactAlpha, Aug. 25 – Sustainable farmers are on the front lines of the fight to mitigate climate change. Yet agriculture funding is geared …
Wynwood Art District, Miami | Photo by Brian Lundquist on Unsplash
Creative Economy | August 24, 2021
Artists are startups and creators CEOs as technology decentralizes the creative economy
ImpactAlpha, Aug. 24 – Musicians, actors, artists and other “creators” are getting creative about reaping the economic gains of their influence and turning their …
Entrepreneurship | August 24, 2021
Building an ecosystem for workforce development and opportunity for all in Alabama
If you are an impact investor seeking ways to make a difference, come to Alabama. A year ago, Gov. Kay Ivey created the …
Photo credit: Nuvemshop
Dealflow | August 23, 2021
Brazil’s Nuvemshop scores $500 million to support digitization of small businesses
ImpactAlpha, August 23 – The pandemic has drawn investors to e-commerce platforms accelerating the shift to online business. Sao Paulo-based Nuvemshop’s nine-figure funding …
Photo credit: LYNSEY WEATHERSPOON.
Community Finance | August 23, 2021
Makhers Studio is building affordable housing from recycled shipping containers
ImpactAlpha, August 23 — The Atlanta-based company raised $250,000 from RSF Social Finance, to lease its first manufacturing facility in Atlanta to build …