Smarter Money
Dealflow | September 5, 2017
Prodigy Finance raises $240 million for international student loans
New Schooled Four out of five of Prodigy’s users are from emerging markets PC: Washington Post As students go back to school, universities are …
Dealflow | September 5, 2017
Swell adds “impact IRAs” to digital investment platform
Smarter Money The firm offers investment portfolios for people with as little as $50 to invest PC: Swell Investing Swell, a subsidiary of financial …
2030 Finance | September 2, 2017
Resilience in Provence, ICYMI, affordable housing and education, China’s solar boom
#Featured: ImpactAlpha Original On holiday in Provence, a reflection on resilience. Our resident quiz-master, Jérôme Tagger, was in a contemplative mood as he …
Conservation | September 2, 2017
Taking the long view in Provence
A week ago only, I walked across a two-thousand-year-old bridge in the town of Vaison-la-Romaine in the South of France, in search of …
Asia | September 1, 2017
Women rising in Southeast Asia, impact IRAs, financing water infrastructure, smarter Singapore
Greetings, ImpactAlpha readers! #Featured: Open Mic Closing the gender capital gap in Southeast Asia. Investing in women pays economic dividends. Yet seven in 10 …
Dealflow | September 1, 2017
Media Innovation Program to cultivate independent media in South Africa
Free and independent media was limited under South Africa’s decades-long apartheid regime and is an increasing concern under the government of embattled President …
Dealflow | September 1, 2017
Impact First bets on GivingWay to scale “voluntourism”
Smarter Money The online social network connects volunteers with more 700 organizations directly PC: GivingWay The notion of committing vacation time to boost …
Dealflow | September 1, 2017
Sumdog’s educational games get backing from Nesta Impact and Scottish Investment Bank
Sumdog’s math and reading games are used by three million students, many from underserved communities, in U.K. and U.S. schools. The Scottish company aims …
Climate Finance | September 1, 2017
After the rains stop (part 1)
After the rains stop is a two-part ImpactAlpha series highlighting ambitious experiments in housing and infrastructure, water and sanitation and flood control are …
Asia | September 1, 2017
Investing in Women: Closing the Gender Capital Gap in Southeast Asia
Investing in women makes smart economics. Yet, women, especially poor women, remain economically marginalized — working harder, receiving less income, and enjoying less decision making …
Beats | August 31, 2017
Can business go high, South Africa’s independent media, globalization and social entrepreneurship…
Greetings, ImpactAlpha readers! #Featured: ImpactAlpha Original From ‘condemn and disband’ to ‘invest and transform.’ Was the mass resignation of the country’s top CEOs …
Good Business | August 31, 2017
Globalization and the Unfinished Social Entrepreneur
Editor’s note: ImpactAlpha is pleased to publish an excerpt from Jonathan Lewis’s lively and thoughtful new book, “The Unfinished Social Entrepreneur” (Red Press). …
Climate Finance | August 31, 2017
From ‘Condemn and Disband’ to ‘Invest and Transform’
Was the mass resignation of the country’s top CEOs from the Trump Administration a momentary reflex? Or the catalyst for collective and purposeful …
Clean Energy | August 31, 2017
Tax the wealthy, the robots and…electric vehicles?
2030 Even a modest increase in electric-vehicle sales, to 20% of new car sales, would cut gas revenues by $3 billion Photo credit: Department …
Dealflow | August 31, 2017
Rocket raises funding to expand credit options in Mexico
Inclusive Economics Angel Ventures, IGNIA, ON Ventures, and GC Capital backed the firm Photo credit: Rocket Three in five Mexicans have no credit history. Fintech startup …