Janngo raises $1.2 million for social digital startup lab

Janngo identifies, incubates and invests in startups building digital tools for agribusiness, education, fashion and other high growth sectors.

BetterPlace raises $3 million to upskill and formalize India’s workforce

BetterPlace compiles and analyzes identification data to help give informal workers access to skills training and formal jobs, and provides employee vetting services to Indian companies.

Workplace-safety venture gets corporate venture funding from Cemex

The Mexican startup PRYSMEX provides employers with workplace and wearable sensors and geolocation tools to prevent accidents.

Three takeaways from a long-term study of U.S. microfinance

Long-term impact: A new study tracked the impact of micro-loans to 350 U.S. borrowers over three years.

SOLVE’ing global (and local) challenges takes center stage at MIT

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called on France, Canada and other members of the G7 to build a better world, a message likely to resonate at MIT Solve this week.

Invest in where you know: Impact investors rediscover the power of ‘place’

Place-based impact investing... A new report from the Urban Institute, produced in collaboration with the MacArthur Foundation and Mission Investors Exchange, highlights nearly two dozen place-based impact investing initiatives in communities across the nation.

Capital from $100 million ‘Quality Jobs Fund’ starts to flow

Loan leveraging... The $3.2 million investment will allow Pacific Community Ventures to make $5 million in loans and support the creation of 5,000 jobs.
Community development finance… Pacific Community Ventures earlier this year secured financing from JPMorgan Chase’s Entrepreneurs of Color Fund.