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Financing the Energy Access Revolution: Three Technologies That Are Driving Africa’s Momentum
Technology has become central to the energy access story in Africa. It’s an essential part of all the key stages of an enterprise’s work – from raising the initial capital and financing the equipment, to designing and delivering the final product itself. And the new possibilities opened up by technology are increasingly seen as potential game-changers, in a region where some 590 million Africans – around 50 percent of the population – are still without access to electricity. Ben Good, the CEO of Energy 4 Impact, explores three areas in which tech-driven approaches – from crowdfunding to cryptocurrency – are making an impact.
- Categories
- Energy, Social Enterprise, Technology
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A device that can pull drinking water from the air just won the latest XPrize
The winner of the Water Abundance XPrize creates enough water for 100 people every day by making an artificial cloud inside a shipping container.
- Categories
- Technology, WASH
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Press release: Upaya Social Ventures Will Fund Its Next Investments from A Recoverable Grant Pool
Upaya Announced $2M to expand its job-creating investments, including an innovative $1M Pool of Recoverable Grants that will be used to fund its next investments; the first term sheet has been presented to an agribusiness enterprise.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- South Asia
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Big Problem, Small Solution: Can Do-It-Yourself Processing Machines Help Combat Plastic Pollution?
From the viral video of a diver swimming in a sea of plastic, to National Geographic’s major focus on the topic this year, there’s growing public attention on the problem of plastic waste. So there was plenty of excitement when a Dutch engineer’s do-it-yourself plastic recycling machines started gaining traction around the world. Could the devices empower a global army of small entrepreneurs to turn plastic waste into revenue-generating products? The solution sounds appealing, but when Bali-based social enterprise Kopernik assessed its effectiveness, they came across one small problem.
- Categories
- Environment, Impact Assessment, Social Enterprise, Technology
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Navigating Change: A Step-By-Step Approach to Revising a Social Enterprise Business Plan
By 2018, EarthSpark International had already built two micro-grids in Haiti, sold around 18,000 clean energy products, and invented the leading meter for micro-grids, which sold 40,000 units in 22 countries. The company seemed to be primed for a successful future. But EarthSpark faced significant problems, both in terms of profitability and social impact. To achieve its mission, it needed to make major changes to its model. Social business pioneer Eric Carlson describes how the company revised its business plan, using the paradigm from his new book, Building A Successful Social Venture.
- Categories
- Energy, Social Enterprise
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Social enterprises need to adapt to disruptions in economy, says Singaporean president
"To stay relevant, social enterprises need to switch business practices or adopt new technologies quickly to respond to the changing dynamics of business today," said President Halimah Yacob
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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Three Ways Inclusive Businesses Can Become More Customer-Centric
In any successful business, the customer always comes first. However, impact-focused enterprises often paint customers at the base of the pyramid with wide brush strokes, overlooking nuances in culture, location and literacy. Christian Jahn, Executive Director of the Inclusive Business Action Network, understands the desire to "help" poor people – but notes well-intended social entrepreneurs risk ignoring what their customers really want. Instead, Jahn recommends businesses develop a holistic view of customer needs, viewing them through a realistic lens for more meaningful impact.
- Categories
- Social Enterprise
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Finding the Right Financial Partner: Lessons Learned from One Startup’s Success in the Funding World
Kinnos was founded during the Ebola outbreak of 2014, marketing an innovative chemical product that allows even untrained workers to apply disinfectant correctly. Its founders (then students at Columbia University) quickly received more than $750,000 in grants and prizes. But as their company grew, they had to learn to navigate the risky landscape of startup investment. According to Christina Tamer at VentureWell, the Kinnos team's success in this area—they have raised $1 million in venture funding from angel investors—offers a number of key lessons for other entrepreneurs.
- Categories
- Health Care, Investing, Social Enterprise
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