From NextBillion:
While it still represents “pocket change” compared to the heavy hitters of private equity and microfinance institutional lending, the small and growing business investment sector is growing. Although the data for 2011 are still preliminary, it appears many fund managers are dedicating larger percentages of their portfolio toward investment in emerging market small and growing businesses (SGBs). Meanwhile, new funds are being raised that focus on SGBs, or those businesses with five to 250 employees that often fall in between the cracks of lending opportunities.
These were among the prevailing view from the annual Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs Conference 2011, the organization’s third such summit.
